IPL 2021 Mid-Season Transfer Window: Players Who Could be Loaned by Franchises

IPL 2021 Mid-Season Transfer Window: Players Who Could be Loaned by Franchises

Ben Cutting, Mitchell Santner and Sam Billings

The mid-season transfer window of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is currently open now. This would allow franchises to get players on a temporary basis till the end of the season. “The loan Window will begin at 9 a.m. IST on the day following the 20th league match scheduled for the season and will conclude at noon IST on the day following the 56th league match scheduled for the season,” according to the IPL’s rules.

As per the rules, a player can be loaned if he has featured in fewer than two matches during the season at the beginning of the loan period (either in the Playing XI or as a Concussion Replacement). Of note, he will only be loaned once a season, for the rest of the league, and he cannot play against his former team. For the record, during the season, each franchisee can loan no more than three of its players to the same franchisee.”

With a plethora of players leaving the tournament due to concerns over COVID-19, this could be a perfect opportunity to replace them. Some teams are worse affected than the rest and they would hence, want to make signings in the window. An example for this is Rajasthan Royals (RR). Due to injury, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have been ruled out of the IPL, while Liam Livingstone has returned home due to bubble fatigue. Andrew Tye left for Australia on Sunday, citing fear of a COVID-19 outbreak in India, rendering the Royals the team with the most player withdrawals.

Here are the 3 overseas players who could be loaned out to teams like Rajasthan Royals.

Ben Cutting

Ben Cutting
Ben Cutting

Ben Cutting is an all-rounder from Australia who is currently a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. Cutting was a key member of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team that won the title in 2016. He was also in the Mumbai Indians squad which lifted the title in 2019.

Ben Cutting is not only capable of striking huge boundaries, but he can also bowl four useful overs and take wickets. Cutting’s addition is extremely important because he serves as a backup to Chris Morris, the team’s first-choice all-rounder. In the 2020-21 Big Bash League season, he was in good form for Sydney Thunder, scoring 280 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 156.42.

KKR are unlikely to use him in the tournament seeing they already have another world class all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the bench. So, he would be an excellent option to be loaned out.

Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner
Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner is a spin bowling all-rounder from New Zealand. He is a part of the Chennai Super Kings squad, but is yet to play a game this season.  He has scored at a strike rate of 126.89 in 52 T20I matches. Santner has also picked up 60 wickets in T20I.

Santner has been economical in T20Is, with an impressive economy of 7.38. As a result, if he is loaned to other sides like Rajasthan Royals, he would contribute immensely to the team. His batting style will allow Morris to bat more freely.

CSK have a well-settled lineup and it will be difficult for Santner to make his way in the playing XI. Thus, he might be loaned out.

Sam Billings

Sam Billings
Sam Billings

Sam Billings is a wicketkeeper batsman from England who is a part of the Delhi Capitals squad. He is a dependable middle order batter who can play crucial knocks under pressure. In 19 IPL innings, he has scored 334 runs at a decent strike rate of 133. The numbers do not do justice to the quality Sam Billings possesses. He can contribute even in the field.

Delhi Capitals look a well settled side which means there is a limited scope of Sam Billings getting a chance in the playing XI.

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