Indian Premier League - General Discussion

[Bevab]

Just makes me think what's the point of the auction and salary cap. Although, I'm sure the cap has been consistently navigated around by franchises over the years.

Hardik as a player is massive - he's one of a kind Indian player. Proven during the World Cup and is proven consistently by the overseas players who get huge sums for doing what he does or similar.

Two finals including a win as captain at Titans too.

Plus branding wise. Could only be Kohli that has more value to a team and that's probably heavily weighted on his brand value compared with Hardik's all-round contribution as player.

Without the salary cap it’ll be the Wild West I would imagine. Look at the how disproportionately stronger the MI franchises in other leagues tend to be where there isn’t a salary cap. While perks, benefits and under the table payments will continue to exist I can’t imagine that there will be any semblance of parity in the absence of a salary cap.

Even if he didn’t have a leadership bone in his body Hardik would be a massive pickup for any team due to the reason that you’ve pointed out. The only reason I can think of is his fitness long-term.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Without the salary cap it’ll be the Wild West I would imagine. Look at the how disproportionately stronger the MI franchises in other leagues tend to be where there isn’t a salary cap. While perks, benefits and under the table payments will continue to exist I can’t imagine that there will be any semblance of parity in the absence of a salary cap.

Even if he didn’t have a leadership bone in his body Hardik would be a massive pickup for any team due to the reason that you’ve pointed out. The only reason I can think of is his fitness long-term.

Saw on Twitter too the suggestion that ultimately it's a difference in ideological view of the owners. You've got the Ambani's on one side and how Mumbai Indians is very much tied to their public image, and that of Reliance (seems that way from the outside at least) and a private equity firm at Gujarat whose primary focus is the money.

One of those drawbacks about private ownership (in every sport really) that it basically leaves the teams and fans to the whims of whoever owns it. Time for fewer DLF Maximums and more Revolutionary Socialist Super Shots.

 

[Viper.]

Increasing talks of Hardik being traded to MI being reported… makes no sense for GT that.

CSK are apparently releasing Pretorius and one of Jamieson/Magala. I would have liked to see Pretorius retained unless he’s declining massively.

Releasing Pretorius is dumb if they are gonna keep one of Jamieson/Magala, I really don't think either of the two are good T20 bowlers and it's better to just release both and get some other pacer in auction. Pretorius is a solid No.7 who can bowl death so he should honestly be retained.

 

[Viper.]

Between Pretorius and Magala, I would actually want them to retain Magala. He has much faster speeds, as good (or maybe even better) a death bowler AND probably a better big hitter with the bat. And he is also a few years younger than Pretorius.

I would release Pretorius and Jamieson and keep Magala.

Nah Magala is NOT a better death bowler than Pretorius. And he's definitely not a better batsman. Probably can tonk a few, but at best a No. 8. Pretorius is a solid all-rounder who can bat as high as 6.

Jamieson is definitely the worst in T20s of the three though

 

[icyman]

Expect Gerald Coetzee to fetch big bucks at the auction...

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

You've got the Ambani's on one side and how Mumbai Indians is very much tied to their public image

That's not true. The image of Ambani is very much shattered in the 80-90s itself with Dhirubhai Ambani introduced corruption to the nation at a macro level.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

That's not true. The image of Ambani is very much shattered in the 80-90s itself with Dhirubhai Ambani introduced corruption to the nation at a macro level.

Yeah but Nita Ambani and the son are always there on the TV. The fact that I, some guy in the UK, knows who they are is evidence of how much they are front and centre.

 

[icyman]

For all those who question my point of a 'mete all rounder' how many times has Hardik set the stage on fire? He had been inconsistent until the establishment of GT.

In fact,a lot of us scoffed at GT's decision to make him captain. Him harbouring Indian captaincy ambitions, a couple of years ago was looked down upon.

I feel it is a mere HALO effect that pandya is being considered as a hot property.

 

[Viper.]

if Hardik is really traded to MI, they will have a XI that looks like (for batting in the 1st innings)-

Rohit Sharma
Ishan Kishan
Suryakumar Yadav
Tilak Varma
Cameron Green
Hardik Pandya
Tim David
Nehal Wadhera
Gerald Coetzee (if they can buy him, otherwise any other pacer)
Jason Behrendorff
Jasprit Bumrah

And in the 2nd innings, Surya will be subbed out for Piyush Chawla or any Indian Spinner.

They just need to release Jofra and get Coetzee. Even an OS Spinner is possible.

The impact player rule just makes MI unbelievably strong, that XI bats solid till No. 8, and their bowling doesn't suffer as the 2nd innings impact player rule saves them.

That being said, I really don't like the new rule.

 

[icyman]

if Hardik is really traded to MI, they will have a XI that looks like (for batting in the 1st innings)-

If traded to MI, MI needs to release a few players to offset the trade equation. I assume that Green will be dumped.

 

[Viper.]

I realised they may have to release Cam Green to get more money, but in that case we will have Tristan Stubbs over him at No. 5 in that XI -

Rohit Sharma
Ishan Kishan
Suryakumar Yadav
Tilak Varma
Tristan Stubbs
Hardik Pandya
Tim David
Nehal Wadhera
Gerald Coetzee (if they can buy him, otherwise any other pacer)
Jason Behrendorff
Jasprit Bumrah

It still looks insanely strong and my point still stands. The bowling might be weaker without Green, but Stubbs/David/Varma being the 6th option is not gonna be a problem if your Batting is that ridiculously strong and deep, and if you get two really good overseas pacers.

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Will wait until retentions are announced to give my jist of probable First XI for MI.

 

[Bevab]

Will wait until retentions are announced to give my jist of probable First XI for MI.

Green and Archer rumoured to be on the way out.

Pretorius is gone for CSK. Seems like both Magala and Jamieson will join him too. Thakur is also a goner for KKR.

 

[pillowprocter]

Thakur is also a goner for KKR.

Prediction: whoever picks him up wins the IPL

 

[Sherlock Holmes]

Green and Archer rumoured to be on the way out.

I know it may raise eyebrows, but I wanted David out as well. I am totally aware of his batting prowess, but he isn't just consistent enough. Plus he really struggles with spin bowling. Even to pacers he gets stuck to a slower delivery as well as any bowl wide on the offside.

Ofcourse the flip side to it is that there are no good finishers anymore, most of them are already taken or not participating. Okay, I take my words back, no releasing David. Gosh, Pollard just unretire and come back.