English seamer Saqib Mahmood has been one of the few amongst the visitors to impress in their ongoing limited-overs tour of India so far. The Birmingham-born speedster, known to touch 145 kmph, is renowned for getting the ball to reverse, but has been unable to display this skill due to the paucity of time.
While he has, in the past, concentrated on red-ball cricket, having rejected an IPL offer in 2022 to concentrate on his Test career, a white-ball contract with Lancashire recently might mean he is now available for T20 leagues, including the IPL. With that in mind, here are three teams that could go after Saqib Mahmood in the upcoming IPL auction.

1.Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Build the feared bowling attack that is going to be unstoppable Mahmood’s knowledge could perhaps be most by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who don’t have any overseas seamers beyond the young Shamar Joseph from West Indies. While Joseph is a new-ball specialist, Mahmood would have been the one who gives accuracy along with an all-round package.

Why LSG should consider Mahmood?
Mahmood LSG pacer aimed to get in the mix:  Mahmood is a good paceman for sure, with no other regular overseas seamer in LSG.
Mahmood would give tremendous variety and balance restricting the powerful Indian seamers such as Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep, and Mohsin Khan.
Only Ravi Bishnoi even has serious IPL experience in LSG's bowling attack and their pace department looks very green.
Lucknow Super Giants, with Mahmood in the lineup, would have one of the worst pace attacks and would not lead them to the good part of the season. 

2.Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Strength to the Fast Bowling Unit
The Rajasthan Royals have always been a team which seeks youth and emerging talent. Mahmood would be the perfect fit for their fast bowling unit. They have some great bowling assets already, such as Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna. But they might need another express pacer who can provide breakthroughs both in the powerplay and the death overs.

Why RR May Go For Mahmood?
With Boult aging and probably playing selective matches, RR needs a backup strike bowler.
Mahmood generates sharp bounce and movement. That makes him a good choice.
RR play half their games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium where pacers get some help with the new ball.
If Rajasthan Royals can manage to get his services, then Mahmood would prove to be a deadly combination with their current quicks and their bowling line-up would look all the more dangerous.

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3. Punjab Kings
Had Mahmood been picked by the Punjab Kings in the auction held in November 2024, they may not have gone for the Australian Xavier Bartlett. And this may not have been a bad decision, given that Mahmood has much more experience in international cricket than the Brisbane Heat's Bartlett.

With Lockie Ferguson the second overseas seamer and Arshdeep Singh a leader of the attack, Mahmood would have enjoyed being a part of the PBKS. The pitches in PCA Stadium at Mohali as well as the new one at Mullanpur do encourage pace and carry, and this would have been music to Mahmood's ears.