IPL: 5 players who might bag a huge amount at the IPL 2019 auction

These five players might see a big bidding war for themselves in IPL 2019 auction.

The IPL 2019 auction scheduled for December 18, 2018, at Jaipur is going to see 346 players go under the hammer with 226 Indian players trying out their luck. 9 players have kept their base price at INR 2 crores and 10 players have kept their price at INR 1.50 cr and will hope to see the bid for them soar to new heights.

Many of the players have also kept their base prices at a reasonable amount, in hopes of teams getting into a bidding war. This has indeed happened at previous auctions and with some franchises looking for a rehaul, might want to bring in new players.

Therefore, TEAM COC takes a look at five such players who might gain huge amounts of money in bidding wars at the 2019 auction.

Here are 5 players who might bag a huge amount at the 2019 auction

NICHOLAS POORAN (WI)
Base Price- 75 lakhs INR
23-year-old Trinidadian wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran has been on fire in domestic circuit in West Indies and also in the Caribbean Premier League. Pooran also left a lasting impact with a quickfire 53* in the third and final T20I against India recently.

Pooran is an aggressive batsman usually taking the score to new highs while opening, taking the advantage of field restrictions. Pooran has also succeeded in the T10 format and with many franchises in need of a wicketkeeper, who can contribute with runs, like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals, Pooran can be a perfect fit at any of the franchise. This could only mean that a bidding war may happen for his services; meaning getting a much higher amount than his base price.   

SHIVAM DUBEY (IND)
Base Price- 20 lakhs INR
Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dubey has recently become a hot property given his exploits in the Mumbai T20 tournament and for Mumbai in domestic cricket. A left-handed batsman with a penchant to hit the ball hard like Yuvraj Singh, according to experts. He is also a right arm medium pacer, capable of occasional bursts of speed.

The 25-year-old all-rounder already has two centuries to his name in 5 FC matches and has taken 21 wickets with a best of 7/53. Dubey has been described as a dream inclusion in any franchise given his all-around skills and his lower order hitting abilities, giving the teams a legit finisher.

SHIMRON HETMYER (WI)
Base Price- 50 lakhs INR
Shimron Hetmyer of West Indies needs no introduction, given his exploits in the recent ODI series against Australia. The 21-year-old left-handed batsman won the 2016 U19 World Cup for his team and since then has graduated to becoming one of the most devastating batsmen in world cricket.

In 20 ODIs for the Windies so far, Hetmyer has made 758 runs with 3 centuries to his name with the best of 127, with a strike rate of 106.91. Hetmyer as an opener can be destructive for any franchise that bids for him and such kind of opener is always welcomed.

With franchises looking for players who will play the whole of the tournament, Hetmyer’s availability will play a huge role in his bidding and given that West Indies has made no announcement similar to Australia and England, sit back and enjoy a potential bidding war for the young Windies star.

LASITH MALINGA (SL)
Base Price- 2 crores INR
One of the greatest limited overs bowler and only one to get three hat-tricks in the ODI format, Lasith Malinga spent the 2018 IPL as a bowling mentor for the Mumbai Indian, which had released him prior to the auction.

Many had thought that Malinga’s playing days were over, but Malinga has suddenly found a new lease of playing career. Recently appointed captain of the Lankan team on their limited-overs leg for the tour of New Zealand; Malinga will like to add to his record 154 wickets in the Indian Premier League.

Hence, he has put his name back into the auction with a base price of INR 2 crores and very well could see franchises picking him for his brilliant skills in the shortest format and also as a mentor for their young bowlers.  

AKSHAR PATEL (IND)
Base Price- 1 crore INR
Akshar Patel was the only player retained by Kings XI Punjab before the 2017 IPL, however with just 3 wickets in 9 matches and 19 runs; KXIP decided to let Axar Patel go back into the auction pool.

Akshar Patel has been a valuable player for the franchise in the tournament with 686 runs and 61 wickets to his name in 68 matches in IPL. Now that he is back in the auction pool, get ready to see some serious bidding for him when his name comes up.

Franchises will be looking for an Indian all-rounder with the skills of Akshar Patel and given his base price of INR 1 crore, teams will definitely love to have someone like him in their playing XIs.