The IPL 2024 auction is quickly approaching. It is set to take place around the last week of December or the first week of January. The auction will be held on December 19 outside India. Dubai’s Coca-Cola arena will host the massive event.
Even though it is a mini auction this year, excitement is great, especially considering it follows the World Cup. This date predicts that numerous cricketers’ IPL auction prices may skyrocket in 2024. This is because multiple players have impressed the scouts of the IPL franchises with their performances in the ICC World Cup 2023.
There have been many players who did amazingly well with the bat or the ball and some even showed all-round skills. This is bound to make franchises ready to pounce on the talents they want and are ready to splurge money as well.
Here are a few players who might attract massive bids at the upcoming IPL 2024 auction:
6. Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka)
Dilshan Madushanka. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Dilshan Madushanka was the lone shining star of Sri Lanka’s abysmal ICC World Cup 2023 campaign. The left-arm pacer impressed one and all with his skills with the new ball and in death overs during the tournament. He snared 21 wickets in 9 games with a best of 5/80, though at a higher economy rate of 6.70.
Madushanka’s best came against India where he dismissed India captain Rohit Sharma for a duck and picked all the 5 Men in Blue wickets to fall. The franchises will have an eye out for Madushanka as he not only bowls left-handed but bowls at a good speed as well. And pacers always go for high prices in the IPL auction.
5. Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
Daryl Mitchell
New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell had one of the best outings for his team with the bat in the World Cup 2023. He finished in 4th place with 552 runs in 9 innings with 2 centuries and 2 fifties with an average of 69 and strike-rate of 111.06. Both of his tons came against India, who dominated the tournament.
His knock of 134 in the semi-final was a masterclass that came in a losing cause. Mitchell has played in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals but wasn’t utilized properly and got only 2 matches in IPL 2022. This time, however, he has shown he can play spin well and is terrific against pace. Almost all the franchises need an all-rounder who is a power hitter and Daryl Mitchell might get big bucks in the auction.
4. Gerald Coetzee (South Africa)
Gerald-Coetzee. (Photo Source: Twitter)
23-year-old Gerald Coetzee has been the breakout star for South Africa in this ICC World Cup 2023. He topped the bowling charts for his team with 20 wickets in 8 matches with a best of 4/44. And he bowled consistently in high 140s despite the heat and batting-friendly pitches in India.
Coetzee showed great batting skills as well, and can be trusted to partner with a set batter in tense situations. This overall package has put the pacer in the eyes of the IPL franchise ahead of the 2024 auction. Fast bowlers of his skills and pace with credible batting ability are in demand always and he might even trigger a bidding war at the IPL auction in December.
3. Travis Head (Australia)
Travis Head (Photo Source: X/Twitter)
Travis Head has also played a couple of IPL seasons for Royal Challenger Bangalore in 2016 and 2017. But then he was a rookie of sorts and now he has matured and is one of the most dangerous batters across formats for Australia. He was so important for Australia that they gambled by picking Head in the World Cup squad despite a broken hand.
And he repaid the faith with 192 runs in 5 matches with a best of 109. With Head being in such a form and announcing that he will put in his name in the IPL 2024 auction, the interest of the teams participating in the auction has peaked. Given that Head can also bowl off-spin and keep wickets, he is a must-have player in any team.
2. Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand)
Rachin Ravindra. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
What a World Cup debut Rachin Ravindra had for New Zealand. He came into the squad as a backup for Kane Williamson and asked to open for the side, straight from the lower order. And he delivered hugely. He scored 578 runs in 10 matches with 3 centuries at a strike rate of 106.44, the most by any debutant in World Cup history.
Though his bowling was not that impressive with 5 wickets at an economy of 6, Ravindra did the talking with the bat. The Indian-origin batter proved to be the surprise package for all the teams and he will certainly be a player to watch out for a bidding war in the IPL 2024 auction. Such a utility player will be in high demand.
1. Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell (Photo Source: Twitter)
One of the biggest names in the IPL 2024 auction will be that of Mitchell Starc, who last played in the tournament back in 2014 and 2015. He picked 37 wickets in 27 games with a best of 4/15 and an economy of 7.17. With an eye on the T20 World Cup next year, Starc has decided to put his name in the IPL auction.
He had gone for INR 5 crores to RCB in the IPL 2014 auction, but with the reputation Starc has built in these years, expect franchises to break the bank for him. However, there are a few concerns to look at. Starc has said that he is carrying a few injuries and will prioritize Test cricket over anything. This might make the franchises think twice unless he agrees to a longer deal and not just one season to prepare for the T20 World Cup and vanish.