IPL 2024: 5 Players with INR 2 crore base price who may go unsold in mini-auction

Kedhar Jadhav (Photo Source : Twitter/IPL)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 mini-auction is set to be held on December 19, in Dubai. It will be the first time an IPL auction will happen outside India.

There have been 1166 registrations for the auction, which will be the final mini-auction before next year’s mega auction.

Notably, there are 77 places available, with 30 of them reserved for international players. The ten teams can spend a total of INR 262.95 crore.

Each team would have a budget of INR 100 crore, up from INR 95 crore the previous year. This is the final year of each player’s three-year contract, and a mega-auction is planned for next year.

There are a few names who have registered at the highest base price of INR 2 crores, which include the likes of  Harshal Patel, Kedar Jadhav, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, and Angelo Mathews are some of the notable names in the list.

However, given the limited amount of purses to the franchises and available slots as well, it seems many of these players might go unsold. In the same vein, let’s have a look at five such names who have kept their base price at INR 2 crores but might go unsold.

Here are the 5 Players with INR 2 crore base price who may go unsold in IPL 2024 auction:

5. Kedar Jadhav

Kedhar Jadhav (Photo Source: Twitter/IPL)

Kedar Jadhav had gone unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction and in IPL 2023 was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalores as a replacement player. The almost 39-year-old Jadhav has played 163 T20Is, scoring 2592 runs with 84* as his best score and a strike rate of 129.53. In IPL, he has accumulated 1208 runs in 95 matches.

Many have been surprised that Jadhav decided to keep his base price at INR 2 crores. Especially, since his performance has been very poor in the past seasons he has played in IPL. His last game for India was in 2020 and it remains unlikely that a franchise will splurge 2 crores on a player way past his prime.

4. Angelo Mathews

Angelo Mathews. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Angelo Mathews is an experienced campaigner in international cricket and in leagues as well. He has played 78 T20Is scoring 1148 runs at a strike rate of 117.84 and taking 38 wickets. Overall, in 196 T20Is, he has 3247 runs and 92 wickets. He has been part of the Indian Premier League as well.

However, his poor performance and injury issues have kept him from having a long run in the IPL. He managed 49 matches, scoring 724 runs and taking 27 wickets. At 37, Mathews has seen better days and it seems franchises have also moved on from him. This might mean, Mathews might not find a buyer for himself in the IPL 2023 auction.

3. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Kolkata Knight Riders have released veteran India bowler Umesh Yadav ahead of the IPL 2024. In IPL 2023, he only took one wicket in eight matches, compared to his 136 scalps in 141 IPL matches. The 36-year-old is now competing for a new franchise in the IPL 2024 auction.

Once, one of the most sought-after bowlers in the IPL, Umesh Yadav struggled to be consistent in the tournament. He had a wonderful IPL 2022 which also led to his brief comeback in the Indian team, because of his 16 wickets. However, he managed just one scalp in 8 games the next season. The 37-year-old pacer might go unsold in this IPL 2024 auction, due to his base price and downwards effectiveness. 

2. David Willey

David-Willey. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Recently retired David Willey of England finished off his international career well and is free of obligations to take part in T20 leagues. His first stop will be the IPL 2024 auction where he has kept his base price at INR 2 crores. Notably, the southpaw just played just 11 matches across three IPL seasons with 6 wickets to his name.

While previously franchises refrained from going for Willey due to his England commitments. But this time, it seems that his lack of form and performance, in combination with his high base price might affect his chances in the IPL 2024 auction. There is a visible lack of trust in David Willey’s abilities in the IPL given his previous outings and recent performances, despite his 11 wickets in the recent ICC World Cup at an economy of 5.07.

1. Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Harshal Patel had an excellent IPL 2021 where he picked 32 wickets including a fifer and also became the winner of the purple cap. RCB used him perfectly in the death overs and he got wickets as batters tried to slog him for quick runs in the ending overs of the innings. RCB had splurged INR 10 crores in the auction on him and also retained him for two more seasons.

Though Harshal picked 34 wickets combined in IPL 2022 and 2023, his death overs bowling was sorted out by opposition teams and he was no longer trusted with that role as well. His economy hovered above the 9 runs per over mark. Consequently, he also lost his spot in the Indian team and RCB released him to expand their purse. It remains to be seen whether another franchise shows trust in splurging almost the same money on Harshal, given his base price of INR 2 crores.