From Wayne Parnell to Ben Stokes: Top five all-rounders at the IPL auction

In the era of modern cricket, all-rounders are the most valued asset of any team considering the multi-dimensional talent that they bring to the sides at the price of one. They can chip in with valuable runs at any part of the innings and chime in with crucial scalps to make it a blockbuster for their respective sides.

Talking about all-rounders, the addition of decent ones makes a team pretty balanced in the shortest format of the game, imparting some emphatic leeway to the specialists to get the job done in their respective departments. Here are our picks of the top five all-rounders who can be doing important rounds in the auction.

1.    Sam Curran

When you are talking about all-rounders after the T20 World Cup, no other name gets bigger than this youngster. The English quick made life a living hell for the batters and added some crucial solidity towards the toe-end of the English batting unit. Curran thrives on his swing and the kind of charge that he brings to the platter early in the powerplay makes him quite a pick to go for. He is also someone who can bowl exceptionally well under the pump that makes him one of the most audacious players to take the field. Given his recent imperious form, Curran can very well be a big hit in the upcoming IPL.

2.    Cameron Green

Coming out in the most blazing colours against India in Australia’s last visit, Cameron Green is an absolute game-changer. A dynamic striker of the cherry known for his ability to bring out the big strikes, Cameron Green also adds as a valuable bowling option. Even though it is too early to say, he is one of those effective weapons in a team’s arsenal who can get the job done all by himself. With the Indian tracks sharing a reputation for magnanimous giveaway to the batters, Cameron Green could wreak havoc when Hugh Edmeades throws his name under the gavel.

3.    Sikandar Raza

Sikandar Raza has proven himself to be a strong contender of being a valuable asset to any team, especially in terms of his all-round flair. A strong middle-order batter known for his fearless batting, Raza can also chime in with crucial wickets under the pump, as he showed against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Only time will tell who would like to have the Zimbabwean all-round prodigy in their ranks as Friday comes closer.

4.    Ben Stokes

The man with the golden arm will definitely be a leading moniker to unleash absolute madness when his name gets called up in the auction room. A fine striker of the ball and a bowling option who can slot in at any phase, Ben Stokes is a big-match player. Known for balancing his acts perfectly both with the bat and the ball, Stokes is one of those elite names that would be taking part in this year’s auction.

5.    Wayne Parnell

Ever since his return to the international side, Wayne Parnell has been a thorn in the batters’ flesh and has also scored a few important runs with the bat, providing depth and stability to any side that he is a part of. He has a perfect yorker up his sleeve and can get the ball to move around early in the innings that makes him quite an obvious choice for any T20 side. Come Friday, we would know which franchise would like to get the South African southpaw in their ranks.