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Hashim Amla and George Bailey: IPL teams turn to discarded cricketers from IPL 9 auction

Hashim Amla joining the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) should also help their dwindling batting fortunes in the ongoing IPL 2016.

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Hashim Amla © Getty Images
Hashim Amla © Getty Images

The list was pretty long: Hashim Amla, Martin Guptill, George Bailey, Usman Khawaja, Michael Hussey (now commentating), Chris Jordan and many more. These players might be forming the core of their respective national sides or even carrying out critical roles, the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams did not think of them highly when it came to the IPL 2016 auction in Bengaluru a few months ago. But as the tournament reaches its halfway stage with unfortunate injuries robbing the teams off their core players, they have finally began turning to the reserves, with Amla being the latest one to join the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). ALSO READ: Hashim Amla to replace Shaun Marsh for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2016

As freakish as it may read, it has been the Australians who have been in a hurry to leave the competition midway due to injuries. Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Shaun Marsh and John Hastings are the few big names who played some part of the tournament at least. Then there are Mitchell Starc and Joel Paris, who bowed out of IPL 9 even before it began. ALSO READ: Steven Smith ruled out of IPL 2016 due to wrist injury

With injuries striking at a very wrong time, spoiling the plans and team combinations and even hurting their chances going further into the tournament, IPL teams are forced to look no further than the men who had been discarded before, in the IPL 9 auction.

New Zealand’s dashing batsman Guptill, who began the ICC World T20 2016 with a six off the tournament’s first ball, has been drafted in by Mumbai Indians (MI).  Having lost many games due to their substandard bowling, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have sought the help of England’s Jordan to revive their bowling fortunes. But the worst hit has to be Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). ALSO READ: Mitchell Marsh ruled out of IPL 2016 due to side strain

From Kevin Pietersen to Faf du Plessis to Smith, Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) find themselves in shreds with their batting line-up being ripped off its attraction, and Mitchell Marsh being ruled out had their bowling department taking a hit as well. Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) have now sought some help from Bailey, who was unceremoniously done away with by Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) even after a splendid campaign in IPL 2014.

Bailey will now become an obvious choice in the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) playing XI, as he has the requisite experience in the IPL and he will be raring to go and prove a point to his former franchise, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), who have just roped in South African batting mainstay Amla after their star batsman Shaun Marsh was ruled out.

Amla comes into his first IPL tournament as a second choice player, and the right-handed batsman, whose feats in the shortest formats of the game are as good as his feats in the others, will take this opportunity with both hands. Amla has been doing a terrific job with Quinton de Kock for South Africa, sometimes playing uncharacteristic strokes and innings that surprise many, as he has been one of the finest in Test arena as well.

Amla joining the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) should also help their dwindling batting fortunes, especially when their star batsmen in David Miller and Glenn Maxwell not living up to the expectations. Both Miller and Maxwell have left a lot to be desired, but with someone as consistent as Amla coming in, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) can take a short sigh of relief as they have their opening woes sorted out.

(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)

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