The IPL 14 mini-auction is less than 24 hours away, promising the inclusion of some highly regarded international players in the event held in Dubai. With all ten franchises vying to fill the available 77 slots, attention is on standout overseas players from cricketing powerhouses like New Zealand, England, Australia, and South Africa.
Travis Head, the 29-year-old Australian opener, is anticipated to be a key attraction. His stellar performances in 2023, including a match-winning knock of 163 in the World Test Championship final and a crucial 137 in the World Cup final, have established him as a cricketing star. Head, with IPL experience from Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals, boasts a T20I record of 554 runs in 23 matches at an average of 29.1.
English youngster Harry Brook is another player expected to draw significant interest. Despite making a mark in Test cricket with a notable innings of 108 during England’s tour to Pakistan, Brook is yet to fully showcase his T20 prowess. After being acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a substantial sum in IPL 2023, he aims to make a bigger impact this time.
Turning to all-rounders, South African Gerald Coetzee and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra are ones to watch. Coetzee’s outstanding performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, where he became the leading wicket-taker for South Africa with 20 wickets, showcases his bowling prowess. Ravindra, a more dominant batsman, was the fourth-highest run-scorer in the same World Cup, amassing 578 runs with a strike rate of 106.44.
Bowlers Wanindu Hasaranga from Sri Lanka and Mitchell Starc from Australia are poised to capture attention. Hasaranga, known for his all-around skills, aims to overcome recent fitness issues. In T20Is, he has 91 wickets in 58 matches, with 35 wickets in the IPL. Starc, having secured World Cup and World Test Championship victories, boasts 73 wickets in 58 T20Is and 34 wickets in 27 IPL matches.
As the auction unfolds, these international players are set to be focal points, offering teams valuable skills and experiences for the upcoming IPL season.