Cricket

IPL 2024 Auction Analysis: Gujarat Titans get what they need with two finishers in Shahrukh Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai

GT did some serious business in the auction, primarily looking for a finisher. And GT might have just got what they needed: Two possible finishers in Shahrukh Khan (Rs 7.40 crore) and Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai (Rs 50 lakh).

FirstCricket Staff December 21, 2023 06:00:09 IST

Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai was in fine form at the ODI World Cup. AP

Gujarat Titans (GT) splashed a whopping Rs 30.30 crore in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 player auction in Dubai. Ahead of the auction, GT were left with a huge void to fill in after the departure of their captain Hardik Pandya, who returned to his former side Mumbai Indians (MI) and is now the five-time champions’ skipper.

GT did some serious business in the auction, primarily looking for a finisher. And GT might have just got what they needed: Two possible finishers in Shahrukh Khan (Rs 7.40 crore) and Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai (Rs 50 lakh) who was influential in their memorable ODI World Cup campaign.

Pre-auction strategy

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The primary area of focus for the IPL 2022 champions was the need for all-rounder following Hardik Pandya;s departure to MI. And in Shahrukh Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai, GT got two all-rounders who can also be match-winners.

GT’s spin department was more or less sorted with Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore and Noor Ahmad. GT though did add a few pace batteries to their lineup with the acquisitions of Umesh Yadav (Rs 5.80 crore), Spencer Johnson (Rs 10 crore) and Kartik Tyagi (Rs 60 lakh).

Strengths

Of course, a player of Hardik Pandya’s stature cannot be replaced, but the acquisitions Shahrukh Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai have certainly boosted GT’s middle-order batting. Shahrukh Khan has time and again proven his capability as a finisher, and his presence only adds depth to GT with another addition as a match-winner. We all know what Rahul Tewatia and David Miller have done for GT before, so maybe Shahrukh Khan might prove to be a worthwhile investment.

Getting in Umesh Yadav as a backup pace option could also be a win-win situation for GT. Yes, GT do already have Mohammed Shami in their ranks, but should Shami suffer setbacks of any sort, then the management can look at Umesh as their pace bowling backup. Age might be against Umesh Yadav currently, but with his immense experience in the team and the ability to take wickets at will makes him a force still to be reckoned with.

Weaknesses

Lack of a backup Indian wicketkeeper might be hurting Gujarat Titans. Wriddhiman Saha is currently the only designated Indian wicketkeeper in the side, but Saha has been injury prone in the past and it was in this context that GT needed a backup keeper for him.

Best buy

Australia pacer Spencer Johnson is an exciting talent having played for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. Johnson, though, came into the limelight earlier this year, during The Hundred tournament in England, when he registered figures of 3/1 against Manchester Originals in a league game at The Oval.

Spencer Johnson is an exciting prospect, and thanks to his price tag of Rs 10 crore, it looks as though big things are coming for the 28-year-old.

Worst buy

For a team boasting of a pace attack of Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma to now Umesh Yadav and Spencer Johnson, another pacer in Sushant Mishra may not have been needed. GT spent a whopping Rs 2.20 crore on the 22-year-old and only time will tell if the youngster gets regular game time, given the depth of pace bowling Gujarat Titans already possess.

Players bought by GT at IPL 2024 Auction: Azmatullah Omarzai (Rs 50 lakh), Umesh Yadav (Rs 5.80 crore), Manav Suthar (Rs 20 lakh), Shahrukh Khan (Rs 7.4 crore), Sushant Mishra (Rs 2.2 crore), Kartik Tyagi (Rs 60 lakh), Spencer Johnson (Rs 10 crore), Robin Minz (Rs 3.6 crore)

GT full squad: Abhinav Sadarangani, B. Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, David Miller, Jayant Yadav, Joshua Little, Kane Williamson, Matthew Wade, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, R. Sai Kishore, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha, Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Manav Suthar, Shahrukh Khan, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Spencer Johnson, Robin Minz

Purse left: Rs 7.85 crore

Overseas slots remaining: 0

Total available slots: 0