IPL Auction 2018: SRH get the near-perfect mix with loads of quality all-rounders

 SRH, looking to repeat its win from 2016, has managed to accumulate a formidable outfit in the IPL 11 auction. 

It started by retaining two pillars of SRH in Warner and Bhuvi, and using RTM to retain one of world's best spinners Rashid Khan (Rs 9 cr), handy-allrounder Deepak Hooda (Rs 3.6 cr) and explosive opener Shikhar Dhawan. With prudent buys SRH had its team stitched up on day 1 itself, but it continued its good auction form on day 2. According to Laxman, 90% of their team was already in place on Day 1. 

Some good bits and pieces cricketers like Shreevats, Bipul, Sachin Baby, Sandeep Sharma, Tanmay Agarwal were bought by SRH. Most of them have been playing in the first class circuit for some years, and are proven customers, though not exactly match winners. But SRH already have enough of them on day 1, so it was about plugging the gaps in the team for them. Overall, SRH team looks really strong. 

In batting, it has formidable Indian stars like Dhawan and Pandey. Other Indian batters in orange army are no pushovers with the likes of Yousuf Pathan, Ricky Bhui and Tanmay Agarwal in the mix. The international batters have top pedigree . Warner, Kane Williamson and Brathwaite in the team. But what makes SRH  a really good team is a brilliant assembly of allrounders. In Shakib, Nabi, Jordan, Hooda, Bipul, Yusuf Pathan SRH has embarrassment of riches, which will give the team a really nice balance. To cap it off, it also has decent bowling attack. Bhuvi, Thampi, Rashid Khan are a handful. India's best keeper Saha, who is also an useful batter is part of the team.

 If we have to really look to find a fault, SRH lacks a high-profile foreign pacer and quality Indian spinners. Bipul Sharma, Deepak Hooda  and Mehdi Hasan aren't exactly going to rip through bowling attacks. So in the spin department it is heavily dependent on their trump-card Rashid. But in spinning conditions, one needs another good spinner who will build pressure from other hand. Shakib is there, but SRH would have really loved to have a A-lister Indian spinner. 

However, with its overall balance, SRH will certainly be the team to beat in IPL 11 based on their auction buys.  The troika of Murali, Laxman and Moody ensured that SRH kept it simple, retained its core and made key value addition with the likes of Pandey and Pathan. 

It is a strong contender to reach the top 4 of IPL 11. 

Strength: High-impact players in all key positions

Weakness: No A-lister Indian spinner. 

Auction rating: 8/10

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