The Indian Premier League’s latest season has just seen a fabulous end. It all started with an auction, or the mega-auction as they call it, taking place in February. The ten tigers fought valiantly with each other for the Golden cup, but it was Gujarat Titans, the newbie, that took it home, along with a few hundred thousand hearts. The tournament saw some really great talent this season. With youngsters stepping up to match their more experienced peers, and the veterans of cricket grasping their old grip again, the IPL has been a real roller coaster.
Some players went for big money this season. The likes of Ishan Kishan, Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur fetched amounts that even experts seemed impossible. This made people wonder, that if the IPL allowed for greater auction values, is it possible for players to breach the ₹20 crore mark? And if yes, then who would the players be? Here’s who we think can fetch these sky-high prices :
1) Jos Buttler –
It’s not a surprise that the cracking batsman tops the list. Jos Buttler has had one of the most prolific careers in IPL, and the most recent edition saw him score in a manner that outweighed all other seasons of his. Buttler, if not retained by Rajasthan(which is very unlikely) is all set to send the prices at the auction above ₹20 crores, maybe even further than that.
2) Umran Malik –
The newest sensation of the IPL, Umran Malik is a young pacer with the ability to bowl consistently over 150 kmph. He has even achieved over 160 kmph in practice nets. If the player is sold off in the auction, there is little doubt that teams would target him and be willing to pay any price, even if it’s above ₹20 crores, to get him into the squad.
3) Liam Livingstone –
Liam Livingstone is another sensation rising after the 2022 edition of the IPL. Playing for the Punjab Kings, the all-rounder had one of the most consistent batting averages this season. He proved to be the most valuable buy for his side. Livingstone had an amazing strike rate, hitting sixes every time his team needed. An extremely reliable batsman and bowler, Livingstone is sure to fetch over ₹20 crores in an auction.
4) Faf Du Plessis –
Faf Du Plessis was picked by the RCB this season and as captain Virat Kohli stepped down, Du Plessis was handed the mantle. He showed fervour in his captaincy and batting. He was able to carry the entire game on his lone shoulder several times this season. Under his captaincy, RCB reached the playoffs, where they suffered a painful defeat at the hands of RR in the second qualifier. In case he shows up for the auction, Faf Du Plessis is sure to be priced much above ₹20 crores. His age might prove to be a hindrance, however, he is showing no signs of slowing down.
5) Hardik Pandya –
Kung Fu Pandya is definitely not showing up for the auction, as Gujarat Titans are sure to retain their IPL-winning captain. He is one player that could’ve easily gone for more than ₹20 crores. His brilliant captaincy, solid batting and extremely crucial bowling performance have made him the hero of IPL 2022. The newcomer Gujarat Titans went on to win their maiden tournament under his captaincy by beating RR, and his bowling tactics in the finals were the primary reason for Gujarat’s victory.
