AUS vs SL T20: Franchises keep a close tab on AUS vs SL T20 – Australia are set to take on Sri Lanka in a five-match T20I series due to start on Friday, (February 11). The first match will be played at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Incidentally, it will be played just one day before the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auctions, which is due to be held on February 12 and 13. With the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitch Marsh besides Wanindu Hasaranga competing, franchises will fix their eyes on the series. Follow IPL 2022 Auction Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Australia have the maximum number of overseas players representing the mega auctions as 47 of their players will go under the hammer. Amongst those are Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh, and Josh Hazlewood. All these players are proven match-winners in T20 cricket. The 10 franchises might be eager to target these players to strengthen their team. Few Lankan players such as Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmanth Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa might also get a few bids.
AUS vs SL T20: 1st T20I to be played ONE DAY before IPL 2022 Auction, check out which players franchises will have their eyes on
Kusal Mendis, who is with the touring Sri Lanka National Team in Australia, has tested positive for Covid-19.
Mendis was found to be positive during a routine Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), conducted on Monday, 07th February.
READ: https://t.co/T8k13JoVTN #AUSvSL— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 8, 2022
England’s Jason Roy gave a timely reminder to IPL franchises by stroking a terrific hundred in Pakistan Super League (PSL). Lankan and Australian players will get a chance to prove their mettle just days ahead of mega auctions.
Here we give you a list of five players who we think might fetch big amounts during the mega auctions
1: Pat Cummins
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins was not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The pace bowler has set himself a base price of 2 crores and few franchises like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians might target Cummins. He is also a utility player as he can chip in with vital runs lower down the order.
In the 37 IPL matches that the Australian captain has played, he has taken 38 wickets and has scored 316 runs in 26 innings. The pacer also has captaincy experience and few teams might look into that aspect as well.
AUS vs SL T20: 1st T20I to be played ONE DAY before IPL 2022 Auction, check out which players franchises will have their eyes on
2: Wanindu Hasaranga
Sri Lankan leg spinner Hasaranga is another player who can attract a few bids owing to his match-winning abilities. He was exceptional in T20Is last year as he picked 34 wickets. The leg spinner also took 10 wickets in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup in 2021. Hasaranga’s stock has risen multifold due to his stellar run.
Leg spinners are often seen as wicket-takers in the shortest format of the game and Hasaranga’s recent exploits might get few franchises interested in going after him. He made his IPL debut for RCB in the 2021 edition of IPL but managed to play only two games.
AUS vs SL T20: 1st T20I to be played ONE DAY before IPL 2022 Auction, check out which players franchises will have their eyes on
3: Mitchell Marsh
Australia’s X-factor player during the T20 World Cup, Mitchell Marsh has enrolled himself during the mega auction. Coming in at number three for Australia, Marsh demonstrated his hitting abilities by taking the attack to the opposition. He also played cautiously when the situation demanded and also chipped in a few overs. Marsh’s all-around skills are what make him a hot property in the T20 cricket.
With Ben Stokes pulling out of the IPL, Marsh’s recent good form might tempt few franchises to go all out on him. The only slight concern is his availability the entire season. Often the all-rounder has pulled out of the IPL citing injuries or personal reasons. He has only played 21 IPL games so far and has scored 225 runs and taken 20 wickets.
AUS vs SL T20: 1st T20I to be played ONE DAY before IPL 2022 Auction, check out which players franchises will have their eyes on
4: Avishka Fernando
Sri Lankan batter Avishka Fernando played a pivotal role in the team reaching the super 12 stages of the T20 World Cup 2021. Fernando anchored the innings well and enabled Sri Lanka to get good starts in the majority of games. A classy and free-flowing batter, Fernando can switch gears seamlessly and can bat for longer periods.
Mahela Jayawardena was instrumental in bringing the right-hand batter up the order. So far it has proven to be a masterstroke. Few franchises might be interested in roping the Lankan star and try to give him a fixed role in the batting order.
AUS vs SL T20: 1st T20I to be played ONE DAY before IPL 2022 Auction, check out which players franchises will have their eyes on
5: Adam Zampa
Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa is also in good form in T20Is. He ended up taking 13 wickets in T20 World Cup and helped the win its maiden T20 title. He managed to bowl well and picked wickets at regular intervals. Zampa has also played a few IPL games Rising Pune Supergiant and RCB and has 21 wickets to show in 14 matches.
AUS vs SL T20: 1st T20I to be played ONE DAY before IPL 2022 Auction, check out which players franchises will have their eyes on
The only thing that might come in way of Zampa is his base price of 2 crores. The leg spinner’s good form and match-winning skills though would be hard to ignore for a few teams.
Editors pick
