The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is taking place on December 23rd, and with the date quickly approaching, many cricket enthusiasts wonder who will be the picks for the highest bids. Nine hundred ninety-one players have already registered themselves for the event, which will happen in Kochi.
However, squads can only take a maximum of 25 players, so only 87 cricket stars will receive contracts for the next season. Considering the tough competition that will take place in the coming weeks, it’s understandable how the auction might be as exciting for the sport’s fans as the championship itself.
Likewise, many cricket fanatics eagerly await to see which will be the highest bids this season. The auction often gives way to incredible tales of underdog players becoming some of the sport’s leading stars. It offers interesting and unexpected twists for those who thought their careers were headed the right way.
Below, we’ll list the most promising cricket players we expect will receive the most expensive bids and a couple of underdogs that might surprise even the most fervorous fans.
IPL 2023 Most Expensive Players
The auction pool’s highest reserved bracket has a cap set at two crore. Only 21 players have managed to rank at this stage, and all are international. This is the first time that no Indian player has ranked in the most expensive price band, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any surprises.
Players such as Nicholas Pooran and Kane Williamson made it to the top rank, but they might not be the ones hitting the most expensive bid. Three other players have had an impeccable season and should lead the franchises’ lists.
Sam Curran
Born on June 3rd, 1998, Sam Curran is an English cricket player who has attended several Twenty20 leagues. He represented Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and played for Surrey domestically.
His five-wicket haul during the match between England and Afghanistan at the 2022 T20 World Cup, which eventually helped his national team win the game, earned him the Man of the Match award.
Curran is among the 21 players who have listed two crore as their price for the 2023 IPL auction and should receive one of the highest bids.
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes, born on June 4th 1991, is another English player who currently holds the title of captain for the England Test team. He joined Sam Curran on the Twenty20 International squad and represented Durham when playing domestically.
In the IPL, Stokes has played for the Rising Pune Supergiant and Rajasthan Royals. However, his last game in the championship occurred in 2021, as he left the stage halfway through the season due to an injury.
Stokes didn’t join the IPL in 2022 to focus on his national team but has listed himself as one of the top-rank players for the coming auction. His previous success in international competitions might lead him to earn one of the most expensive bids in the coming weeks.
Cameron Green
Cameron Green, an Australian cricketer born in 1999, will face his first IPL auction later this month. After having incredible success during his Test competitions, Green announced he would like to join the IPL due to how highly his colleagues speak of it.
His abilities allow him to turn a match around quickly, and after scoring 139 runs with a top score of 61, Green is expected to have a smooth transition to the IPL.
Additionally, the Australian sensation is already a hot topic among cricket enthusiasts, who often place him as the top pick at sportsbooks. Online betting sites, such as bet365 in India, provide excellent odds for the player who should soon join one of the leading teams at the IPL.
IPL 2023 Underdogs That Can Get a High Bid
Although no Indian players made it to the top rank during registration, many have established a base price of 1 crore. Many of the best performers, such as Kedar Jadhav and Manish Pandey, found themselves as some of the go-to picks for the upcoming auction.
Nonetheless, two names, in particular, might surprise cricket enthusiasts. Even though they didn’t cap their minimum prices at the top rank, they’ll likely receive some of the highest bids in the auction.
Mayank Agarwal
Agarwal has been one of the leading cricketers in the IPL, but his previous seasons left a sour taste in the mouths of many of his followers. After being the captain and the top retention of the Punjab Kings, his disappointing performance forced the Kings to release him.
Nonetheless, he continues to be one of the leading openers in India. He could have easily established his price on the higher ranks, along with the three players we mentioned. Still, he decided to maintain a one crore base price, which we expect will be easily surpassed.
Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane is another excellent player who might have opted to lower his base price due to his performance in the 2022 season. Although he had a reasonable time while playing with the Kolkata Knight Riders, the team decided not to keep him for the next championship.
Due to this, Rahane reduced his original base price of Rs 1 crore to Rs 50 lakh for the upcoming auction. This reduction might be a strategic plan for the seasoned player, as he hopes to attract interest from franchises that will surely pay a high price to have a veteran cricketer on their team.