IPL Auction 2024: Team-wise one player who was lucky to be retained

Sam Curran (Photo Source: PBKS/Twitter)

Ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, all 10 franchises have published their lists of retained and released players. After this event, some players will have to go under the hammer on December 19, to get new buyers in the 2024 IPL auction while at the same time, a few names will feel fortunate as they got retained despite their underwhelming performances.

In the previous league edition, a few names didn’t perform upto expectations, and noting their dismal numbers, they must’ve expected themselves to be a part of their team’s release lists, however, they will breathe a sigh of relief as their franchises haven’t lost faith in them. Talking more, let’s discuss one player from every team who was lucky to be retained.

Here’s one player from each side who was lucky to be retained:

10. Riyan Parag- Rajasthan Royals

Riyan Parag. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Riyan Parag’s role was to strengthen RR’s middle order with his batting but he added another failed season to his profile with his disappointing batting performance. Scoring 78 runs in seven matches at a sub-par strike rate of 118.18, he came under fierce criticism again.

In the crucial contest against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur, he came to bat at a time when his team’s score was 104 in 15.1 overs. With 51 required in 29, he was expected to flex his arms and deliver a match-finishing knock to his side. In the crunch situation, the right-handed batter looked timid and piled up only 15 runs after facing 12 deliveries. His defensive approach didn’t go well with Royals’ supporters and they came heavily on him.

However, despite his horrendous batting display in 2023, the RR team management has retained him for the 2024 season. RR’s decision has shocked everyone again but the Assam batter will look to take advantage of this opportunity to deliver impactful numbers to his team.

9. Sam Curran- Punjab Kings

Sam Curran. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Sam Curran hit the headlines after the 2022 IPL auction for becoming the most expensive player in the league’s history. The England all-rounder was signed for an enormous sum of INR 18.5 crore by PBKS but he couldn’t justify his massive price tag with his ordinary performances.

With the ball, he got only 10 wickets in 14 games at an expensive economy of 10.22. While as a batter, the 25-year-old scored only 276 runs in 13 innings at an average of 27.60. Despite his miserable performances, the Punjab team management has backed the youngster for the 2024 season.

If Curran fails in the 2024 season, it won’t be possible for Punjab to support him for another season with the heavy amount. Ahead of the 2024 IPL, the England stalwart will look to be effective for MI Cape Town in the SA20 League so that he can go to the cash-rich league with confidence.

8. Delhi Capitals- Khaleel Ahmed

Khaleel Ahmed. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Khaleel Ahmed was sold to Delhi Capitals (DC) for INR 5.25 crore in 2022. The pacer looked decent in 2022, picking up 16 wickets in 10 games. In 2023, the Capitals failed to qualify for the playoffs, and Khaleel also couldn’t deliver impactful numbers to the team.

Playing nine games, he got only nine wickets at a terrible economy of 9.12. Khaleel has found a spot in the Capitals’ 2024 team but before the release of the retention list, very few had expected him to be a part of the side again. Following the development, Khaleel will consider himself fortunate as he didn’t produce solid performances with the ball in his recent domestic games as well.

In the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), he took only eight wickets in five outings for Rajasthan, at an unimpressive economy of 7.95. His endeavours will be to revive his form before the IPL 2024 season so that he can do wonders with the ball for DC.

7. Sunrisers Hyderabad- Fazalhaq Farooqi

Fazalhaq Farooqi. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was acquired for his base price of INR 50 lakh by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2022 auction but in the previous two seasons, he didn’t deliver anything solid to the side. He got three matches in 2022 from his team, in which he scalped only two wickets at an economy of 9.16.

Sunrisers ended up at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2023, winning only four off their 14 contests. During the season, Farooqi was part of SRH’s playing XI in four matches but he looked completely out of rhythm with the ball. The left-arm pacer got only four wickets at an economy of 8.77.

Witnessing his non-performance, SRH fans were expecting the Afghan speedster to be thrown in their team’s release list. However, that didn’t happen as the Sunrisers’ team management retained him and kept its faith intact in the Afghan player.

6. Royal Challengers Bangalore- Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Dinesh Karthik was roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 5.50 crore in 2022, due to his huge experience and spectacular batting and wicketkeeping skills. Playing his maiden season for Challengers in 2022, he won the confidence of the team with some sensational match-finishing knocks.

In 2023, his form slumped as he could amass only 140 runs at an extremely disappointing average of 11.66. His horrendous batting numbers could’ve placed him in Bangalore’s IPL 2024 release list but the RCB team management extended his contract for another season.

Recently, the veteran has exuded confidence for Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, racking up 118 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 126.88. In the 2024 IPL, he will have to play his part exceptionally for Challengers and prove his franchise’s decision correct.

5. Mumbai Indians- Jason Behrendorff

Jason Behrendorff. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Jason Behrendorff’s responsibility was to bolster the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) fast-bowling unit. The Australia pacer was traded to MI from RCB in November 2022. He played 12 matches in the competition and fetched 14 wickets at an expensive economy of 9.21.

As a strike bowler, he struggled to contain the flow of runs and deliver early breakthroughs to the side consistently. However, the MI team management didn’t look unhappy with his shaky performance in the last tournament and has retained him for the next IPL edition to be played in the Indian summer season. In the next IPL edition, MI supporters will expect the 33-year-old Aussie to assist Jasprit Bumrah to reinforce their team’s pace attack.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders- Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Sunil Narine has been associated with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) since 2012 and in these 11 years, he has delivered a lot of match-winning moments to the side. In KKR’s two title victories (2012 and 2014), the West Indies all-rounder made essential contributions with the ball.

However, the star player hasn’t displayed his best for the franchise in the previous two seasons. In 2023, he took only 11 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 7.98. As a batter, he scored only 21 runs in 10 innings at an average of 3.00. These ordinary numbers do not suit Narine’s stature as he still has the potential to stun his opponents with his exemplary all-round talent.

Knight Riders have retained their veteran stalwart for the 2024 season and now, KKR fans will keep their expectations high from their seasoned match-winner for the 2024 IPL.

3. Lucknow Super Giants- Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda (Photo source : Twitter)

The 2023 season IPL season was forgettable for Deepak Hooda, who could score only 84 runs in 12 matches for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Back in 2022, LSG reserved the 28-year-old’s services for a sum of INR 5.75 crore. Noting his poor batting numbers in 2023, LSG supporters were predicting Hooda’s release from the team.

Contrary to predictions, Super Giants ignored Hooda’s disastrous batting display in the previous installment, and have continued with him in the IPL 2024 squad. After the IPL 2023 season, he played in domestic tournaments Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2023-24 and Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023-24, and in both events, he looked decent with his bat.

In SMAT 2023-24, he notched up 179 runs with two fifties in five contests and emerged as the highest run-getter for Rajasthan. The Rohtak-born player’s task will be to maintain his fine form in the 2024 IPL and deliver sensational batting innings to LSG.

2. Chennai Super Kings- Rajvardhan Hangargekar

Rajvardhan Hangargekar. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Rajvardhan Hangargekar was fetched at INR 1.5 crore by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2022 IPL mega auction. After warming benches for the entire season in 2022, the right-arm bowler eventually got a chance to represent the side in 2023. In the maiden game of the competition against Gujarat Titans (GT), he was handed his IPL debut.

Playing his debut match, he bagged three wickets in his four-over spell but also splurged 36 runs. In the next game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Hangargekar bowled two overs and went back wicketless. In his short spell, he splurged 24 runs, and following this performance, CSK dropped him from their playing XI for the entire season.

Super Kings have retained the 21-year-old for the 2024 season and if he gets a chance to showcase his bowling prowess in the tournament, the youngster will have to deliver impactful bowling performances to the franchise.

1. Gujarat Titans- Matthew Wade

Matthew Wade. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Matthew Wade has been a part of Gujarat Titans (GT) since 2022 but in these two years, he hasn’t performed upto the expectations. The Aussie wicketkeeper has played 10 games for Titans, thus far, in which he has accumulated only 157 runs at a miserable strike rate of 113.76.

In 2023, he warmed benches for the whole season as the team management couldn’t induct him into the playing XI. Noting Wade’s aggressive batting skills and vast T20 International (T20I) experience, Titans have included him in their retention list, and with the change of the leadership in GT, the veteran player might get a chance to feature in the playing XI as well.

With Hardik Pandya moving to Mumbai Indians (MI), Shubman Gill will be seen captaining the team, next season, and under his leadership, Wade could get a chance to exhibit his batting prowess.