Category: Indian Premier League

The IPL 2024 auction was nothing short of a cricketing spectacle, witnessing jaw-dropping bids and intense bidding wars. As the cricketing world eagerly awaited the outcome, the most expensive players emerged, creating waves of excitement and setting the stage for a thrilling IPL season.

Let’s look at which IPL Team looks the strongest on paper:

Chennai Super Kings

Players Retained 

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu, Mitchell Santner, Mahesh Theekshana, Prashant Solanki, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh, Shaik Rasheed.

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Players Bought

Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Aravelly Avanish.

How the Auction Unfolded for CSK

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

The team was looking for an all-rounder to fill in for Ben Stokes, an Indian top-order batter to replace Ambati Rayudu, and an overseas pacer to ease the workload alongside Matheesha Pathirana.

Did CSK Address their Needs Successfully?

CSK successfully addressed their needs in the auction and more. Despite their pursuit of Pat Cummins, who was priced out of their budget at INR 7.60 crores, they secured the services of New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell, known for his prowess as a spin hitter, overcoming competition from DC and PBKS.

To fill Ambati Rayudu’s spot, they chose the young Sameer Rizvi from Uttar Pradesh over experienced options like Manish Pandey and Karun Nair. Rizvi, a 20-year-old with an impressive T20 record, particularly stood out in the UP T20 league this year, amassing 455 runs in nine innings at a striking rate of 188.80, including two centuries and 35 sixes, making him a promising addition to the squad.

CSK also explored the possibility of securing Travis Head and reached a bid of INR 6.60 Crores before SRH outbid them. However, they found a suitable alternative in Rachin Ravindra for just INR 1.80 Crores. The desire to incorporate a top-order batsman with spin-bowling capabilities may stem from Moeen Ali’s struggles in the format, especially this year, where he has scored only 393 runs at an average of 17.08. In the recent IPL season, Ali managed only 124 runs and took 9 wickets. This acquisition provides CSK with the flexibility to choose between the two players.

When considering overseas pacers, they initially targeted Gerald Coetzee and Alzarri Joseph but ultimately settled for Mustafizur Rahman at his base price of INR 2 Cr. Rahman’s reliance on cutters could make him a strategic choice for matches at Chepauk. Additionally, CSK brought back Shardul Thakur, a two-time winner, to bolster their Indian pace attack, adding experience and further enhancing their batting depth.

Delhi Capitals

Players Retained 

Rishabh Pant (C), David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Yash Dhull, Abishek Porel, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Mitchell Marsh, Pravin Dubey, Vicky Ostwal, Anrich Nortje, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Khaleel Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, Mukesh Kumar.

Players Bought

Harry Brook, Tristan Stubbs, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Swastik Chikara, Shai Hope.

How the Auction Unfolded for DC

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

An Indian wicketkeeper, a backup overseas fast bowler, an Indian finisher, and a backup overseas batter.

Did DC Address its Needs Successfully?

The Capitals successfully addressed all the required positions. They secured a backup overseas batter early on with the acquisition of Harry Brook, leveraging his underwhelming performance in the 2023 season for SRH to secure him for INR 4 crores. The middle-order dynamic is intriguing, especially with the Capitals also pursuing Tristan Stubbs and Shai Hope.

Given the uncertainty around Rishabh Pant keeping wickets in IPL 2024, there’s speculation about Stubbs or Hope taking over the gloves. Another option is Kumar Kushagra, a surprise pick at INR 7.20 crore, emphasizing the Capitals’ commitment to fortifying the wicketkeeper slot. The addition of two more keepers, Ricky Bhui and Sumit Kumar, suggests a potential shift for Pant to a pure batting role.

With Anrich Nortje recovering from a long-term injury, the Capitals bolstered their pace bowling with Jhye Richardson. Regardless of the wicketkeeping situation, Kushagra might be earmarked as one of the finishers for the Capitals unless an overseas slot is found for Stubbs.

Gujarat Titans

Players Retained 

Shubman Gill (c), Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, R Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Josh Little, Mohit Sharma.

Players Bought

Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Manav Suthar, Shahrukh Khan, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Spencer Johnson, Robin Minz.

How the Auction Unfolded for GT

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

Gujarat focused on acquiring a seam-bowling all-rounder, an Indian wicket-keeping option, and backup pacers before the auction, and they succeeded in building a well-rounded squad. However, the abundance of options may present a challenge in determining their best eleven, as numerous permutations are possible with the variety of players at their disposal.

Did GT Address their Needs Successfully?

Despite their strong interest in Mitchell Starc, Gujarat lost the bidding war to Kolkata Knight Riders, who secured the pacer for INR 24.50 crores. To compensate for this, they invested in a like-for-like foreign pacer, acquiring Australia’s young left-arm talent, Spencer Johnson, for their costliest buy of the auction at INR 10 Crore. Additionally, they secured backup options for Indian pacers, including Umesh Yadav, Kartik Tyagi, and the relatively unknown Sushant Mishra.

In the absence of Hardik Pandya, Gujarat’s middle-order choices now feature Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai and Tamil Nadu’s Shahrukh Khan, who was acquired for INR 7.4 Crore. Achieving the right balance in their playing eleven might lead them to explore the impact player rule, making them one of the few teams potentially using this strategy to establish a settled combination.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Players Retained

Shreyas Iyer (C), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine, Jason Roy, Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.

Players Bought

KS Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Mujeeb Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Sakib Hussain.

How the Auction Unfolded for KKR

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

An Indian wicketkeeper, experienced pacer, and backup for all departments except spin.

Did KKR Address their Needs Successfully?

While the attention will understandably be on the significant INR 24.75 crores spent on Mitchell Starc, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had an overall successful day at the auction. Although their pace department still appears somewhat thin, the early acquisitions of Chetan Sakariya and Starc, followed by the late bid for Gus Atkinson, provide a much-needed boost. The selection of two-T20-old Sakib Hussain from Bihar adds an interesting dimension, though his death bowling skills against top-tier opponents are yet to be thoroughly tested.

With a strong batting core already in place, the additions of Ramandeep Singh, Sherfane Rutherford, and Manish Pandey add considerable depth and power. Mujeeb ur Rahman further strengthens what is arguably the strongest spin attack in the competition. However, the opening options seem less secure, with only a young and inexperienced backup in Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

In terms of wicketkeepers, KKR secured the services of KS Bharat as the only Indian option in this position.

Lucknow Super Giants

Players Retained

KL Rahul (C), Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, K Gowtham, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Yudhvir Singh, Mark Wood, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Amit Mishra, Naveen-ul-Haq, Prerak Mankad.

Players Bought

Shivam Mavi, Arshin Kulkarni, Ashton Turner, M Siddharth, David Willey, Mohammed Arshad Khan.

How the Auction Unfolded for LSG

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

An experienced Indian seamer and backup in the domestic batting department.

Did LSG Address their Needs Successfully?

With skipper KL Rahul likely to bat in the middle order and Devdutt Padikkal traded in as the opening option, Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) aimed to strengthen their Indian batting lineup. Despite budget limitations and the need to fill six slots, they made a notable pick in uncapped all-rounder Arshin Kulkarni, a pace-bowling all-rounder with the ability to open the innings, providing balance with his all-round skills. While they couldn’t secure more domestic talents, they successfully acquired Australian middle-order batter Ashton Turner.

However, given the presence of Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, and Ayush Badoni in the middle order, the role of Turner in the team remains uncertain. This situation could present an opportunity for Badoni to bat higher up the order. The addition of David Willey, another all-rounder, brings utility across all departments. Despite not securing an experienced seamer, Shivam Mavi offers an efficient option with long-term value. The inclusion of M Siddharth, a useful defensive spinner, and Mohammed Arshad Khan, a rookie left-arm pacer, further adds depth to the LSG squad.

Overall, budget constraints limited their auction options, but they still managed to assemble a strong squad, although the absence of an experienced Indian pacer is notable.

Mumbai Indians

Players Retained

Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya (C), Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd.

Players Bought

Nuwan Thushara, Anshul Kamboj, Naman Dhir, Shreyas Gopal, Dilshan Madushanka, Gerald Coetzee, Mohammad Nabi, Shivalik Sharma.

How the Auction Unfolded for MI

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

Two foreign pace bowlers, a substitute Indian spinner, and an alternative Indian all-rounder.

Did MI Address its Needs Successfully?

Mumbai Indians focused on bolstering their fast bowling lineup and successfully acquired an impressive trio of overseas pacers to complement Jasprit Bumrah. Dilshan Madushanka, a standout performer in the World Cup, was secured for INR 4.60 Crores. Prior to that, they also managed to bag the emerging South African talent Gerald Coetzee. The fact that they acquired both for a combined price below INR 10 Crores proved to be a decisive and strategic move.

A surprise addition came in the form of Nuwan Thushara later in the evening, with Mumbai Indians engaging in a bidding war to secure his services. Thushara, who has drawn comparisons to the likes of Lasith Malinga and Matheesha Pathirana due to his bowling action, adds an intriguing dimension to the squad. It remains to be seen if they unleash him during the season.

While finding a like-for-like backup for Hardik Pandya posed challenges, Mumbai Indians added several uncapped players to their squad. Strengthening the spin department within their budget constraints, they later managed to secure Shreyas Gopal and Mohammad Nabi as backup options.

Punjab Kings

Players Retained

Shikhar Dhawan (C), Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Matthew Short, Harpreet Bhatia, Atharva Taide, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shivam Singh, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Gurnoor Brar, Vidwath Kaverappa.

Players Bought

Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Shashank Singh, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Tanay Thyagarajann, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw.

How the Auction Unfolded for PK

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

A primary fast bowler and substitutes for the batting lineup.

Did PK Address their Needs Successfully?

Punjab Kings can find satisfaction in their auction day purchases, successfully addressing the gaps they aimed to fill. The acquisition of Harshal Patel was a bold move to bolster their seam department, providing an additional option for death overs alongside the retained duo of Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada. While Rilee Rossouw and Chris Woakes, for whom they bid significantly, may not immediately find a place in the starting XI, they serve as reliable backups for Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran, respectively.

The spin department, led by Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Singh, was reinforced with lesser-known names, and the effectiveness of the scouting efforts in this area remains to be seen. Despite a failed attempt to bring back Shahrukh Khan, they secured Shashank Singh as a replacement, although his chances of featuring in the playing XII seem limited due to the presence of power-hitters in the batting lineup.

In summary, Punjab Kings once again presented a formidable team on paper after the auctions, a reflection that has historically aligned with their performances in the tournament.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Players Retained

Faf du Plessis (C), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Cameron Green (Traded), Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudesai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar (Traded), Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Vijaykumar Vyshak.

Players Bought

Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan.

How the Auction Unfolded for RCB

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

A complete overhaul of the bowling attack.

Did RCB Address their Needs Successfully?

Having released the renowned trio of Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, and Josh Hazlewood, RCB set the stage for a significant overhaul of their bowling attack at the auction. The trade for Cameron Green, although expensive, limited their budget for marquee fast bowlers. Their desperation became evident when they were willing to spend a substantial INR 20.25 crores from their INR 23.15 crore purse for Pat Cummins, who ultimately joined Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The missed opportunity forced RCB to reassess its strategy. With other teams like GT and KKR having substantial budgets, RCB was effectively out of contention for Mitchell Starc, a player they would have welcomed back at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

They adjusted their focus and secured Alzarri Joseph for INR 11.50 crores. Joseph’s ability to bowl hard lengths makes him effective in the middle overs, although his death-overs economy of 8.67 raises concerns. If chosen over Reece Topley, RCB will rely on him to handle challenging overs. The persistent issue of deathovers was evident in their pursuit of ‘Baby Malinga’ Nuwan Thushara. Backup overseas pacers Lockie Ferguson and Tom Curran were added, but neither boasts an impressive record in the death overs.

RCB brought in left-armer Yash Dayal to replace Harshal Patel for INR 5 crores. Despite these additions, concerns persist about the spin department’s quality. Swapnil Singh is the sole addition in this category, joining Mayank Dagar, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, and Glenn Maxwell.

Rajasthan Royals

Players Retained

Sanju Samson (C), Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Navdeep Saini, Avesh Khan (traded), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Sen, Sandeep Sharma, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Kunal Singh Rathore, Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, Adam Zampa, Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira.

Players Bought

Rovman Powell, Shubham Dubey, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Abid Mushtaq, Nandre Burger.

How the Auction Unfolded for RR

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

RR entered the auction with the aim of incorporating several all-rounders into their squad, along with securing a substitute Indian batsman and a backup for Jos Buttler.

Did RR Address their Needs Successfully?

RR concluded the auction with the smallest squad (22 out of a maximum 25 players) and the lowest remaining purse (INR 20 lakh), indicating the challenges they faced during the auction.

In response to Riyan Parag’s subpar performance in the previous IPL season, RR made a significant investment in Shubham Dubey, the 29-year-old finisher from Vidarbha. Dubey had an impressive season in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s domestic T20 tournament, scoring 221 runs in 7 matches at an average of 73.66 and a strike rate of 187.28.

They also made a substantial investment in Rovman Powell, the West Indies T20I captain known for his aggressive batting and the ability to bowl medium pace if needed.

Nandre Burger, the left-arm seamer from South Africa, was acquired as a backup for Trent Boult, particularly considering his recent success against India. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, one of the five keepers in the side, brings versatility with his ability to bat anywhere in the top six. Abid Mushtaq, a bowling all-rounder from Jammu & Kashmir, who served as a net bowler at Chennai Super Kings, adds the crucial skill of left-arm orthodox spin to the squad.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Players Retained

Aiden Markram (C), Abdul Samad, Rahul Tripathi, Glenn Phillips, Heinrich Klaasen, Mayank Agarwal, Anmolpreet Singh, Upendra Yadav, Nitish Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed (traded), Abhishek Sharma, Marco Jansen, Washington Sundar, Sanvir Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, Umran Malik, T Natarajan, Fazahaq Farooqi.

Players Bought

Travis Head, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pat Cummins, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Maharaj Singh, Jhathavedh Subramanyam.

How the Auction Unfolded for SRH

Prerequisites Prior to the Auction

SRH entered the auction with the aim of acquiring an overseas top-order batsman, a quality overseas fast bowler to complement Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and an overseas spinner following the release of Adil Rashid. They also sought improvements on players like Marco Jansen and Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Did SRH Address their Needs Successfully?

The auction unfolded as planned for SRH, as they made assertive moves early on and successfully filled the vacant slots with high-quality overseas players.

Travis Head, the powerful Australian opener and Player of the Match in the World Cup final, is a valuable addition to the squad, addressing concerns about sluggish starts from the previous season. Pat Cummins, the second-most expensive player in IPL history, brings much-needed pace to the team, and Wanindu Hasaranga serves as an upgrade in the spin department over Rashid Khan.

Jhatavedh Subramanyan, a legspinner from Lyca Kovai Kings in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, was added to the squad at his base price and could potentially serve as a backup to Mayank Markande.

Jaydev Unadkat, joining as another left-arm pacer, provides additional depth to the squad and serves as a potential backup for the injury-prone T Natarajan. Akash Maharaj Singh, with previous stints at RR and CSK, is another left-arm seamer that SRH invested in during the auction.

Read: IPL Auction: Check out the most expensive players in each edition of the IPL auctions in history