AUCTION PREVIEW
Follow UsThe dynamics of an IPL auction are complex. If the previous 16 auctions have taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected.
There is no guarantee how high the prices can fly for a few players. However, there are some candidates who were valued highly earlier but are set to undergo a notable price drop this time. Here are a few of them:
Previous contract: INR 13.25 crore
Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad
Brook’s fortunes at IPL 2023 was an eye-opener for many. Based on his immense potential, he fetched a paycheque more than six times his base price, signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for 13.25 crore. However, Brook averaged only 21.1 at a strike rate of 123.4. In 11 innings, he had six scores of less than 10, including three ducks. Brook was dropped and brought back, but barring one hundred, his top score was an unbeaten 27.
Since then, Brook has done decently in the T20 circuit (average 39.7, strike rate 182.9 across 14 innings), but his under-par returns would still be fresh in the minds of many IPL franchises. Also, not many teams are looking for an overseas middle-order batter. If Brook had an additional skillset up his sleeves - he has bowled only two overs in T20 cricket - teams could have indulged more to sign him again. But this time, it feels that we will witness a significant dip in his signing amount.
Previous contract: INR 10.75 crore
Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
The curious case of Shardul Thakur continues in IPL. Among the 11 bowlers who have picked 40 wickets or more in IPL over the last three seasons, Thakur has been the most expensive bowler, going at 9.4 runs per over.
A mercurial cricketer, Thakur played for Delhi Capitals in 2022 at 10.75 crore, and then was traded to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023. Both teams selected him with the hopes of seeing the best of Thakur, only to be disappointed. Consequently, both teams released Thakur.
But it is the paucity of players in this role, an Indian seam-bowling all-rounder, that will keep Thakur relevant in the auction again. There is a buzz that he will don the Chennai jersey again after the auction. But they may not have to fight a lot as Delhi did with two other teams in the 2022 mega-auction, eventually bringing down Thakur’s value at the auction. Also, Harshal Patel, in a similar role is expected to make a lot more bucks than Thakur.
Previous contract: INR 6 crore
Team: Gujarat Titans
Mavi was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 7.25 crore in the 2022 mega-auction where five teams bid for him. Released after one year, he moved to Gujarat Titans, which had to outbid three other teams to obtain Mavi's services at 6 crore. However, he spent the season on the bench.
Unfortunately, Mavi has made more noise at the auction than on the field. The 2022 season was the last time he played an IPL match, picking five wickets for KKR in six matches. He averaged 45.4 runs per wicket at an economy of 10.3. He also did not feature in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2023 after being injured earlier in the series against Ireland.
Hence, Mavi’s credentials are on the lower side. The role of being an Indian seam-bowling all-rounder will still keep him in contention. But with a base price of 50 lakh, his signing amount might not witness a multifold increase this time.
Previous contract: INR 10 crore
Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
IPL franchises have always eyed the New Zealand speedster as a premier pacer to lead the bowling attack. But Ferguson has not been the same force over the last few years. He has managed only 13 wickets over his last 16 IPL games, spanning across two seasons, one each for Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders. He bagged 10 crore on both occasions.
For KKR, he picked a solitary wicket in three games, leaking runs at 12.5 runs per over. Even in T20Is, his numbers have gone south, showcasing an economy of 10.7 in the year 2023. Therefore, Ferguson has not been the player he was expected to be in this league. In addition, this auction has many overseas fast-bowling options that can keep Ferguson’s bid to his base price of 2 crore.
Previous contract: INR 10.75 crore
Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore
Overseas spinners haven’t had good fortunes in the IPL, but Wanindu Hasaranga comes with an x-factor. He is a leg-spinner who can contribute with the bat. His secondary skill fetched him his maiden IPL contract with the Royal Challengers Bangalore at a hefty amount of 10.75 crore.
Albeit, in three seasons, Hasaranga averaged only 7.2 with the bat, at a strike rate of 98.7, reducing his secondary skill to dust. The 2023 season also experienced a dearth in his bowling returns, bringing him only nine wickets at an economy of 8.9. Hence, RCB found it best to release him and invest in their domestic pool of spinners.
In a similar vein to Ferguson, Hasaranga’s T20I numbers have also faded away this year. In addition, he has injury concerns. He last played a professional game four months ago and wasn't fit enough to feature even for a bit at the ODI World Cup.
Furthermore, not many teams are looking for spin-bowling all-rounders. Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad are the only side that may invest in an overseas option in this category. These two franchises also have their spin bowling department secured with Indian recruits who have shone in IPL before - Shahbaz Ahmed and Mayank Markande for SRH, Kumar Kartikeya and Piyush Chawla for MI.
Hasaranga’s best chance of acquiring a big paycheque is if these two sides get into a bidding war, which seems unlikely given there are more crucial spots to fill.
