The Indian T20 League auction is set to get underway on Thursday and franchises are expected to have proper plans in place to get valuable buys under the belt. Some of them will be on the look out for wicket-keepers and the likes of Alex Carey and Shai Hope are sure to generate a stirring interest after their recent displays.
Here we look at five wicket-keeper batsmen who could be on the radar of franchises.
Shai Hope
The West Indies opener is one of the most consistent batsmen in limited-overs cricket these days. While not considered a T20 player, Hope has the flair and substance to put up formidable partnerships at the top of the order and also doubles up as a good wicket-keeping option. Quite a few franchises have firepower at the top, yet no stability and it is here that someone like Hope could be a good pick.
Franchises that could benefit from picking him: Hyderabad, Punjab, Kolkata
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Glenn Phillips
The Kiwi wicket-keeper batsman became a name in the Super Smash in 2016/17 when he made 369 runs, including a 57-ball 116, in the season and topped the run charts. Phillips was a key player in 2018 in the Caribbean Premier League for Jamaica Tallahwahs, making 457 runs in 11 innings and finishing as the second highest run-getter. Phillips has an in-your-face attribute which could work well for most franchises.
Franchises that could benefit from picking him: Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai
Alex Carey
The Australian wicket-keeper batsman is a versatile T20 batsman and can switch between attack and defense as the situation demands. He has played six T20Is for Australia this year but hasn't had to bat even once. That said, his ODI exploits were so impressive that Carey could be a great pick in the auction. In the World Cup, he made 375 runs in 10 matches at 62.5 while scoring at 104.16. Later in the T20 Blast, Carey slammed 264 runs in 10 games for the Sussex Sharks, scoring at 152.6. He could be a very handy finisher for franchises and is a terrific keeper behind the stumps.
Franchises that could benefit from picking him: Rajasthan, Punjab, Hyderabad
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Mushfiqur Rahim
The Bangladesh middle-order batsman is a rather underrated T20 player. In 178 matches in the format, Rahim has 3617 runs at an average of 27.19 and strikes at a rate of 128. He has further effected 89 catches and 43 stumpings in the format. Capable of playing the sheet anchor role, Rahim has been often neglected in the auction but this time comes off the back of a match-winning 96* for Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League. He could grab a few eyeballs this auction and be an experienced pick for many franchises.
Franchises that could benefit from picking him: Hyderabad, Delhi
Kedar Devdhar
A domestic wicket-keeper batsman who plays for Baroda, Kedar Devdhar is a rather understated player and could be in for a decent gig at the auction this time around. In 2018, he made a maiden hundred in the format for Baroda against Gujarat. In the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, Devdhar made 356 runs in 10 matches averaging close to 40 and scoring three half-centuries. The wicket-keeper batsman is a good option for a lot of teams this auction.
Franchises that could benefit from picking him: Delhi, Bangalore, Rajasthan
Feature image courtesy: AFP / STR
