3 players who could become the next Faf du Plessis in IPL

Star South African batter Faf du Plessis has decided not to put his name in the upcoming IPL mini-auction, choosing to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead. The IPL auction is scheduled to be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

Du Plessis was roped in by Delhi Capitals in the mega-auction ahead of IPL 2025 for his base price of INR 2 crore. He played nine games for the franchise and scored 202 runs. The South African legend also captained them twice when their regular captain Axar Patel was injured. However, the Capitals decided not to retain him for the forthcoming season.

Du Plessis is the fourth-highest run-getter among overseas players in the IPL. He has represented four franchises, winning the IPL title twice, both coming with Chennai Super Kings.

Let’s have a look at 3 players who could be the future Faf du Plessis

3. Jake Fraser-McGurk

Incidentally, Jake Fraser-McGurk has also been released by the Delhi Capitals after a dismal stint in IPL 2025. However, the Australian opener is still very young and has the talent to muster a comeback. What sets him apart is the combination of fearlessness and skills he brings to the table.

Despite his abysmal performance in IPL 2025, the 23-year-old has a strike rate of 199.49 in the cash-rich league. He was a part of the Capitals last season for a whopping INR 9 crore. The Box Hill-born might not bag such a huge amount in the IPL 2026 auction, but expect him to be signed for a reasonable price.

2. Rachin Ravindra

Rachin Ravindra stunned the cricket fraternity during the 2023 ODI World Cup. The Kiwi youngster finished as the highest run-getter for his team. Ravindra, however, hasn’t had much success playing for Chennai Super Kings in the last couple of editions of the IPL.

He was released by the franchise last month alongside several other renowned names. Ravindra could be one of the hot picks in the upcoming auction. The southpaw is a solid batter at the top of the order, and he can switch gears seamlessly as well. He is a brilliant player of spin, and that will make him a valuable asset for teams in the cash-rich league.

1. Shai Hope

Shai Hope‘s resurgence in T20 cricket has been surreal. From struggling to find a place in the T20 team for the majority of his career, Hope has now become the captain of the Caribbean side in the format. He has also worked on his hitting ability, and his technique helps him maintain a decent strike rate even on surfaces which are not conducive to batting.

Hope can open the batting and also slot in the middle order. He is a fine wicketkeeper and can also share his inputs with the leadership group of the franchise he joins. The 32-year-old will be a player to watch out for at the auction.