IPL 2020 Auctions: Top 5 players from the T10 League who could be potential targets
The third season of the Abu Dhabi T10 League just came to a close. Started three years ago it’s journey has only gone up in terms of popularity among fans. More and more players decided to throw in their names for this tournament as well. While it is a different format, it could still get players some highly sought after IPL contracts.
The short nature of contests means consistency is a highly difficult proposition both with bat and ball. Bowlers with an economy of under 9 in T10 League could be very good in T20s. Spinners who are successful in such a smack bang format could well thrive in the toughest T20 league.
In this piece we look at the five T10 league players IPL franchises could target in the upcoming auctions.
Tom Banton (England/Lahore Qalandars)
Tom Banton tormented Karnataka Tuskers with a belligerent 80. SOURCE – Khaleej Times
The latest sensation from domestic cricket has made headlines for his classical technique while not compromising on unorthodox shots. With an exceptional Vitality Blast T20 tournament earlier this year, he announced his arrival. Banton scored 549 runs in 13 innings with a brilliant strike rate of 161.47.
In the T10 league this year he scored 162 runs in 5 games at a strike rate of 200 with two 50s. He also put up one of the best innings of the tournament when he blazed 80 off just 28 balls against the Tuskers. With a mixture of talent, skill and innovative batting to back him, Tom Banton is one to watch out for in the IPL auctions.
Eoin Morgan (England/Delhi Bulls)
Eoin Morgan in action for the Delhi Bulls. SOURCE – India.com
No introduction is needed for England’s word cup winning captain. The destruction that Morgan is responsible for has only gone up in the recent years. Just early this month he smashed 91 against New Zealand off 41 balls after walking in at 58/2 in 7 overs. In this season of the T10 league he finished with 175 runs in 6 games at 43.75, the 3rd best average for batsmen who scored 100+ runs.
Eoin Morgan came up with couple of crucial knocks. He scored 53* off 27 when his side was 28/3 in 3 overs chasing 103 in one of the early games to ensure victory. As a player who has already been in the IPL set up he could garner the franchises’ attention with his renewed brand of cricket.
Chris Green (Australia/Northern Warriors)
Chris Green celebrates a wicket during his spell(3/8) versus the Delhi Bulls. SOURCE: Willow.tv
Some might be surprised with the inclusion of a classical off spinner in this list of prospects but Green’s numbers speak for himself. Since he picked up the new ball during the 2017-2018 Big Bash season he’s gone at a miserly 6.04 runs per over in the powerplay. He bowls nearly half of his quota in the first 6 overs. In the T10 League 2019 his exceptional spell of 3/8 against Delhi Bulls put his team firmly control in just the first 3 overs.
Chris Green fits into the scheme of quite a few IPL teams, especially those who don’t have a quality foreign pacer to throw the new cherry to. Even so, spinners with the new ball has been an advantage in terms of efficiency. Teams like CSK and KXIP last year operated with this ideology, quite successfully at that.
Qais Ahmad (Afghanistan/Bangla Tiger)
Qais Ahmad looks to the skies after picking up a wicket. SOURCE – Yahoo Cricket
Chris Green’s fellow member in the Guyana Amazon Warriors spin battalion, Qais is yet another mystery spinner from the Afghan ranks. With 44 wickets in just 34 T20 innings at an average of 18.63 and economy just under 7, he has had a great start to his career. During this season of T10 league he went wicketless in only one game and also put in a best of 3/8.
In August BBL’s Hobart Hurricanes gave Qais Ahmad a contract extension as he was an injury replacement for them last time around. These factors might just earn him a bid at the IPL Auctions, where Afghan players have been doing good recently. Additionally, the time he spent in the CPL this season with Johan Botha & Imran Tahir will only help.
Chris Jordan (England/Lahore Qalandars)
Jordan gets ready to start his run-up during his spell of 2/2(1 Over) against the Northern Warriors. SOURCE – Willow.tv
Generally flying under the radar as a cricketer, Jordan reminded everyone exactly what he was capable of in England’s T20 decider in New Zealand. His utility with his unexceptional skill of batting in the last over of the game, where he managed to level the scores earns him a bonus point. Of course his Super Over bowling was top notch as well in a pitch which had some assistance for slower variations.
In this year’s T10 league the former RCBian played five games and picked at least a wicket per match. He finished with 6/74 in 9 overs and also hit a 3-ball 10 with the bat in one of the games. Some of the pitches in India are slower so he has a chance of being picked in the IPL. Teams like Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings might be bidding for Chris Jordan, owing to the nature of pitches and batting depth.