Supergiants' list of possible replacements

At the moment, Rising Pune Supergiants need nurses more than fans. And selectors who can act quickly. And contacts in various embassies to arrange visas as soon as possible. They have lost all four of their first-choice overseas players to injuries: opener Faf du Plessis, No. 3 Steven Smith, big-hitter Kevin Pietersen and allrounder Mitchell Marsh. They have only got one replacement in, Australia's Usman Khawaja, who can take du Plessis' place at the top of the order. Here are ESPNcricinfo's best options for the other replacements. There is one catch: replacements can be picked only from the original list of players that entered the auction.

Darren Sammy: It was a surprise that the big-hitting West Indies allrounder went unsold at the auction in the first place. Especially against some of the Indian bowlers, he can turn games around in 10 balls. And with MS Dhoni not exactly firing, this is the firepower Supergiants could use in the lower-middle order.

Jimmy Neesham/Grant Elliott: They competed for one slot in the New Zealand sides for the two World Cups in the last two years. They could find themselves competing for this one slot again. Neesham could have the upper hand here: Elliott was preferred in the already batting-heavy New Zealand sides for his experience over batting credentials; Supergiants need batting skill first.

Wayne Parnell: Not exactly an allrounder, but the South African could get some big hits away and address some of Supergiants' bowling woes. He has form behind him, albeit in first-class cricket: he has taken five-fors in three of the last four innings he has bowled in.

Marlon Samuels: Twice Man of the Match in the World T20 final, Samuels on a good day can hold the innings together before exploding at the right time. Not as industrious as Smith, but if someone in the coaching staff can do a Ben Stokes impression and rile him up, who knows what Samuels might be capable of.

Johnson Charles: Dhoni has witnessed first hand in the World T20 semi-final that Charles can be dangerous. He is an excellent boundary rider to boot.

Tamim Iqbal: Highest run-getter in the World T20. Several of those runs came against the Associates, yes, but, at any rate, some of the IPL attacks are not better than the Associates'.

Rilee Rossouw: Not in great form, admittedly, but once he gets going this South Africa middle order batsman - average 27, strike rate 130 - can be a dangerous hitter in the middle and end overs. Exactly what Supergiants have missed.

Michael Hussey: Left-field selection, but a convenient one too. Dhoni loves him, he loves Dhoni (have you heard his commentary?), and they won't even need a visa for him; he is already in India, with the television crews. Surely he can come out of retirement for half a season?

Kevin O'Brien: Fits into both the allrounder and big-hitter categories. He is canny with cutters, almost Shane Watson-like, and Indian spectators hardly need reminding that the man from Ireland can hit the ball big.