There are certain players who could draw the attention of a lot of franchises at the IPL 2023 auction. The operations of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League have been up and running. The IPL 2023 auction is all set to be held on December 23 in Kochi. The marquee event will give an opportunity for the franchises to fill up holes in their squads and become a better version of themselves.
One will witness many top-drawer cricketers featuring at the forthcoming auction. However, among them, there are a few players who have proven their mettle in the T20 circuit time and time again and shall add a lot of value to a side. These T20 stars are likely a draw the attention of multiple franchises and can even trigger a bidding war between teams.
Here are the players who will be in high demand in the IPL 2023 auction:
5. Joshua Little
Joshua Little has set the international circuit ablaze with his phenomenal bowling performances. He has featured in 26 T20Is this calendar year and bagged 39 wickets at an economy of 7.58, which is impeccable given he bowls a lot at the fag end of the innings.
At the T20 World Cup 2022, Little was skipper Andrew Balbirnie’s go-to man for crunch moments, and the 23-year-old delivered on most occasions. He took 11 wickets in seven games played at the marquee tournament at an economy of 7.00. This includes a sensational hat-trick against New Zealand.
Little proved his mettle in the Hundred 2022 too and took an insane tally of 13 wickets in mere five games at an economy of 7.42. The Ireland pacer has been in a rich vein of form and many IPL franchises would like to add a genuine wicket-taker in their arsenal. Moreover, him being a left-arm pacer provides variety to a bowling attack and therefore, one might witness teams going all guns blazing to sign him at the auction.
4. Rilee Rossouw
Rilee Rossouw has been a giant of a player in the T20 circuit. The 33-year-old is a ferocious striker of the cricket ball and has displayed his batting might in T20 tournaments around the world. He has featured in 269 games in the shortest format and has amassed a staggering tally of 6874 runs at a strike rate of 143.44.
The southpaw made a comeback to the international fold earlier this year after his Kolpak deal ended, and has destroyed top-quality attacks with his swashbuckling strokeplay. He has played 11 T20Is since his return and plundered 372 runs at a strike rate of 176.30.
In a rapidly evolving T20 format, playing an aggressive brand of cricket has become the need of the hour and Rossouw is someone who embodies that approach.
3. Cameron Green
Cameron Green has been one of the most exciting prospects in Australian cricketing circles. After starting his international career with the longest format of the game in 2020, the 23-year-old has thrived in the white-ball circuit of late. In ODIs, he has amassed 270 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of 92.15 and also bagged 11 wickets at an economy of 4.98.
When it comes to the shortest format, Green has been sensational from the time he made his debut this year. He smashed 139 runs in eight games at an amazing strike rate of 173.75 and also picked five wickets for Australia in the shortest format.
The ace all-rounder has batted on most positions from one to seven across formats and offers versatility to any side. Also, Green has been more than handy with the ball and can play the role of a fifth bowler in a team.
2. Sam Curran
Sam Curran is a proven performer in the shortest format of the game. The 24-year-old has featured in 144 T20 games and bagged 146 wickets at an economy of 8.48. With the bat, he has scored 1731 runs at a strike rate of 135.65. The Northampton-born has shown his all-round might in the lPL arena too. He has bagged 32 wickets in as many games and smashed 337 runs at a superb strike rate of 149.78.
Curran’s bowling stocks have seen a meteoric rise of late and the ace all-rounder has been a wrecker-in-chief for England in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022. He has featured in five games thus far and picked 10 wickets at an economy of 7.28. The left-arm pacer has deceived batters with his variations and nailed pin-point yorkers at the slog overs.
Curran has shown the ability to bowl in any phase of the game and can act as a floater on the batting front. The England all-rounder adds depth to any side and many franchises could raise their paddle for him at the IPL 2023 auction.
1. Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is one of the best all-rounders in world cricket at the moment. The 31-year-old has been a match-winner for England across formats, with both bat and ball. Talking about the T20Is, he has scored 533 runs at a strike rate of 130.63 and picked 25 wickets at an economy of 8.40.
Stokes has also taken the Indian Premier League by storm with his exceptional performances. The Christchurch-born has featured in 43 games and scored 920 runs at a strike rate of 134.50. On the bowling front, he has bagged 28 scalps at an economy of 8.56.
Generally a middle-order batter across formats, the southpaw has shown the skillfulness to bat at the top order as well. Stokes has a calm head on his shoulders and played many blistering knocks under pressure. With the ball, the left-arm pacer can make the ball talk at the start of the innings and can play the role of an enforcer in the middle phases of the game.