10 Players Left, Punjab in Overhaul Mode This IPL Auction

The smallest squad, but the biggest purse: Kings XI Punjab are sure to make a splash at the IPL 2019 Auction.

Kings XI Punjab have retained only 10 players from their 2018 squad ahead of the IPL 2019 Auction on 18 December.

(Photo Courtesy: BCCI)

• Kings XI Punjab possess the smallest roster coming into the IPL 2019 Auction, having retained only 10 players from their 2018 squad.
  
• As a result, KXIP also enter the auction with the largest available purse of Rs 36.20 crore – at least Rs 10 crore more than every other franchise.
  
• Punjab released Yuvraj Singh and Axar Patel, and will have 15 spots to fill at the auction on Tuesday, 18 December.
  

Post 2010, the Indian Premier League has had two virtual ever-presents towards the bottom of the pile in Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils (now renamed to Delhi Capitals). Between them, one out of Punjab and Delhi have finished with the wooden spoon in seven of the last nine seasons – in 2018, they finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

Unsurprisingly, they are the two franchises most prone to overhauling their squads too. While Delhi have gone for a change in nomenclature, Punjab are attempting a radical sweep of their roster – with 15 spots unfilled, KXIP will be the busiest team at the IPL 2019 Auction.

Bare Basics

• Auction Purse: Rs 36.20 crore
• Players in Squad: Total 10, Overseas 4
• Spots to Fill: Total 15, Overseas 4

Trading Window

In: Mandeep Singh

Out: Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Aaron Finch, Mohit Sharma, Barinder Sran, Yuvraj Singh, Ben Dwarshuis, Manoj Tiwary, Akshdeep Nath, Pardeep Sahu, Mayank Dagar, Manzoor Dar.

(Matches played by released players in IPL 2018: 55)

Retained: Chris Gayle, David Miller, Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, R Ashwin, Ankit Rajpoot, Andrew Tye, Mujeeb ur Rahman.

Needed at IPL 2019 Auction

• Excessive purchasing across all departments
• At least three quality middle-order batsmen, plus back-ups
• At least two quality all-rounders, Indian or overseas
• At least three domestic fast-bowling options