IPL MEGA AUCTION
Follow UsOnly four franchises – Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants – have retained a wicketkeeper. That essentially means a dogfight will be certain between the other six teams to pick the best of talents from the pool.
Their role too has evolved, with them needing to match the batting caliber of the specialists. In a contrast to batters, bowlers and all-rounders, only 9.83% of the players in the Auction are wicketkeepers.
With as many as 58 wicketkeepers up for grabs, who will have the higher chance of going home with millions in their purse?
The Big picks
While not being as exhaustive as the other lists in the picture, there are 45 keepers with enough data to make Cricket.com’s cut for the upcoming Auction. Out of which, there are only four who have played for India – Dinesh Karthik, Ishan Kishan, Ambati Rayudu and Wriddhiman Saha.
Three out of the four aforementioned have a ceiling higher than the median for all keepers (BPB = 5.93; Dot% = 37.16%) – Rayudu, Karthik and Kishan. The best out of the Indian lot, is Kishan, a wicketkeeper who is expected to fetch a lot at the Auction.
The southpaw not just averages 37.48 but has the innate ability to play as an opener and in the middle-order. As an opener, Kishan has only been dismissed thrice in the IPL, averaging a colossal 112 at 171.4 SR. He can also be slotted at No.4 with a great record against pacers, averaging a boundary in every 4.3 deliveries.
But if the franchises are eyeing a wicketkeeper as a finisher, they could eye the 36-year-old Karthik. In overs 16-20, the Tamil Nadu batter strikes at 172.25, scoring a boundary every 4.02 deliveries, the third-best numbers amongst wicketkeepers in T20 cricket since 2020.
On the foreign end, Matthew Wade provides a similar option for franchises. While he opens the batting (SR: 157.1) for the Hobart Hurricanes, his performance for Australia in the middle-order has been noteworthy.
With a clean strike, the southpaw scores his runs at 148.14, scoring a boundary in every 4.76 deliveries in the powerplay and 4.71 at the death, with a high strike-rate of 165.69 against pacers.
Another notable option: Quinton de Kock is a prime option for multiple franchises, considering that he can also lead sides.
Versatile wicketkeepers
If the franchises fail to pick either of the two, Rayudu provides a similar option in the middle-order (3-5), with the third-best strike-rate (182.7) at death in IPL since 2020 amongst Indian batters. Not just that, his ability to play anywhere in the batting order, including opening the innings (SR 133.2) makes him an incredible choice.
On the basis of versatility, the franchises can go big on Glenn Phillips, a proven performer in the shortest format around the world. His ability to bat anywhere in the top five makes him a remarkable option. He pips Bairstow on that front, with a strike-rate of 144.69, averaging a boundary in every 5.29 deliveries.
If used in the middle-order, against spin, he averages 49.65, only getting dismissed once every 36 deliveries, making him an interesting prospect.
Another notable option: Jonny Bairstow. Though Phillips has better numbers than him, his international and IPL experience is sure to make invite a bidding-war for the Englishman.
Some foreign options to ponder
While most of the big names have been discussed, there are three impactful players who could be amongst the shortlist of the franchise – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Cam Fletcher and Niroshan Dickwella.
Former Afghanistan coach Lance Klusener backed the 20-year-old Gurbaz to make it to the IPL and his numbers are quite evident. A proven boundary-hitter, the right-hander scores a boundary in every 4.4 deliveries. The only drawback will be his dot-ball percentage of 41.28.
Fletcher is an unheard package; his numbers are staggering. Striking the ball at 154.8, averaging 47, the 28-year-old’s game is equally good against pace (158.05) and spin (157.64). But the catch is, he hasn’t played outside New Zealand.
To top this short package, there is Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella. While he doesn’t average a lot, his BPB (4.76) could possibly warrant him to be a contender amidst franchises.
Jewels amongst the Indian uncapped
Interestingly, a lot of wicketkeepers in this category have previously been involved in IPL setups or have been shortlisted by franchises. Amongst the shortlisted wicketkeepers, Saurashtra’s Sheldon Jackson makes the top tier with ease.
Not only does the 35-year-old average 73.29 but his strike-rate (147.8) are the best numbers in the last two SMAT seasons (min 10 innings). 20.4% of his runs in the last two seasons have come via boundaries.
Another notable option: Arun Karthick (Tamil Nadu) – Average: 40.75, Strike-rate: 141.74, BPB: 5.23
But if age is a criterion for the franchises: the choices are clear: Jitesh Sharma, Mohammed Azharuddeen and Vishnu Vinod.
Amongst the young Indian lot, Sharma’s numbers are staggering. The former Mumbai Indians pick, who recently switched his role as a finisher had the best strike-rate in the 2021/22 SMAT (235.2), scoring 19 sixes, the most in the competition. If the franchises are eyeing a powerful hitter, the Vidarbha man fits the bill perfectly.
Kerala’s Vinod was only dismissed once in this season’s SMAT, averaging 145 while striking it at 162.9, scoring a boundary every 5.6 deliveries. His ceiling was on display in the clash against Tamil Nadu, where he scored 65* off just 26 balls, smashing seven sixes.
However, if the franchises are eyeing an opener who can do the job, Azharudden fits the bill. The Kerala opener has the best strike rate (191.2) in the powerplay amongst other openers since 2020 domestically. For openers, his boundary/ball ratio is the best in the Indian circuit.
