IPL 2017, the 10th edition of arguably the most popular T20 league in cricketing history is just round the corner. The 8 franchises are now busy with their preparations for the auction. It is expected to be held on in February with a list of international players in the likes of Ben Stokes, Jason Roy amongst the new additions to the league.

Among the ten different teams who have appeared Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and the Kolkata Knight Riders are deemed as the most successful franchises having won 2 league titles apiece. Mayank Agarwal’s off-season move from Delhi Daredevils to the Royal Pune Supergiants was the sole one with the transfer window ending on 15th December 2016. While a list of players were released to bring back some cash for the auction. Here we take a look at the players whom specific teams would want to target.

Franchises who should target him- KXIP, Rising Pune Supergiants, RCB

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-81215" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg" alt="Ben Stokes" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81215" class="wp-caption-text">England cricketer Ben Stokes. (Photo credit PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption>

English all-rounder Ben Stokes has impressed fans and experts alike with his big hitting prowess and efficient bowling performances. His ability to whack the ball into the stands and earn vital breakthroughs makes his acquisition a no-brainer for any franchise. He is expected to be the heaviest buy in the IPL 2017 auction.

His performances in the away series against India have been sublime, to say the least. Players like Richard Levi, Colin Munro who were earmarked as the next T20 superstars have been unable to replicate their performances in the IPL when afforded opportunities which make investing in unknown foreign players a gamble.

Stokes, on the other hand, was a key consistent performer for England even in the T20 World cup 2016 with tight bowling spells and entertaining cameos. KXIP have struggled a lot in the past few seasons with the over-reliance on Glenn Maxwell and David Miller hurting their cause.

The side lacks a proper all-rounder except for Akshar Patel while Marcus Stoinis’ performances weren&#8217;t up to the level demanded. Rising Pune Supergiants have opted to release Thisira Perera, Irfan Pathan, Albie Morkel which indicates that the management will be keeping an eye out for an all-rounder.

Both the sides are desperate for an all-rounder in order to fix the issues plaguing them and Stokes will be the ideal candidate to pursue as a solution. Meanwhile, there are also reports that suggest Royal Challengers Bangalore might also wish to add him since skipper Virat Kohli has been at the other end of the allrounders performance right through the tour of India. KXIP have the biggest purse going into the auction- INR 233,500,000 which means that splashing the cash for his services will not be an issue.

Franchises who should target him- KXIP, SRH

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Imran-Tahir-of-South-Africa.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-105466" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Imran-Tahir-of-South-Africa.jpg" alt="Imran Tahir of South Africa" width="600" height="438" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-105466" class="wp-caption-text">Imran Tahir of South Africa. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 37-year-old is one of the most lethal spinners in a format dominated by the batsmen with his variations in pace and length. The South African was the joint highest wicket-taker for the Delhi Daredevils in the 2015 season with 15 wickets which indicates how dominating his performances have been in the format.

Tahir has been the difference between victory and defeat in many a game for the Delhi franchise which made the decision to release him a very baffling one for cricketing fans. As they say- “One’s loss is another man’s gain” and the same may ring true in the case of Tahir also.

KXIP, and SRH are badly in need of a quality spinner who can twist the game in their favour in the middle overs. KXIP’s woes in the bowling department are no secret with Akshar Patel as the only reliable option. SRH have decided to release Karn Sharma which indicates that they might be willing to sign a quality spinner who can boost their spin bowling department.

Imran Tahir can bowl 4 tidy overs and also pick up a couple of wickets which will certainly make his overall profile extremely attractive.

Franchises who should target him- KKR, KXIP

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/12/Kevin-Pietersen.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-99565" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kevin-Pietersen.jpg" alt="Kevin Pietersen" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-99565" class="wp-caption-text">Kevin Pietersen of the Stars. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The 36-year-old Englishman is one of the best in the business. A player like him can perform even in the toughest of situations and make the difference in a couple of overs at the end.

Pietersen’s handy knocks with the willow ensured a semi-final berth for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL this season which indicates his impact in the format. That makes him a pretty dependable player most teams will be looking for during the IPL 2017 players auction.

Kolkata Knight Riders have been unsuccessful in signing a reliable overseas batsman with Chris Lynn’s performances in Indian conditions not at the level demanded in the previous editions. Kevin Pietersen can play spin well and will be a further boost to the batting.

KXIP have been too dependent on Maxwell and Miller for fireworks in the past which has been a tough pill to swallow for fans. Pietersen can add steel to a fragile middle-order and will be a shrewd acquisition.

Franchises who should target him- GL, DD and RPS

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Mitchell-Johnson.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-106629" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Johnson.jpg" alt="Mitchell Johnson" width="594" height="396" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-106629" class="wp-caption-text">Mitchell Johnson of the Scorchers (Photo by Stefan Gosatti &#8211; CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Mitchell Johnson has been a revelation with the Perth Scorchers in the BBL this season. His fierce deliveries bowled with jaw-dropping intensity left batsmen stunned and unnerved.

Many experts wrote him off a spent force after his poor performances for the KXIP in the previous season of the IPL while many were also surprised at the decision to sign a retired fast bowler for a competitive tournament like the BBL.

He recorded bowling figures of 3/3 in 4 overs against the Melbourne Stars in the semi-finals and 1/13 in the final against the Sydney Sixers which led the Perth Scorchers to their third BBL title. These performances indicate that the 35-year-old Australian is still willing to fight it out even in the toughest of conditions.

Gujarat Lions will be without the services of Dale Steyn who is ruled out with injury and Mitchell Johnson could be a good signing on a pace-friendly Rajkot track. Delhi Daredevils will be looking for a fast bowler with experience who can get the job done in case injury-prone skipper Zaheer Khan is ruled out.

MS Dhoni-led RPS lack a serious pacer in the lineup and they might well be eager to sign Mitchell Johnson who is an impact bowler and can get them wickets up front and in the death as well. All in all he will be a hot pick in IPL 2017 auction.

Franchise who should target him- DD, RPS

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/12/Martin-Guptill.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-96945" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Martin-Guptill.jpg" alt="Martin Guptill of New Zealand vs Australia" width="600" height="477" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-96945" class="wp-caption-text">Martin Guptill of New Zealand acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the field after scoring 114. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Martin Guptill’s attacking double century in the 2015 World Cup against West Indies in the quarter-finals cemented his reputation as one of the most aggressive and swashbuckling batsmen in world cricket. The Mumbai Indians opted to sign him up as a replacement last season for injured Lendl Simmons with the Kiwi batsman not exactly setting the stands on fire with his performances.

The Delhi Daredevils have built a talented squad comprising of talented youngsters but lack experienced players except for JP Duminy who can get the job done. With Mayank Agarwal’s transfer to RPS, the Delhi franchise will be tempted to sign Guptill as one of their foreign imports.

Pune, on the other hand, doesn&#8217;t have an opening partner for Ajinkya Rahane and having an explosive batsman at the top is what Dhoni loves. Guptill is an exceptional fielder and the team certainly needs someone like the Black Cap to pick their morale up.

Written by Arnab Mukherji

IPL 2017, the 10th edition of arguably the most popular T20 league in cricketing history is just round the corner. The 8 franchises are now busy with their preparations for the auction. It is expected to be held on in February with a list of international players in the likes of Ben Stokes, Jason Roy amongst the new additions to the league.
Among the ten different teams who have appeared Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and the Kolkata Knight Riders are deemed as the most successful franchises having won 2 league titles apiece. Mayank Agarwal’s off-season move from Delhi Daredevils to the Royal Pune Supergiants was the sole one with the transfer window ending on 15th December 2016. While a list of players were released to bring back some cash for the auction. Here we take a look at the players whom specific teams would want to target.
<h4>1. Ben Stokes</h4>
Franchises who should target him- KXIP, Rising Pune Supergiants, RCB
<figure id="attachment_81215" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81215" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-81215" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg" alt="Ben Stokes" width="600" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81215" class="wp-caption-text">England cricketer Ben Stokes. (Photo credit PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
English all-rounder Ben Stokes has impressed fans and experts alike with his big hitting prowess and efficient bowling performances. His ability to whack the ball into the stands and earn vital breakthroughs makes his acquisition a no-brainer for any franchise. He is expected to be the heaviest buy in the&nbsp;IPL 2017 auction.
His performances in the away series against India have been sublime, to say the least. Players like Richard Levi, Colin Munro who were earmarked as the next T20 superstars have been unable to replicate their performances in the IPL when afforded opportunities which make investing in unknown foreign players a gamble.
Stokes, on the other hand, was a key consistent performer for England even in the T20 World cup 2016 with tight bowling spells and entertaining cameos. KXIP have struggled a lot in the past few seasons with the over-reliance on Glenn Maxwell and David Miller hurting their cause.
The side lacks a proper all-rounder except for Akshar Patel while Marcus Stoinis’&nbsp;performances weren’t up to the level demanded. Rising Pune Supergiants have opted to release Thisira Perera, Irfan Pathan, Albie Morkel which indicates that the management will be keeping an eye out for an all-rounder.
Both the sides are desperate for an all-rounder in order to fix the issues plaguing them and Stokes will be the ideal candidate to pursue as a solution. Meanwhile, there are also reports that suggest Royal Challengers Bangalore might also wish to add him since skipper Virat Kohli has been at the other end of the allrounders performance right through the tour of India. KXIP have the biggest purse going into the auction- INR 233,500,000 which means that splashing the cash for his services will not be an issue.
<h4>2. Imran Tahir</h4>
Franchises who should target him- KXIP, SRH
<figure id="attachment_105466" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-105466" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Imran-Tahir-of-South-Africa.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-105466" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Imran-Tahir-of-South-Africa.jpg" alt="Imran Tahir of South Africa" width="600" height="438" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-105466" class="wp-caption-text">Imran Tahir of South Africa. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 37-year-old is one of the most lethal spinners in a format dominated by the batsmen with his variations in pace and length. The South African was the joint highest wicket-taker for the Delhi Daredevils in the 2015 season with 15 wickets which indicates how dominating his performances have been in the format.
Tahir has been the difference between victory and defeat in many a game for the Delhi franchise which made the decision to release him a very baffling one for cricketing fans. As they say- “One’s loss is another man’s gain” and the same may ring true in the case of Tahir also.
KXIP, and SRH are badly in need of a quality spinner who can twist the game in their favour in the middle overs.&nbsp;KXIP’s woes in the bowling department are no secret with Akshar Patel as the only reliable option. SRH have decided to release Karn Sharma which indicates that they might be willing to sign a quality spinner who can boost their spin bowling department.
Imran Tahir can bowl 4 tidy overs and also pick up a couple of wickets which will certainly make his overall profile extremely attractive.
<h4>3. Kevin Pietersen</h4>
Franchises who should target him- KKR, KXIP&nbsp;
<figure id="attachment_99565" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-99565" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/12/Kevin-Pietersen.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-99565" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kevin-Pietersen.jpg" alt="Kevin Pietersen" width="600" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-99565" class="wp-caption-text">Kevin Pietersen of the Stars. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 36-year-old Englishman is one of the best in the business. A player like him can perform even in the toughest of situations and make the difference in a couple of overs at the end.
Pietersen’s handy knocks with the willow ensured a semi-final berth for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL this season which indicates his impact in the format. That makes him a pretty dependable player most teams will be looking for during the&nbsp;IPL 2017 players auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders have been unsuccessful in signing a reliable overseas batsman with Chris Lynn’s performances in Indian conditions not at the level demanded in the previous editions. Kevin Pietersen can play spin well and will be a further boost to the batting.
KXIP have been too dependent on Maxwell and Miller for fireworks in the past which has been a tough pill to swallow for fans. Pietersen can add steel to a fragile middle-order and will be a shrewd acquisition.
<h4>4. Mitchell Johnson</h4>
Franchises who should target him- GL, DD and RPS
<figure id="attachment_106629" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-106629" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Mitchell-Johnson.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-106629" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Johnson.jpg" alt="Mitchell Johnson" width="594" height="396" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-106629" class="wp-caption-text">Mitchell Johnson of the Scorchers (Photo by Stefan Gosatti – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Mitchell Johnson has been a revelation with the Perth Scorchers in the BBL this season. His fierce deliveries bowled with jaw-dropping intensity left batsmen stunned and unnerved.
Many experts wrote him off a spent force after his poor performances for the KXIP in the previous season of the IPL while many were also surprised at the decision to sign a retired fast bowler for a competitive tournament like the BBL.
He recorded bowling figures of 3/3 in 4 overs against the Melbourne Stars in the semi-finals and 1/13 in the final against the Sydney Sixers which led the Perth Scorchers to their third BBL title. These performances indicate that the 35-year-old Australian is still willing to fight it out even in the toughest of conditions.
Gujarat Lions will be without the services of Dale Steyn who is ruled out with injury and Mitchell Johnson could be a good signing on a pace-friendly Rajkot track. Delhi Daredevils will be looking for a fast bowler with experience who can get the job done in case injury-prone skipper Zaheer Khan is ruled out.
MS Dhoni-led RPS lack a serious pacer in the lineup and they might well be eager to sign Mitchell Johnson who is an impact bowler and can get them wickets up front and in the death as well. All in all he will be a hot pick in&nbsp;IPL 2017 auction.
<h4>5. Martin Guptill</h4>
Franchise who should target him- DD, RPS
<figure id="attachment_96945" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-96945" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/12/Martin-Guptill.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-96945" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Martin-Guptill.jpg" alt="Martin Guptill of New Zealand vs Australia" width="600" height="477" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-96945" class="wp-caption-text">Martin Guptill of New Zealand acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the field after scoring 114. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Martin Guptill’s attacking double century in the 2015 World Cup against West Indies in the quarter-finals cemented his reputation as one of the most aggressive and swashbuckling batsmen in world cricket. The Mumbai Indians opted to sign him up as a replacement last season for injured Lendl Simmons with the Kiwi batsman not exactly setting the stands on fire with his performances.
The Delhi Daredevils have built a talented squad comprising of talented youngsters but lack experienced players except for JP Duminy who can get the job done. With Mayank Agarwal’s transfer to RPS, the Delhi franchise will be tempted to sign Guptill as one of their foreign imports.
Pune, on the other hand, doesn’t have an opening partner for Ajinkya Rahane and having an explosive batsman at the top is what Dhoni loves. Guptill is an exceptional fielder and the team certainly needs someone like the Black Cap to pick their morale up.
Written by Arnab Mukherji

IPL 2017, the 10th edition of arguably the most popular T20 league in cricketing history is just round the corner. The 8 franchises are now busy with their preparations for the auction. It is expected to be held on in February with a list of international players in the likes of Ben Stokes, Jason Roy amongst the new additions to the league.
Among the ten different teams who have appeared Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and the Kolkata Knight Riders are deemed as the most successful franchises having won 2 league titles apiece. Mayank Agarwal’s off-season move from Delhi Daredevils to the Royal Pune Supergiants was the sole one with the transfer window ending on 15th December 2016. While a list of players were released to bring back some cash for the auction. Here we take a look at the players whom specific teams would want to target.
<h4>1. Ben Stokes</h4>
Franchises who should target him- KXIP, Rising Pune Supergiants, RCB
<figure id="attachment_81215" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-81215" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/08/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-81215" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/England-Cricketer-Ben-Stokes.jpg" alt="Ben Stokes" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-81215" class="wp-caption-text">England cricketer Ben Stokes. (Photo credit PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
English all-rounder Ben Stokes has impressed fans and experts alike with his big hitting prowess and efficient bowling performances. His ability to whack the ball into the stands and earn vital breakthroughs makes his acquisition a no-brainer for any franchise. He is expected to be the heaviest buy in the IPL 2017 auction.
His performances in the away series against India have been sublime, to say the least. Players like Richard Levi, Colin Munro who were earmarked as the next T20 superstars have been unable to replicate their performances in the IPL when afforded opportunities which make investing in unknown foreign players a gamble.
Stokes, on the other hand, was a key consistent performer for England even in the T20 World cup 2016 with tight bowling spells and entertaining cameos. KXIP have struggled a lot in the past few seasons with the over-reliance on Glenn Maxwell and David Miller hurting their cause.
The side lacks a proper all-rounder except for Akshar Patel while Marcus Stoinis’ performances weren&#8217;t up to the level demanded. Rising Pune Supergiants have opted to release Thisira Perera, Irfan Pathan, Albie Morkel which indicates that the management will be keeping an eye out for an all-rounder.
Both the sides are desperate for an all-rounder in order to fix the issues plaguing them and Stokes will be the ideal candidate to pursue as a solution. Meanwhile, there are also reports that suggest Royal Challengers Bangalore might also wish to add him since skipper Virat Kohli has been at the other end of the allrounders performance right through the tour of India. KXIP have the biggest purse going into the auction- INR 233,500,000 which means that splashing the cash for his services will not be an issue.
<h4>2. Imran Tahir</h4>
Franchises who should target him- KXIP, SRH
<figure id="attachment_105466" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-105466" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Imran-Tahir-of-South-Africa.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-105466" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Imran-Tahir-of-South-Africa.jpg" alt="Imran Tahir of South Africa" width="600" height="438" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-105466" class="wp-caption-text">Imran Tahir of South Africa. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 37-year-old is one of the most lethal spinners in a format dominated by the batsmen with his variations in pace and length. The South African was the joint highest wicket-taker for the Delhi Daredevils in the 2015 season with 15 wickets which indicates how dominating his performances have been in the format.
Tahir has been the difference between victory and defeat in many a game for the Delhi franchise which made the decision to release him a very baffling one for cricketing fans. As they say- “One’s loss is another man’s gain” and the same may ring true in the case of Tahir also.
KXIP, and SRH are badly in need of a quality spinner who can twist the game in their favour in the middle overs. KXIP’s woes in the bowling department are no secret with Akshar Patel as the only reliable option. SRH have decided to release Karn Sharma which indicates that they might be willing to sign a quality spinner who can boost their spin bowling department.
Imran Tahir can bowl 4 tidy overs and also pick up a couple of wickets which will certainly make his overall profile extremely attractive.
<h4>3. Kevin Pietersen</h4>
Franchises who should target him- KKR, KXIP 
<figure id="attachment_99565" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-99565" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/12/Kevin-Pietersen.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-99565" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Kevin-Pietersen.jpg" alt="Kevin Pietersen" width="600" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-99565" class="wp-caption-text">Kevin Pietersen of the Stars. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
The 36-year-old Englishman is one of the best in the business. A player like him can perform even in the toughest of situations and make the difference in a couple of overs at the end.
Pietersen’s handy knocks with the willow ensured a semi-final berth for the Melbourne Stars in the BBL this season which indicates his impact in the format. That makes him a pretty dependable player most teams will be looking for during the IPL 2017 players auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders have been unsuccessful in signing a reliable overseas batsman with Chris Lynn’s performances in Indian conditions not at the level demanded in the previous editions. Kevin Pietersen can play spin well and will be a further boost to the batting.
KXIP have been too dependent on Maxwell and Miller for fireworks in the past which has been a tough pill to swallow for fans. Pietersen can add steel to a fragile middle-order and will be a shrewd acquisition.
<h4>4. Mitchell Johnson</h4>
Franchises who should target him- GL, DD and RPS
<figure id="attachment_106629" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-106629" style="width: 594px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2017/01/Mitchell-Johnson.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-106629" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mitchell-Johnson.jpg" alt="Mitchell Johnson" width="594" height="396" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-106629" class="wp-caption-text">Mitchell Johnson of the Scorchers (Photo by Stefan Gosatti &#8211; CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Mitchell Johnson has been a revelation with the Perth Scorchers in the BBL this season. His fierce deliveries bowled with jaw-dropping intensity left batsmen stunned and unnerved.
Many experts wrote him off a spent force after his poor performances for the KXIP in the previous season of the IPL while many were also surprised at the decision to sign a retired fast bowler for a competitive tournament like the BBL.
He recorded bowling figures of 3/3 in 4 overs against the Melbourne Stars in the semi-finals and 1/13 in the final against the Sydney Sixers which led the Perth Scorchers to their third BBL title. These performances indicate that the 35-year-old Australian is still willing to fight it out even in the toughest of conditions.
Gujarat Lions will be without the services of Dale Steyn who is ruled out with injury and Mitchell Johnson could be a good signing on a pace-friendly Rajkot track. Delhi Daredevils will be looking for a fast bowler with experience who can get the job done in case injury-prone skipper Zaheer Khan is ruled out.
MS Dhoni-led RPS lack a serious pacer in the lineup and they might well be eager to sign Mitchell Johnson who is an impact bowler and can get them wickets up front and in the death as well. All in all he will be a hot pick in IPL 2017 auction.
<h4>5. Martin Guptill</h4>
Franchise who should target him- DD, RPS
<figure id="attachment_96945" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-96945" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2016/12/Martin-Guptill.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-96945" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Martin-Guptill.jpg" alt="Martin Guptill of New Zealand vs Australia" width="600" height="477" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-96945" class="wp-caption-text">Martin Guptill of New Zealand acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the field after scoring 114. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
Martin Guptill’s attacking double century in the 2015 World Cup against West Indies in the quarter-finals cemented his reputation as one of the most aggressive and swashbuckling batsmen in world cricket. The Mumbai Indians opted to sign him up as a replacement last season for injured Lendl Simmons with the Kiwi batsman not exactly setting the stands on fire with his performances.
The Delhi Daredevils have built a talented squad comprising of talented youngsters but lack experienced players except for JP Duminy who can get the job done. With Mayank Agarwal’s transfer to RPS, the Delhi franchise will be tempted to sign Guptill as one of their foreign imports.
Pune, on the other hand, doesn&#8217;t have an opening partner for Ajinkya Rahane and having an explosive batsman at the top is what Dhoni loves. Guptill is an exceptional fielder and the team certainly needs someone like the Black Cap to pick their morale up.
Written by Arnab Mukherji

5 Players and the franchises who will want to rope them in the IPL 2017 auction

IPL 2017, the 10th edition of arguably the most popular T20 league in cricketing history is just roung the corner. The 8 franchises are now busy