5 transfers teams should do before IPL 2020 season

With the trade window now open, we look at five possible transfers teams to do before the next season.

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Hardus Viljoen
Hardus Viljoen. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

There are various things that go on for close to 9-10 months in between the IPLs. It is off-season but there is no rest for the franchises as they look to rebuild and focus on the next season. After reviewing the season that went by, the focus shifts to jotting out a clear plan for the next one.

Thus, there are multiple players that are let go and a few of them are traded. Over the years, there have been big trades. This year, the trade window has kicked off with Mayank Markande and Sherfane Rutherford switching teams. The former has gone to Delhi Capitals while Rutherford is the new addition to the Mumbai Indians side.

These trades depend a lot on home conditions, team combinations, and foreign players as well. Thus, with the trade window now open, we look at five possible transfers teams to do before the next season.

1. Karun Nair to Rajasthan Royals

Karun Nair
Karun Nair. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Karun Nair was in the headlines in December 2016 when he became just the second Indian batsman to score a triple hundred in Test cricket. He was the reserve batsman and was doing well across formats in domestic cricket. However, things have changed drastically since then.

The Karnataka batsman’s career has been on a downward curve in the recent past. He isn’t even on the Indian selectors’ radar anymore. Moreover, he was overlooked by Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in this year’s IPL. Nair played a mere one game in the entire tournament. He played 13 in the year before but was inconsistent.

Thus, with KXIP trying the likes of Sarfraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Sam Curran and Nicholas Pooran in the middle, Nair may not have a place in the squad. Hence, he may well be traded with Rajasthan Royals (RR). The Jaipur-based franchise has struggled to find proper middle-order options in the last couple of seasons. Hence, Nair might be a good addition to their line-up. Moreover, the 27-year-old batsman has done well for RR in the past.

2. Lockie Ferguson to Chennai Super Kings

Lockie Ferguson
Lockie Ferguson. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been one of the most successful teams in the history of the IPL. Ever since they made a comeback in 2018 after a two-year hiatus, they’ve been absolutely brilliant. They have all bases covered barring one small chink in their armour.

In the last couple of seasons, CSK have never had an out and out fast bowler. They’ve always revolved around the spin. Lungi Ngidi, David Willey, Deepak Chahar and Mohit Sharma form the core of the fast bowling department. However, the former two haven’t been regular in the IPL and also missed the season this year. Moreover, the two Indian options might be effective but aren’t express.

Hence, CSK might be eyeing Lockie Ferguson. He had a disappointing season this year as he took just two wickets from five games while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, he’s done really well after that and had a wonderful World Cup. Hence, Ferguson might be a great addition to CSK’s fast bowling department.

3. Basil Thampi to Kolkata Knight Riders

Basil Thampi
Basil Thampi. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Basil Thampi first stole the limelight while playing for the Gujarat Lions (GL) in 2017. His ability to bowl yorkers at will at the death was very good. However, he seems to have fallen off the radar a bit. The Kerala pacer who took 11 wickets in his debut season has played just seven games across two seasons for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Hence, constantly being in and out of the side hasn’t helped him either. Thus, with SRH having a plethora of fast bowling options available, Thampi might well be on his way to a new franchise. We may see him grabbed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in this trade.

KKR struggled to find a proper fast bowler last season. They tried a lot of players but none of them was consistent. Moreover, Prasidh Krishna and Sandeep Warrier were the Indian options. The injuries to promising youngsters like Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi didn’t help either. Thus, Thampi might add some teeth in the weakfish looking bowling attack.

4. Colin de Grandhomme to Delhi Capitals

Colin de Grandhomme
Colin de Grandhomme. (Photo: IANS)

A change of name worked for the Delhi Capitals (DC) as they made it to the top four after seven years. It was the top order batting that helped them taste quite a bit of success. Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Colin Ingram and Rishabh Pant form the core and most of them did well too.

However, post that their batting fell off a cliff. There was hardly any batsman or all-rounder that stepped up. Sherfane Rutherford played a few games and showed glimpses of what he can do. However, he has been traded to the Mumbai Indians in return for Mayank Markande. Thus, they need someone who can chip in with a few overs and be a power-hitter in the middle.

Colin de Grandhomme might be a good option for them to aim. The Kiwi all-rounder has been playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for two seasons now. However, after a lacklustre season this year, he might not be retained. Hence, DC could well make the move and trade.

5. Hardus Viljoen to Royal Challengers Bangalore

Hardus Viljoen
Hardus Viljoen. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Hardus Viljoen has been pretty impressive in the last couple of years. He has done well in domestic cricket and has also done well in T20 cricket. He made his IPL debut in the last season where he represented Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Viljoen blew hot and cold as he picked up seven wickets in six games but went at 9.85 runs an over.

With the four foreigners almost certain for KXIP, he may well be traded. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have been found wanting in the bowling department for years now. They’ve had a bowler or two who has done well but they’ve never done well as a unit.

Moreover, with Dale Steyn uncertain for next year, Nathan Coulter-Nile not making it for two successive seasons and Tim Southee on the decline, they might well look for someone like Viljoen. The South African pacer might get to play quite a few games in the absence of these big overseas fast bowlers.

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