IPL 2024
Five teams that might target Lockie Ferguson in IPL mini-auction 2024
Lockie Ferguson is one of the fastest bowlers in the world currently. The Kiwi pacer can knock down the batters with his sheer pace. The express pacer is known for his consistency in delivering for his side. Ever since he joined the league in 2017, Lockie has made a name for himself. Although he could go for runs, Ferguson can be trusted to pick wickets for the sides. In the middle overs phase, Ferguson is highly effective as a bowler. At times, batters find it difficult to score runs against him.
Ferguson has played for three different franchises in the league. In 2017, he played for RPS. The star pacer played for KKR in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2022, the Kiwi pacer played for GT and helped them to list the title. Ahead of the IPL 2024, KKR released him owing to various reasons. A lot of teams need a quality overseas pacer. Ferguson with his extreme pace is likely to be picked by the franchises for a high price. The right-arm fast bowler might be one of the players in huge demand in the IPL auction 2024.
Here are the 5 teams that might target Lockie Ferguson in the IPL mini-auction 2024:
5. Punjab Kings
Lockie Ferguson (Source: Twitter)
Punjab Kings lack a pacer to support Kagiso Rabada at the other end. The North Indian franchise need an overseas pacer with enough exposure in the league and the international level to be there for them in the season. The rough patch of Arshdeep Singh has not gone well for them. It asks PBKS to get someone who could bowl well in the middle overs and death overs. Although PBKS has some good pacers like Nathan Ellis and Sam Curran, they need someone who can operate at a good pace.
Ferguson does not just have the pace but has good control over it. With his variation of pace, the Kiwi pacer can be very useful for PBKS. Not to forget, the conditions in Mohali and Dharamshala suit Lockie’s style of bowling. Mohali is one of the biggest cricket grounds in India. Dharamshala has some assistance for the pacers usually. Ferguson can be handy at the death as well, as he has a very good yorker. PBKS has every reason to go behind the Kiwi pacer. They would be hoping to get him in the auction.
4. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Lockie Ferguson (Source: Twitter)
Sunrisers Hyderabad is in dire need of a quality pacer. The South Indian franchise lacked a genuine pacer who could run through the batting lineups in the middle overs. Barring Mayank Markande and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, other bowlers proved to be ineffective in the IPL 2023. It was one of the reasons behind the failure of SRH in the season as a unit. The likes of Marco Jansen, Umran Malik, and Sundar did not have that good a season with the ball. SRH would want to rectify it.
SRH also need someone who can operate at an extreme pace. Although they have Umran Malik to do the job for the same, the youngster is not that good in his ability to control the length. Ferguson could help the SRH attack with his death bowling. There is a need for SRH to assist Bhuvneshwar in the fag end of the innings. Lockie with his change of pace and variations can be handy for SRH. With the conditions in Hyderabad a bit helpful for the pacers, Ferguson might be targeted by SRH in the auction.
3. Kolkata Knight Riders
Lockie Ferguson (Source: Twitter)
Kolkata Knight Riders have an association with Ferguson for three seasons. In 2020, 2021 and 2023, Ferguson played for KKR. In 2023, the star pacer did not get to play as many games as he would have liked. Given his price tag, KKR probably released him. But when on song, Ferguson won many matches for KKR with his might. For instance, in 2020, he won the match against SRH with his good death bowling. In the super over, he again helped KKR to dismiss SRH to a low score in the match.
In 2021, Ferguson was the key death bowler of KKR. They had the spinners who did most of the damage in the middle overs. But it was Lockie who controlled the back end of their play. Somehow, KKR did not pick him again in 2022. But in 2023, KKR got him in trade in exchange for Shivam Mavi with GT. Due to not so good performance in the season, KKR released him ahead of the IPL auction 2024. But if Lockie proves to be not so expensive, KKR would not mind buying him back in the auction.
2. Chennai Super Kings
Lockie Ferguson (Source: Twitter)
Chennai Super Kings have one of the highest purses for a side in the auction. Yet, they do not seem to have many purchases to make. It is a huge advantage for them, as they can go for players they wish to get. Ideally, they would be looking to buy the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood from the auction. But if they find it difficult to buy them, the focus might shift to Lockie. He can be very good for CSK if they manage to get him. Players like him need backing from the management.
CSK are known to be a side with good management. The players in the franchise are backed well by the South Indian franchise. Ferguson with his pace would be an asset to CSK. The 5-time world champions actually lack a pacer with enough exposure at the international level. Ferguson could fill that void very well to be the leader of the attack. Compared to other star pacers, Ferguson might be easily available. CSK has a history of picking such players to get the best out of them in the roles they want to be fulfilled.
1. Gujarat Titans
Lockie Ferguson (Source: Twitter)
Gujarat Titans made a lot of changes to their squad ahead of the IPL auction 2024. The biggest news of the retention, releases, and trading was the cash deal between GT and MI. MI spent INR 15 crores to purchase their former player, Hardik Pandya, back. With that, GT released some of its players like Alzarri Joseph, Shivam Mavi, Yash Dayal, and others. With that, their bowling needs to be fixed again. There is a lot of purchase to be made by the Gujarat-based franchise in the IPL auction 2024.
They need to get some world class pacers to assist Mohammed Shami. In the middle overs, they have a 4-overs bank in the form of Rashid Khan. Although they could trust Noor Ahmad, they need an overseas pacer to take the burden away from Shami and Mohit Sharma. With Ferguson up for grabs and having already played a season for the franchise in the past, he might well be picked by the 2022 champions in the auction. The Kiwi player can solve many problems of the 2023 runner ups in a positive way.