Auction Preview for Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016

Gujarat Lions:

Total Players: 5

Auction Purse: Rs. 27,00,00,000

Gujarat Lions unlike the Pune Super Giants, picked a much-balanced side during the IPL Draft. While Pune picked 4 frontline batsmen, The Lions got 3 All-rounders and two batsmen all of whom can be explosive with the bat. They have Brendon McCullum who will retire from International cricket at the end of this month and his availability for the entire season will be a blessing for the Gujarat side.

Their middle order looks solid with Raina and Bravo with Jadeja and Faulkner assuming the finisher’s role. Their focus in the Auction will be on picking frontline seamers with a couple of good spin options to complete their bowling attack.

Their batting can do better with both an overseas hard-hitter and a few Indian batters. The management will be looking forward to uniting the McCullum-Guptill partnership in the IPL as well, a pair that has done extremely well for NZ in the last couple of years.

Indians in the fray that will excite them is getting Irfan Pathan, the Baroda lad has been in a very good form and led his team to the Finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. Barinder Sran who got a national call-up at the back of his good Ranji show will also been in the plans of this franchise. While Yuvraj will be the big fish at the auctions, The Lions will be keen on not overbidding for players as they have to build their entire roster within a stipulated budget. The surprise pick for Gujarat Lions might be Dinesh Karthik, as they will look to get an Indian wicket-keeper batsman as cover for Brendon McCullum.

Most Likely Picks: Martin Guptill, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Barinder Sran, Ishant Sharma.