IPL 2023: 6 overseas players who might get picked for the first time in the IPL this auction

IPL 2023 auction will take place in Kochi on December 23.

The IPL 2023 auction is slated to be held in Kochi on December 23, Friday.

A total of 405 players have been shortlisted for the auction out of which 273 are Indians and 132 are overseas players of which 4 players are from associate nations. The total number of capped players is 119, uncapped players are 282, and 4 are from associate nations.

A total of 87 slots are now available with up to 30 being slotted for overseas players.

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There are many first-time registrations that have excited the fans of various IPL franchises and they want them to see wearing the colors of their favorite teams.

Also, the franchise officials will keep a close eye on these first-timers as there is a healthy mix of new-gen players and experienced souls in the auction who are yet to play in the IPL but have proved their mettle everywhere else.

Therefore, Team COC presents to you the 6 players who might make their IPL debuts after possibly getting picked for the first time in IPL 2023 auction.

MEHIDY HASAN MIRAZ (BAN)

Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz may be only 25 years old, but he has a lot of experience for both his national team and in the Bangladesh Premier League and Caribbean Premier League as well. He has played overall 104 T20 matches, scoring 1242 runs and picking 72 wickets.

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He is a handy batter anywhere in the lineup, capable of opening the innings. With the ball, he is a wily off-spinner, who can bowl with the new ball as well. He has been in good form off late, especially in the recent ODI series against India, where he won Bangladesh two matches out of hopeless situations.

A great addition to any franchise, who are looking for a genuine spin-bowling all-rounder.

HARRY BROOK (ENG)

23-year-old Harry Brook has made a very fine start to his England Test career recently, scoring three centuries in three Tests against Pakistan in the ongoing series. He has also impressed in the 20 T20Is he has played, scoring 372 runs at a strike rate of 137.77.

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Brook is a top-order batter who likes to go after the bowling from the start. He has played 99 T20 matches as well, scoring 2432 runs with one century and 9 fifties at a strike rate of 148.38, and can bowl occasional medium pace as well.

Brook has been in news recently for his batting exploits for England in the seven-match T20I series against Pakistan and also in the Hundred and is being touted as one of those talents who might break the bank in the IPL 2023 auction.

SIKANDAR RAZA (ZIM)

Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe had the time of his life in 2022 as he soared to new heights with both the bat and the ball for his team, especially in white-ball cricket. A veteran of 157 T20 matches, Raza has 3092 runs with 19 fifties at a strike rate of 129.48, and 78 wickets to his name.

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He came into the spotlight for his performance in the ODI series against Pakistan, and India at home and then in the T20 World Cup 2022 where he scored over 200 runs and picked 10 wickets, helping Zimbabwe register a big win over Pakistan in Super 12s stage.

Raza is a genuine talent who despite being 36, can be of huge value to any team who picks him in the IPL 2023 auction.

PAUL STIRLING (IRE)

Irish batting superstar Paul Stirling has always been a name that made rounds as a potential buy in the IPL in recent few years but has never quite managed to quite attract any of the franchises. But this time in IPL 2023 auction, things could change as there is a lot of demand for top-order batters, who can hit from ball one.

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Stirling has made his career for Ireland in white-ball cricket doing the same scoring 5172 runs in 139 ODIs and 3181 runs in 121 T20I matches at a strike rate of 134.78. His T20 career is more impressive with 7818 runs in 319 matches at a strike rate of 141.86, 3 centuries, and 317 sixes to his name.

He also has 77 wickets and can bowl a couple of overs upfront to keep the rate down is a huge blessing for any franchise and at 32 years of age, Stirling is also experienced enough to discharge his role as required.  

CAMERON GREEN (AUS)

Cameron Green is one name who has been doing rounds ever since he hammered a 19-ball T20I fifty against India and had impressed one and all in Test matches as well. He can hit big shots at will and can bowl at a brisk pace.

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His T20 strike rate is 137.64, but many consider him to be at par with Shane Watson in terms of being more of a batting all-rounder who can bowl at a good pace. Given that he scored those runs against India while opening the innings, a lot of interest has build-up amongst the IPL franchises for Green.

And it was big news that he had entered the IPL 2023 auction as someone who can bowl and bat at the top giving big flexibility to any team and expect Green to be one of the most expensive buys in the auction.

JOE ROOT (ENG)

Joe Root is one brilliant batter, who has not been able to quite make a name for himself in T20 cricket despite 88 T20 games and 2083 runs with 13 fifties to his name. He has played in T20 leagues like BBL and T20 Blast and appeared in the Hundred as well.

Though not part of England’s T20 plans since 2019 and having gone unsold previously in the IPL auction, Joe Root, now relieved of the captaincy of England, has put his name again in the IPL 2023 auction and this time there are more chances of him finding a buyer.

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Most of the franchises are in a period of transition with the old guard retiring and a new lot coming in and there is a need for a smart and experienced player who can lead a side well some franchises even need players who are good against spin.

Joe Root fulfills all those criteria and can also captain a franchise with good success and his newfound success with off-spin bowling is only a bonus to his genuinely class batting ability.