Draft: IPL Draft - Completed!

[Na Maloom Afraad]

The Lucky Dip Gods have been incredibly kind to me. Just hope it stays that way.

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 10

Nominated by @CerealKiller

Rejected by None

IPL - 12 wickets @ 15.33 (best 4/23) with an economy of 8.18

Pakistani pacer Umar Gul is one of the best T20I bowlers of all-time and it was no surprise when impressed for Kolkata in the second half of their inaugural campaign. A yorker specialist who can cut the ball in either direction, his most famous IPL moment came in his final IPL match where he took four wickets versus Punjab after which he shared an entertaining 49 run partnership with his skipper to chase down 175. He would have been one of the best overseas pacers without any doubt if his involvement wasn't curtailed.

He shall represent the team of... @Na Maloom Afraad (what voodoo have you performed to land up with all of the good picks?!).

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

Dayum. This more than makes up for those terrible Panesars in Aislabie's draft.

 

[Akshay.]

Now I wait for the next three players to be Nuwan Zoysa, Peter Handscomb and fukcin Nathan Rimmington

It seems you have nominated those players

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

It seems you have nominated those players

Lol, nice detective work. But I'm afraid it's all in vain.

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 11

Nominated by @Bevab

Rejected by None

IPL - 0/40 from four overs in one game

In truth, Ashley Noffke was not the world's worst bowler when he arrived at the Chinnaswamy for the first ever IPL game. He had an impressive game versus India where his team bowled them out for double figures which no doubt helped him secure an IPL contract. He replaced Zaheer for the fourth over after the Indian star was taken apart by McCullum. This was his moment to shine... until he sent his first delivery miles past Boucher for five byes. That set the tone for the rest of the over with two huge sixes by the unstoppable McCullum and a lucky boundary for Ganguly. What looked to be a poor start quickly turned into a disastrous one as he conceded 23 runs in the very first over of an overseas bowler. It did not matter that Noffke only conceded seventeen runs in the next three overs. He was damaged goods and it was shown as much when RCB took him out for a domestic option in the very next game and Steyn was the preferred option later on. Noffke did not play a single IPL game after that.

And the unlucky one to have him shall be... @CerealKiller (Bhuvi might have to work extra hard to keep Lee and Noffke from spoiling his day).

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 12

Nominated by @Nilay_60

Rejected by None

IPL - 159 runs @ 14.45 (best 35) striking at 112.77 (5 sixes) taking 21 wickets @ 23.71 (best 3/20) with an economy of 6.74

He was a regular in the only season that was held in his home country but Roelof van der Merwe is not the worst option to have as a lower order slogger and a decent containing spinner. For comparison's sake, he has taken more wickets in a single season than a player like Lee who had better opportunities to. He can also do a less than ideal job as a top order bat if required. The only issue is that all-rounders who can bowl spin are nothing of a rarity in India and so he offers something that could realistically be done by a domestic option too, limiting the chances of a multi-dimensional attack for a prospective owner.

And he shall go to.. @Na Maloom Afraad (when your worst overseas player is this bloke, you know that you ended up lucky).

 

[Na Maloom Afraad]

I'm really happy with my four overseas players.

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 13

Nominated by @Bigby Wolf

Rejected by None

IPL - 771 runs @ 17.52 (best 75) striking at 168.34 (44 sixes) taking 122 wickets @ 23.32 (best 5/19) with an economy of 6.68

The final gift from @Bigby Wolf is one of the greatest spinners in T20 history. While post-ban Sunil Narine is still a useful stock spinner, the pre-2014 version was godly with him pretty much running circles around every batsman facing him. Three seasons where his bowling average never rose above 20 led to two league wins for Kolkata. The problems begun when finger spinners were under the microscope for suspect bowling actions and Narine was one of the worst affected by it. Ever since then, Narine's average has never been below 27 and his economy also rose. Despite that, Narine's reinvention as a pinch-hitter at the top of the order reinvented his career and has once again made him an important player in Kolkata's team. And even if he is not as consistent these days, there is no spinner more controlled on his day.

The winning bid for him has been submitted by.... @VC the slogger (the best option to balance out the Price problem).

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 14

Nominated by @ahmedleo414

IPL - 61 wickets @ 27.92 (best 3/26) with an economy of 8.29

On either side of an expensive and disappointing stint with Punjab lies Mitchell Johnson's best moments in the IPL in the colours of Mumbai. He is of course most famous for his 2017 final heroics where he helped his team defend a low total and also delivered a killer final over with two wickets. He clearly works best when he has the support of a quality pacer like Malinga to work in tandem rather than as the lone star. It is unfortunate that his final season for Kolkata has affected his overall numbers significantly when it was clear that he could no longer even bowl adequately. He shall still be a quality pick as an aggressive pacer even if the economy is slightly high.

And he shall go to... @Bevab (Rimmington is not quite Malinga but hopefully a fellow overseas bowler will help him with the pressure).

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 15

Nominated by @Na Maloom Afraad

IPL - 506 runs @ 33.73 (best 76) striking at 130.08 (23 sixes)

For three seasons he was nothing more than a cheap backup for three different franchises. But when he was finally given a chance by his fourth team Rajasthan, Owais Shah stood up and delivered as a quality top order batsman who could go big when needed in the first half of the 2012 season. Not bad for someone supposedly in the twilight of his career eh? But then, he suffered a drastic drop in form towards the second half struggling to time anything and when he failed to impress next season too, he was subsequently axed.

And he shall play for... @VC the slogger

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 16

Nominated by @Aislabie

IPL - 0/62 from four overs in one game

Two good seasons in the BBL led Punjab to do what they do best and snap up another unknown bowling prospect in Michael Neser. He would then make his debut versus Bangalore against whom he would leak a staggering 62 runs with Gayle doing the demolition job. Safe to say, he had one of the worst debuts possible and it is no surprise that he hasn't been anywhere near the IPL since then.

And this one will go to... @Aislabie (that backfired spectacularly).

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 17

Nominated by @VC the slogger

IPL - 746 runs @ 21.31 (best 66*) striking at 126.66 (20 sixes) taking 59 wickets @ 28 (best 3/17) with an economy of 7.46

Bangladesh's greatest cricketer Shakib Al Hasan started out as a very capable bowling all-rounder who could bowl economical spells and score some quick runs if needed and was an important part of the two time league winning Kolkata side. Ever since then however, his bowling has steadily become worse while his batting has also regressed with regards to his aggression. Still, you would take a guy who can bat in the top six and bowl four overs competently.

And he shall go to... @Bevab (Dhoni gets his spin bowling all-rounder and shall be happy).

 

[Bevab]

Auction player 18

Nominated by @CerealKiller

IPL - 23 wickets @ 11.57 (best 6/14) with an economy of 6.46

One of the most economical pacers in T20 cricket over the past decade is Sohail Tanvir whose bowling action was something that I really liked in his only season for Rajasthan. He was instrumental in leading the underdogs to a surprise victory and deservedly finished as the purple cap holder. Even more importantly, his record for best bowling figures stood for almost eleven years. Another extraordinary year was unlikely but there is no doubt that he would have still been a top class prospect who you wouldn't want to face.

And he shall go to.. @Aislabie

 

[ahmedleo414]

18 picks gone and I haven't gotten a single one, not sure if I should be worried or happy