As expected, today is the cricketers’ pay day! The IPL player auction has begun in Kochi.
KKR have the lowest purse at 7.05 crore and can only add three international players at once to their squad. Although active in trades so far, they need an experienced fast bowler in their ranks.
Top Buys
As the clock counts down to the IPL 2023 mini-auction, teams are busy making final preparations for what promises to be an intense day of auctions in Kochi. While certain high-profile players have chosen not to participate, others will seek new homes during this exciting auction event.
As expected, Gujarat Titans opened bidding on Kiwi star Kane Williamson for his base price of INR 2 crore while New Zealand all-rounder Rossouw went to SunRisers with his base price set at INR 1.50 crore.
England all-rounder Jos Buttler will be in high demand following his outstanding performance for England at the T20 World Cup. Buttler should command a significant paycheque due to being an exceptional all-rounder who brings balance to any side he joins.
Royal Challengers Bangalore have retained most of their squad as they build for the future, yet released some veterans such as West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and Lucknow Super Giants bowlers Jason Holder and Dusmantha Chameera.
Mumbai Indians may boast the largest budget in this auction, but that won’t stop them from splashing out big on quality players. Already they have picked up Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis from other teams before searching for top-order batsman to partner Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile they already possess enough bowlers like Navdeep Saini, Jasprit Bumrah, and KM Asif to fill any remaining slots in their squad.
Bargains
Indian Premier League auctions have traditionally been an exciting event for international players as they receive huge paydays at Kochi. But this year was different as some top players went unsold despite 10 franchises competing to purchase the best players in T20 cricket – Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians Sunrisers Hyderabad and Team Ahmedabad among them.
Hugh Edmeades began bidding for the initial set of 86 players with auctioneer Hugh Edmeades reading out their names. Sam Curran, an England all-rounder listed at INR 2 crore was first to go under the hammer and caused a frenzy as franchises competed to acquire him at INR 3.75 crore.
Uncapped players were the big draws for bids on auction night, fetching some incredible figures. India pacer Mukesh Kumar became the most expensive uncapped player when KKR purchased him for INR 5.50 crore; he will become an integral member of their Knight Riders squad for next season. India A pacer Shivam Mavi proved another amazing deal, selling to GT for INR 6 crore; his Bengal speedster will play alongside SRH pacers Vivrant Sharma and Mohit Sharma as key components in GT’s lineup.
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Surprising Omissions
As competition for spots increases in the IPL, teams go all out to secure top players – including Paul Stirling – an explosive Irish opener who has competed in T20 leagues around the globe but was unable to find an auction buyer for himself.
Kane Williamson of New Zealand T20Is was another surprise omission at the auction, failing to find a home during county cricket preparation for Ashes series. Former SRH captain was left unattended while looking ahead.
However, it should be noted that Williamson was not excluded due to any deficiencies in his form; franchises simply could not meet his demanding price point.
However, the auction witnessed several unexpected purchases and bargain deals that left Indian teams satisfied. A key goal was assembling squads with both experienced and young players that can contribute when tournament play begins on April 5. Stay tuned for further updates regarding this auction process!
Final Words
KKR had the lowest purse for this auction but still managed to secure some important acquisitions such as David Wiese, N Jagadeesan and Litton Das. Additionally, they signed uncapped spinner Vivrant Sharma who can support Piyush Chawla and Shams Mulani in their spin department.
CSK, RCB, MI, SRH and DC all filled their gaps and will begin the new season with fully fit squads, but much attention is being drawn to which franchise will acquire England all-rounder Joe Root – his comeback story at the 2022 T20 World Cup was one of its most riveting tales. This should spark a bidding war.
Sam Curran, part of an England side that reached the final in France this year, could also garner significant bids as he attempts to return to peak form.
India bowlers had an outstanding day on Thursday, with Vivrant Sharma joining SRH for over Rs 1 crore while India A pacer Shivam Mavi made headlines when GT signed him at Rs 6 crore for GT’s 2018/19 campaign. Other pacers including RP Singh, CK Nayudu and Mohammad Asif all found decent deals at their base prices.
