IPL Mini Auction: Can 20 Crore Record Shatter? 10 Teams with 262 Crore Fund Eye Top Players like Rachin-Starc, Cummins

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to commence from March 23 this year, with the auction scheduled for December 19. Ten teams will participate, and the IPL auction will kick off in Dubai at 1:00 PM on December 19. A total of 333 players will be up for grabs, with a maximum of 77 players available for purchase. Among them, 30 slots are reserved for foreign players.

In the current auction pool, teams still have INR 262.95 crores available. Four teams—Gujarat, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai—have a budget exceeding INR 30 crores for their remaining purchases. The potential exists for a historic record as the IPL’s most expensive player may command a price surpassing INR 20 crores. Explore more about the top 10 players in this auction…

1. Rachin Ravindra: The Left-Arm Spinner Making Waves in World Cricket

New Zealand’s left-arm spinning all-rounder, Rachin Ravindra, made a significant impact in the World Cup with three centuries. The 24-year-old impressed with a batting average of 64.22, showcasing his skills in both spin and pace bowling in the top order.

Rachin, valued at INR 50 lakhs, has a strike rate of approximately 118 in T20 internationals, having played 18 matches for New Zealand. He is expected to be a key player in the upcoming IPL auction, where teams like Gujarat, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai have budgets exceeding INR 29 crores. Any team can bid for Rachin in the auction.

2. Travis Head: Aggressive Batsman and Big-Match Player

Australian opener Travis Head played a crucial role in Australia winning the World Cup, scoring 137 runs in the final against India. Known for his aggressive batting, Head maintained a strike rate of over 127 in T20s, accumulating 554 runs in 23 matches.

Purchased by SRH for INR 13.25 crores in the previous IPL auction, Head struggled in Hyderabad’s challenging pitch conditions, managing only 190 runs in 11 matches. However, teams like SRH, KKR, GT, and DC, each with a purse exceeding INR 28 crores, may consider bidding for Head in the auction.

3. Harry Brook: Attacking Batsman with a Boundary-Hitting Flair

England’s middle-order batsman, Harry Brook, is known for his aggressive batting and has an impressive strike rate of 141.02, accumulating 495 runs in 25 T20 matches. Brook, with a base price of INR 2 crores, played for KKR in the last IPL, scoring 205 runs at a strike rate of 138.51.

Teams like Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mohali, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad, with flat pitches, are expected to bid for Brook, who may command a price ranging from INR 10 to 15 crores in the upcoming auction. Explore more about Brook’s inclusion in Set-1 of the auction

4. Shardul Thakur: Impactful Moments with the Ball, Aggressive Batsman and Finisher

Indian team’s fast bowler Shardul Thakur has the ability to take crucial wickets at important times. He can contribute with powerful shots lower down the order and can finish matches. Shardul has taken 33 wickets in T20 internationals for India.

Having already proven his mettle in all three formats for India, Shardul Thakur was bought by Delhi for INR 10.75 crores in the mega auction of 2022. In the previous season, he played for Kolkata, where he scored 113 runs and took 6 wickets. Shardul has a notable record in the IPL with 89 wickets and 286 runs in 86 matches.

Shardul Thakur, an all-rounder, is in demand among teams like GT, CSK, SRH, PBKS, and RCB, looking for a robust bidding war for his services.

5. Pat Cummins: World Cup-Winning Captain, Fast Bowler, and Aggressive Batter

Pat Cummins, the Australian captain who led his team to victory in the World Cup and excelled in T20 and World Test Championship, is a key player in any international team. With 55 wickets and 116 runs in 50 T20 internationals, the experienced 30-year-old has a remarkable international cricket record of 438 wickets and 1717 runs.

In the IPL, Cummins has scored 379 runs and taken 45 wickets in 42 matches. Bought for INR 15.50 crores in 2020, he remains a valuable asset and is expected to attract high bids from teams like CSK, SRH, PBKS, and RCB in the upcoming auction.

6. Wanindu Hasaranga: World-Class Leg Spinner, Expert in Hitting Big Shots

Sri Lankan leg-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga holds the third position in T20 rankings for bowlers. While excelling as a bowler with 91 wickets in 58 T20 matches for Sri Lanka, Hasaranga is also capable of batting in the lower order, having scored 533 runs.

RCB acquired Hasaranga for INR 10.75 crores in the IPL auction. Despite not playing many matches last season due to injury, he has an impressive record of 35 wickets in 26 IPL matches.

Hasaranga’s name is set to feature in the set-2 of the auction, with a base price of INR 1.50 crores. Teams like RCB, KKR, and CSK may engage in a bidding war for his services.

7. Michael Starc: A Threat with Both Ball and Bat

Australia’s left-arm fast bowler, Michael Starc, can pose a danger with both old and new balls. After an 8-year hiatus, Starc may participate in the IPL again, having last played for RCB in 2015. Proficient in both old and new ball bowling, Starc possesses speed and swing. Besides being aggressive in the lower order, Starc is also skilled in batting.

In the upcoming T20 World Cup 2023, Starc, renowned for taking 16 wickets in 58 T20 matches and 73 wickets in 73 ODIs, has a total of 647 wickets across all formats. Despite being bought by KKR for 9.40 crore INR in 2018, he couldn’t feature due to injuries.

Starc is a top name in the set of fast bowlers and commands a base price of 2 crore INR. With a bidding war expected between Rajasthan and Hyderabad, he might become the most expensive bowler in the auction.

8. Gerald Kootzhi: Success in Death Overs with Pace and Bounce

South African right-arm pace bowler Gerald Kootzhi made a mark in the World Cup by taking 20 wickets. His speed and bounce can be effective on Indian pitches and attract IPL teams. Despite having played only 4 T20 matches, Kootzhi might make his IPL debut and has experience in Test cricket as well.

Kootzhi, with just 6 wickets in T20 internationals, has 60 wickets in 42 domestic T20 matches. With a base price of 2 crores, teams like Gujarat, Hyderabad, and Punjab might bid for him, and he is a potential bidding war candidate for KKR, RR, and RCB.

9. Harshal Patel: Specialist in Slow Bowling with Batting Prowess

Right-arm pacer Harshal Patel was released by RCB after 111 wickets in 91 IPL matches. Proficient in slow and deceptive bowling, Patel is effective in middle

and death overs, with the added ability to contribute significantly with the bat. In T20 internationals, Patel has taken 29 wickets in 25 matches, and in the last season, he took 14 wickets in 13 matches. RCB bought him for 10.75 crore INR in the mega auction, and CSK and SRH engaged in a bidding war afterward.

Harshal Patel is in the set-2 category for the auction, with a base price of 2 crore INR. Teams like Lucknow, Punjab, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi might bid heavily for him.

10. Lockie Ferguson: Power in Speed and Bounce, Wickets in the Middle Overs

New Zealand’s fast bowler Lockie Ferguson was released by KKR, having been bought for 10 crore INR. Known for his speed and bounce, Ferguson is effective in cross-seam bowling in middle and death overs. He has taken 44 wickets in 33 T20 internationals for New Zealand and 37 wickets in 38 IPL matches.

Ferguson is in the set-4 category for the auction, with a base price of 2 crore INR. Teams like RR, RCB, CSK, MI, SRH, and PBKS might engage in a bidding war for Ferguson.

Bonus: Sam Curran – The Most Expensive Player in IPL History

England’s Sam Curran is the most expensive player in IPL history. Bought by Punjab Kings for 18.50 crore INR in the last season, his record-breaking deal might be surpassed in the upcoming auction.