Five players that could in huge demand when all teams will be looking to improve the squad during the mini-auction on February 18 in Chennai.
The preparations for the new season for the Indian Premier League (IPL) will enter the next stage when all franchises will be meeting in Chennai on February 18 for the mini-auction. Despite being a mini-auction, there is enough cumulative money available for clubs to do business and build a squad that can challenge for the title in 2021.
BCCI received 1097 applications from Indian and overseas players for participating in the auction. After consulting with all teams, the final list was trimmed to 292 players. The final list has 164 Indian players and 128 overseas players including associate nations. Let us look at five players that could be in demand and force a bidding war between multiple franchises.
Dawid Malan
Base price- Rs 1.50 crores
The number one batsman in the world will be looking to test his skills in the most lucrative and competitive T-20 league in the world. Dawid Malan is the type of batsman that can quickly change gears and seamlessly adapt to different match situations. He currently averages 53.44 in T-20 internationals for England and strikes at 149.48 runs per 100 balls. Since Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals need a strong batsman at number three after the departures of Shane Watson and Steven Smith, a good and long bidding war for Malan could be expected next week.
Jhye Richardson
Base price- Rs 1.50 crores
Overseas bowlers come at a premium in the IPL, so they will always remain in demand. On the back of a terrific Big Bash League, Jhye Richardson is expected to fetch a hefty price. The young Australian pacer managed to take 29 wickets in 17 matches during BBL 2020/21. Richardson also impressed against India during the limited-overs series two years ago but the form of first-choice bowlers in Australia has allowed him to be on the fringes of the first team. With RCB and KXIP needing a quality pace bowler, expect some fireworks in auction for Richardson.
Glenn Maxwell
Base price- Rs 2.00 crores
After a poor IPL 2020, KXIP decided to part ways with Glenn Maxwell. However, return to hitting form against India in the white-ball series during November and December will make sure that Maxwell will have suitors. Despite being inconsistent, Maxwell remains a match-winner on his days. If he manages to come up with 4-5 match-winning knocks in a season, then it is money well spent. RCB, MI, and RR can certainly benefit from having Maxwell in the squad, so despite recent woes in IPL, Maxwell is likely to wage a good bidding war on February 18.
Liam Livingstone
Base price- Rs 75 lakhs
An allrounder that can chip in with quick overs and be an explosive batsman down the order is a very attractive proposition in the IPL. On the back of a successful BBL, Liam Livingstone will be looking to get a decent fee during the auction. The all-rounder smashed 28 sixes during BBL 2020/21, only his compatriot Alex Hales had more in the tournament. His right arm leg-break can also turn out to be a good option to have in the bowling department on Indian pitches. Since his base price is low compared to some premium all-rounders, many teams will be looking at Livingstone as a very good option for next season.
Chris Morris
Base price- Rs 75 lakhs
Chris Morris was excellent for Royal Challengers Bangalore last season after he was bought for a hefty fee in the auction. He can come up with wickets with the new ball and bowl tight spells, and he also provides more depth to the batting order. The South African all-rounder was released by RCB probably due to his price rather than performances. Virat Kohli will be hoping that his team will pick Morris up once again during the auction. Alongside RCB, Punjab also needs a good overseas pacer, so Morris is likely to attract bids from multiple bids. Similar to Livingstone, Morris also has a low base fee, so there could be a long bidding battle for him.