Omarzai Azmatullah of Afghanistan is a middle-order hitter who can also bowl, and his skill set makes him excellent for T20 cricket.
With each edition, the Indian Premier League (IPL) produces new stars. Each season, team analysts spend many hours determining the best players to construct a well-rounded team. Because of their capacity to balance out any squad, this results in many entertaining bidding fights for unexpected players. More such squabbles between teams are expected in the IPL 2024 auction. Teams will be trying to invest in the future and bring in younger talents. The mini-auction provides them with the ideal opportunity to do so. They can go after some lesser-known stars and see if they want to build a team around them in the future before the blockbuster auction.
Here are five underdogs who could steal the show at the forthcoming auction:
David Willey
After retiring from international cricket, English bowler David Willey plans to concentrate on franchise cricket. Despite his early departure from England due to board issues, Willey still has a lot of cricket left in him.
Willey’s steady bowling was one of the few bright spots in England’s underwhelming ODI World Cup campaign in 2023. The left-arm fast bowler has 51 T20I wickets and six IPL. However, in his 11 IPL outings thus far, he has been relatively economical, averaging 7.56 runs per over. He will be useful for teams looking for some variety in their pace attack.
Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell, a New Zealand batsman, has proved how much he enjoys playing in subcontinent conditions during the Kiwis’ 2023 ODI World Cup campaign. Mitchell, a middle-order hitter who isn’t hesitant to go after the bowling from the start, is especially dangerous against spinners. His job on the New Zealand team is to act as an anchor, coming down the order and preventing a possible collapse. This qualifies him for a tournament like the IPL, in which the top-order batters play short yet explosive innings.
Daryl Mitchell can also serve as a backup bowler, allowing the club for whom he plays to select an additional specialist batter or bowler.
Rachin Ravindra
Rachin, the young man Ravindra had an immediate impression in his World Cup debut, becoming New Zealand’s leading scorer. He can pitch the first inning as well as bat third. Ravindra can also bowl a slow left-arm spin. He has the ability to take the ball away from right-handed batters. This talent will be especially valuable in Indian conditions, where the ball has a tendency to grip and turn. Ravindra has 767 ODI runs with a strike rate of 45.11.
Dilshan Madushanka
Dilshan Madushanka will lead Sri Lanka’s assault in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Madushanka has 31 ODI and 12 T20I wickets to his name at the age of 23. Madushanka is especially good at changing his pace. His natural bowling angle deflects the ball away from a right-handed batter, making hitting him tough. He also has a well-hidden bouncer that may catch batters off guard. For teams seeking for a young pacer, Madushanka will be an appealing choice. He might spark a bidding war between the teams.
Azmatullah Omarzai
Azmatullah Omarzai of Afghanistan was one of the young players who stood out during the 2023 ODI World Cup. In 16 One-Day International innings, he has a batting average of 44.54. He has also taken 13 wickets at a 5.68 economy rate.
Omarzai’s skill set makes him suited for T20 cricket as a middle-order batter who can bowl with both new and old balls. His undefeated 97 against South Africa was the icing on the cake for an incredible season in which he averaged over 70 at a strike rate of 97.78. Omarzai can also swing the new ball. Teams with elderly players could look to Azmatullah to inject some youth into their lineup
