Top 5 overseas players to watch out for in IPL auction

Wanindu Hasaranga. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

The 2024 IPL auction will take place on December 19 in Dubai. It’s reported that more than 1100 players have registered for the auction, of which 340 will be overseas players. Among these foreign players, some might only get handpicked by the franchises.

Ahead of the auction, a few overseas names are the favourites to get fetched at whopping prices. Recently, some players have looked exceptional in their roles and their diligence might help them crack mega deals in the auction. Discussing more, let’s discuss five foreign players who will be worth watching out for at the upcoming business event.

Here are five overseas players to watch out for in the 2024 IPL auction:

5. Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Wanindu Hasaranga became a notable name in the 2022 IPL, scalping 26 wickets for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 16 matches at an economy of 7.54. In 2023, expectations were high but he got only nine wickets in eight matches at an economy of 8.90. Hasaranga hasn’t made it to RCB’s retention list and he will go under the hammer on December 19.

The leg-break bowler couldn’t show up for Sri Lanka in the 2023 World Cup, due to a hamstring injury. Before the niggle, the star player looked stunning with the ball in the 2023 Lanka Premier League (LPL). He took 19 wickets in 10 matches at an economy of 5.51 and ended up as the leading wicket-taker in the competition.

In the upcoming auction, franchises might splurge a mega amount to reserve Hasaranga’s services for the 2024 IPL. On India’s turning surfaces, the leggie can make batters dance to his tunes, and his 2022 performance for Challengers corroborates the fact. 

4. Gerald Coetzee

Gerald-Coetzee. (Photo Source: Twitter)

South Africa pacer Gerald Coetzee has also submitted his name for the 2024 IPL auction and his base amount will be INR 2 crore. The pacer did wonders with the ball in the 2023 World Cup and grabbed cricket fans’ attention. Bagging 20 wickets in eight matches at an economy of 6.23, he ended up as the joint-fourth-leading wicket-taker in the competition, along with India’s Jasprit Bumrah.

Coetzee hasn’t played a lot of cricket for his national side in the T20 International (T20I) format but his domestic performance for the Knights is decent. Appearing in 41 matches, he has taken 57 wickets at an economy of 8.06. The 23-year-old pacer exuded confidence with the ball in the maiden SA20 League edition. 

Putting on Joburg Super Kings’ (JSK) jersey, he claimed 17 wickets in nine matches at an economy of 8.07 and became the third-leading wicket-taker in the season. Noting his consistently excellent numbers in 2023, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and some other franchises might go after him in the auction. 

3. Travis Head

In Australia’s sixth World Cup title triumph, Travis Head played an enormous role with his bat. Playing six matches, he accumulated 329 runs with two hundreds and a fifty. In the final against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he slammed a 137-run knock and guided his side to a six-wicket win.

His stupendous form might make him a show stealer in the 2024 IPL auction as some franchises might release a big amount from their purses to sign him. Following the 2023 World Cup, Head performed brilliantly in the five-match T20I series against India.

The southpaw smashed 94 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 180.76 in the series against the Men in Blue. His base amount is INR 2 crore but he might cause a bidding battle among the franchises. The Australia stalwart was last seen in IPL in 2016 for RCB. Appearing for Challengers, he piled up 151 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 139.81.

2. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc. (Photo Source: BCCI)

Mitchell Starc has enrolled his name for the auction and he might be picked up at a heavy amount as some franchises require experienced pacers in their squads. Teams such as CSK, Mumbai Indians (MI), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) need an experienced pacer in their respective squads and they might invest a massive amount in the Aussie paceman.

Back in the 2018 IPL auction, Starc was snapped by KKR for a humongous amount of INR 9.4 crore. He missed the entire season due to a right leg injury and was released later by the franchise. This time, Starc might attract bidders again due to his amazing skills and immense experience.

In the 2023 World Cup, he displayed his fierce side with the ball again to help his team become world champions for the sixth time. The star pacer clinched 16 wickets in 10 games at an economy of 6.06. He showed nerves of steel against the hosts India in the final in Ahmedabad, registering 3/55 figures in his 10-over spell.  

1. Rachin Ravindra

Rachin-Ravindra. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Rachin Ravindra became the talk of the town following his sensational batting display in the 2023 World Cup. The young New Zealand player hit 578 runs with three centuries and two fifties in 10 matches and became the fourth-leading run-getter in the competition. The Kiwi batter may fetch a big price in the upcoming IPL auction.

His basic amount will be INR 50 lakh but his batting prowess might entice the franchises most. Along with the bat, he has the potential to contribute with his left-arm off-spin bowling. There is a high chance that his all-round excellence might help him crack an amazing deal at the business event on December 19.