IPL 2023 Auction: Top 10 Players Who Can Start a Bidding War
Cameroon Green, the hottest player as we look at the top 10 players who can create a bidding war in IPL 2023 Auction.
The Indian Premier League Auction is just a couple of days away, and all the excitement and drama is surrounding only one word, ‘Money’. The showstopper or Center of Attraction if we can say will be about how Teams will spend money to acquire some of the hottest players going into the Auction.
A total of 405 players including 132 players will be going under the hammer on December 23 at Kochi. However, the focus for most of the teams will be on how they stack up their squad with those 1-3 names where they will spend a huge chunk of money.
Given that the IPL 2023 Auction is going to be a Mini Auction, only 87 spots are available to bid even as 405 players will be going under the hammer at the Auction. It will be interesting to see where teams spend the money, so let’s try to find the top 10 players who can start a bidding war at the Auction.
#10: Reece Topley [ England ]
Role: Pacer // Top 3 Target Teams: CSK, MI & Gujarat Titans
Number 10 on the list is England’s current best T20 pacer, Reece Topley. Topley has been a key performer with the ball for England in T20Is and ODI. In the 22 T20Is, Topley has taken 22 wickets and in 20 ODIs, Topley has taken 33 wickets. With a base price of 0.75 Cr, Topley could attract good bids from CSK, MI and Gujarat Tiatns primarily with an expected selling price of INR 5 Cr.
#9: Shakib Al Hasan [ Bangladesh ]
Role: All-rounder // Top 3 Target Teams: KKR, SRH & RR
The only player from Bangladesh who has a strong case in this Auction. Shakib missed the 2022 IPL campaign, but having registered this year, his all-round abilities could be under focus this year. He could be under the radar of teams like SRH, RR, and KKR. While SRH and RR need all-rounders, KKR has a connection with Shakib. Expect Shakib to fetch around INR 5.5 Cr.
#8: Nicholas Pooran [ West Indies ]
Role: Wicket keeper // Top 3 Target Teams: RCB, Gujarat Titans & Punjab Kings
The former West Indies captain may not have had a good year 2022, but his hitting abilities and good wicket-keeping skills could see a few teams bidding for him. The likes of RCB and Gujrat Titans need a good overseas wicket-keeper. Whereas PBKS have a previous connection with Pooran. If Pooran is acquired for around INR 6 Cr, he could be a good buy.
#7: Rilee Rossouw [ South Africa ]
Role: Top-order Batter // Top 3 Target Teams: Gujarat Titans, CSK & Delhi Capitals
The South African top-order batter impressed everyone with his good hitting abilities during the T20 World Cup 2022. With a few teams chasing a solid top-order batter, he could be under the radar of Gujarat Titans, CSK, and Delhi Capitals. Expect Rilee Rossouw to fetch around INR 7 Cr.
#6: Sikandar Raza [ Zimbabwe ]
Role: Spin All-rounder // Top 3 Target Teams: SRH, MI & Gujarat Titans
Sikandar Raza was one of the star performers in the T20 World Cup 2022. With a key ability to play attacking cricket down the order and good mystery spinner abilities to go with, Raza could be under the radar of SRH, MI, and Gujarat Titans. It’s difficult to predict Raza’s bidding price, but expect him to fetch around INR 8 Cr.
#5: Harry Brook [ England ]
Role: Middle-order Batter // Top 3 Target Teams: LSG, SRH & Delhi Capitals
The attacking middle-order batter from England could be the hottest batter to go under the hammer in the Auction. He has been a star performer for England and is known for his attacking brand of cricket irrespective of the format. He could be under the radar of teams like LSG, SRH, and Delhi Capitals, and can fetch around INR 9 Cr.
#4: Mayank Agarwal [ India ]
Role: Opener // Top 3 Target Teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, and Punjab Kings
The only Indian in the list, and without a doubt the biggest Indian name to go under the hammer, Mayank was shown doors by Punjab Kings during the retention list. While high price was the key reason for his expulsion, any bargain on him would be a good buying point. Expect teams like SRH, Gujarat Titans, and even Punajb Kings to go after him with an expected selling price of INR 9.5 Cr.
#3: Ben Stokes [ England ]
Role: Pace All-rounder // Top 3 Target Teams: SRH, Gujarat Titans & RR
The MVP for England in the T20 World Cup 2022 final would be returning to IPL after a gap of 1 year. Apart from his valuable all-round abilities, he could be under the radar for his leadership abilities. Expect SRH to bid heavily on Ben Stokes with Gujarat and RR fighting for him till the 10 Cr mark. But expect Stokes to fetch around INR 12.5 Cr.
#2: Sam Curran [ England ]
Role: Pace All-rounder // Top 3 Target Teams: CSK, MI & Punjab Kings
The Player of the Tournament in T20 World Cup 2022, Sam Curran missed the 2022 IPL season due to injury. He would have been easily retained by CSK in 2022, but nevertheless, expect teams like CSK, MI, and Punjab Kings to go aggressively at him. Expect Sam Curran to fetch around INR 14.5 Cr in the Auction.
#1: Cameron Green [ Australia ]
Role: Pace All-rounder // Top 3 Target Teams: SRH, Punjab Kings & LSG
Undoubtedly the hottest entity going into the Auction, Cameron Green’s supreme hitting abilities and good bowling and fielding capabilities make him a first-choice option for a lot of teams. There would be a bidding war for him with 4-5 teams going after him.
Expect teams like SRH, PBKS, and LSG who have the highest purse to go aggressively at him. However, the likes of Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Capitals to also bid at him. Overall, Green could fetch around INR 16 Cr; thus making him the most expensive player at the Auction.
So, that’s about the predicted most expensive players list at the IPL 2023 Auction. Definitely, a lot of things depend on the set that you are bidding at, but if money is available, these players would be the first names to create a bidding war.
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