IPL Auctions 2024: Top 5 international players who could spark bidding war in auction

IPL Auction for the upcoming 2024 is set to take place in Dubai on December 19, 2023. Although it is a mini-auction yet this year’s auction still holds a lot of significance as all the 10 IPL teams are looking to set their team combination for the upcoming IPL.

All the teams have retained their core set of players, but in a stiff tournament like IPL, you need to have a strong XI that has the right mix of gun batters, bowlers, and all-rounders. This mini-auction has at some impacted the players who will be up for bidding. Given that many teams have released some big players from their squad, we could expect a fierce bidding war for some players. 

All the teams will get an additional 5 crores as the purse of all the IPL franchises who have exceeded 100 crores which means that some players that have released some big players and will have a good amount to pick those big names that suit their plans. This could cause a bidding war among the franchises. 

Usually, the dynamics of a mini-auction are such that you have a limited number of top players and demand is high. Therefore, we have seen some franchises overpaying for certain players. Let’s have a look at some top players that could create a bidding war in the upcoming auction:

1. Travis Head

IPL has always been a goldmine for all-rounders and when you are coming fresh from a century in a World Cup final straight into a mini-auction, then it couldn’t get better for a player. Travis Head is an Australian, who has just hit a century against the dominant Indian team in their backyard in a World Cup final.

He is an explosive top-order player who also bowls good off-spin and has a knack for breaking important partnerships which adds another dimension to his skill set. Given his utility and all-round skills, this Aussie batter is expected to create a bidding war among franchises in the auction.

2. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc is one of the most lethal left-arm pacers going around in the international cricket arena. The Australian southpaw last played in IPL in 2015 and since then, they hasn’t put his name for the IPL because of either tight international scheduling or injuries but this year around he has expressed his intention of playing in the IPL and given the reputation he possesses he will surely create and franchises will look to have him in their team despite being prone to injuries. 

3. Shardul Thakur

A fast-bowling all-rounder is a rare commodity to find in Indian cricket and Shardul Thakur is the next closest thing you could find to Hardik Pandya in the Indian cricketing setup. Shardul Thakur has the knack of picking wickets at crucial junctures of a match and could hit a long ball in the lower middle order.  

Given his dual abilities and the fact that he is an Indian player who gives you the flexibility to play with four foreigners, Shardul could be a hot pick in the upcoming auction and could start a bidding war among franchises.

4. Gerald Coetzee

An express pacer, who gives it all on the field is someone who every franchisee wants to have in their team and the young South African pacer is one such character. Gerald Coetzee impressed everyone in the recently concluded ODI World Cup in India where he produced crucial wickets for South Africa in the middle order with his speed and variations.

Coetzee bowls a heavy delivery and can also surprise batters with his variations which is a significant skill in T20 cricket for any bowler and he is one player who will be in high demand in the auction.

5. Rachin Ravindra

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra is poised to set the IPL 2024 auction ablaze. This dynamic all-rounder's remarkable trajectory in both domestic and international cricket has him pegged as one of the most sought-after players, potentially igniting a fierce bidding war among franchises. Ravindra's diverse skillset, combining explosive batting with accurate bowling, makes him a valuable asset for any franchise. His adaptability to different formats and situations further enhances his appeal.

Whether it's his powerful strokeplay or his ability to contain the opposition's runs, Rachin Ravindra has all the ingredients to become a force to be reckoned with in the IPL. As the auction approaches, the anticipation surrounding his presence is palpable, and it's only a matter of time before teams recognize his immense potential and engage in a fierce bidding war to secure his services.