IPL 2024 Auction: Top five overseas prospects to watch out for. Top five overseas players who can attract highest bid.
It is that time of the year when the cricketing calendar turns towards anticipation and excitement. Fans worldwide brace themselves for the spectacle of the IPL auction.
Despite its 'Indian' nomenclature, the league's allure is undeniably global, with overseas players bringing their formidable skills to the competition. In the forthcoming auction, all eyes will once again be on coveted international talents, sparking bidding wars among teams.
Out of 333 players who have been shortlisted for going under the hammer on 19th December, 119 fall under the overseas quota. There are 77 slots available for the 10 teams and 30 overseas slots are up for grabs at the mini-auction.
Let's explore the top 5 overseas players, poised to be prime targets, as franchises seek to fortify their squads for the exhilarating IPL 2024 season ahead.
Mitchell Starc (AUS)
Mitchell Starc, making his IPL return after the 2018 auction, is expected to find himself on the shortlist of several teams. Though his on-field presence might be limited, his unmatched experience adds value.
KKR, having released 6 pacers, can eye him. RCB on the other hand, might seek their former player back at the Chinnaswamy. With an impressive T20 career featuring 121 matches and 170 wickets at an average of 19.54 and an economy of 7.45, Starc is a coveted asset.
Teams will be enticed, at his auction appearance, which can likely earn him a substantial bid of who knows? Maybe a 7+ Crore INR. Being a high-profile left-arm pacer from Australia it wouldn’t be a surprise at all.
Will Gujarat Titans invest a significant chunk of their big budget in Starc's talent? Maybe coupling their right-arm fast Mohammed Shami with left-arm Starc. Or could it be Mumbai Indians drawing him in their ‘Paltan’ as they desperately need overseas pacers? Surely Starc is setting the stage for an intriguing bidding war in the upcoming auction.
Read More: Franchises release 81 players ahead of IPL 2024 Auction; RCB has highest purse of INR 40.75 Cr
Travis Head (AUS)
Travis Head emerges as a potential standout in this year's IPL auction, mirroring the case of Harry Brook in the 2023 auction. His stellar performances against India in the World Cup, coupled with recent success on Indian soil, make him a prime candidate for a substantial double-digit sale.
Teams like Delhi Capitals, driven by the Australian connection or Rajasthan Royals, who require an overseas middle-order batter, may vie for Head. After notable displays in the ODI World Cup semi-final and final, Head's explosive batting makes him a sought-after purchase for franchises like KKR and SRH, addressing their struggles with opening from the previous season. Teams will also be enthused by his occasional off-spin option that can be used as a matchup.
Despite a base price of 2 Crore, Head is poised to command a significant price at the auction. He has an impressive T20I career with 544 runs in 22 innings at an average of 29.15 and a strike rate of 146.17.
Rachin Ravindra (NZ)
Similar to Travis Head, Rachin Ravindra possesses a trifecta of auction-worthy attributes. For a left-handed batter with proficiency in left-arm orthodox spin, determining a ballpark sale price for Rachin becomes challenging due to these factors. Questions arise about his T20 batting prowess, despite his impressive 50-over World Cup performance, raising queries about a potential strike rate.
Predicting his destination proves challenging, with lower-budget teams like Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants potentially facing difficulties in the competitive marketplace. The notion that he 'feels' like a CSK player adds intrigue. Delhi Capitals, having released a few middle-order batters, may be in the market for someone like Rachin.
Punjab in the quest for a solid number three might break their bank to get Rachin on their roster. In this year’s ODI World Cup, he made 578 runs in 10 matches at a staggering average of 64.22 and a strike rate of 106.44. He also managed to pick up five wickets at an economy of 5.98.
Harry Brook (ENG)
During the previous IPL season, Harry Brook secured a lucrative deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad, and it was evident that recency bias played a significant role in his purchase. Despite being recognized as a considerable prospect, the price tag assigned to Brook seemed disproportionately high, a realization that the new SRH management has acknowledged by releasing him.
As the upcoming auction approaches, a more pragmatic estimate for Brook's value hovers around 3-4 Crore, indicating a notable reduction from his previous acquisition cost. But still as per the dynamics of a mini-auction where there isn’t an excess of a particular skill set, can result in going at a higher price as well.
It wouldn't be surprising if Brook initially faced the possibility of going unsold, only to potentially attract bids during the accelerated phase of the auction. Even though he did not have a good debut season with SRH one cannot neglect the fact that he is a solid batting option in the top order of any team.
Gerald Coetzee (SA)
The South Africa fast bowler is poised to garner significant bids, especially after a standout performance in the recent World Cup that elevated his recognition. The prominence of recency bias is expected in his case as well. Teams might view him as a valuable long-term asset with room for improvement in the coming years.
Assessing Gerald Coetzee's probable sale price, a price tag below 5 Crore would be surprising, but the possibility of a double-digit figure cannot be dismissed. CSK may express interest, given the Joburg Super Kings connection. Gujarat Titans, with a substantial budget at their disposal, are likely to explore pace bowling reinforcements at the auction. Teams like Mumbai Indians who have a dearth of overseas space bowlers and KKR can also cast an eye upon him. In 40 T20 matches, he has 57 wickets at an average of 19.49 and an economy of 8.06.
As the IPL auction approaches, anticipation builds as to where these players will land and with what price tags. The dynamics of team strategies and budget considerations add an extra layer of excitement to the forthcoming auction proceedings.
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