5 Players Who Attracted the Most Bids at IPL 2023 Auction

The Indian Premier League’s 16th edition’s player auction took place on December 23 in Kochi. The premier tournament included 405 cricketers, but with a team restriction of 25 players, only 80 were able to get IPL contracts.

Many top-tier cricketers were auctioned off in the IPL 2023 auction, and teams went to great lengths to secure their services. However, some players piqued the attention of several organisations, and IPL teams engaged in a bidding war to sign them.

 

Number 1. Shivam Mavi

 

 

Shivam Mavi has been a steady participant on the home circuit in India. He has appeared in 36 List-A games and has taken 59 wickets at an economy of 4.85. In the lucrative T20 league, the 24-year-old has showed flashes of brilliance, taking 30 wickets in 32 games at an economy of 8.71.

Mavi was fairly impressive in the home arena in 2022. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022, he was the wrecker-in-chief for Uttar Pradesh, taking 10 wickets in seven games at an economy rate of 6.64. The ace pacer again shown his bowling prowess in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022, taking 14 wickets in seven games at an economy of 4.15.

Given his form, IPL clubs including as the Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, and Rajasthan Royals attempted to add him to their squad at the just concluded player auction. Finally, GT made a proposal of INR 6 crore for Mavi and secured his services.

 

Number 2. Mayank Agarwal

 

 

Mayank Agarwal has worked as a run-banker on the Indian domestic circuit. The 31-year-old has played in 98 List-A games, scoring 4296 runs with a strike rate of 99.42. He has also been spectacular in the cash-rich league, scoring 2327 runs in 113 games with a strike rate of 134.28.

Mayank is capable of holding the innings together and playing the anchor position well. He also has an aggressive style of play and has decimated top-tier attacks with his marauding bat. Furthermore, the ace hitter excels at both speed and spin.

Given what Mayank brought to the table, franchises like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad went all out to sign him for the big event. Finally, for INR 8.25 crore, SRH outbid the other clubs to sign the Indian hitter.

 

Number 3. Nicholas Pooran

 

 

In the T20 circuit, Nicholas Pooran has been a reliable name. He has attacked the opponent from the start and has decimated bowling lineups for pleasure. In the shortest format, the 27-year-old has played 256 games and scored 4942 runs with a strike rate of 141.15.

Pooran has also shown his swashbuckling stroke play on several times in the IPL arena, hammering 912 runs in 47 games at a fantastic strike rate of 151.24. He was outstanding in the just finished Abu Dhabi T10 League, scoring 345 runs in 10 games with a stunning strike rate of 234.69.

Pooran has the ability to flip a game on its head in a matter of a few deliveries, and his presence adds pzazz to any batting lineup. He also boasts a solid set of hands behind the stumps. As a result, the Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants raised their paddles in the IPL 2023 auction to sign the wicketkeeper-batter. LSG eventually acquired him for an absurd cost of INR 16 crore.

 

Number 4. Ben Stokes

 

 

Ben Stokes is now one of the most clutch players in international cricket. The 31-year-old was the mastermind behind two of cricket’s most spectacular performances, the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s and the 2019 Ashes Test at Headingley. Also, in the finals of the T20 Global Cup 2022, the southpaw hit a match-winning knock of 52* runs off 49 deliveries to lead his country to its second world T20 triumph.

Stokes has won matches for England in a variety of sports. In 43 T20Is, he has scored 585 runs at a strike rate of 128.00 and taken 26 wickets at an economy rate of 8.39. In the cash-rich competition, he has also shown his brilliance, hitting 920 runs in 43 games at a strike rate of 134.50 and taking 28 wickets.

Stokes has a cool head on his shoulders and has shown his leadership abilities on several occasions on the international arena. As a result, during the recently ended player auction, numerous organisations went hammer and tongs to sign the great all-rounder. Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Chennai Super Kings were among the teams who wanted to sign him. CSK eventually won out and paid INR 16.25 crore for the Christchurch-born player.

 

Number 5. Sam Curran

 

 

Sam Curran has been a major figure in the game’s shortest version. He has built a name for himself with his all-around performances, whether in international competition or in franchise leagues. The 24-year-old has played 145 T20 matches and has 149 wickets at an economy rate of 8.43. Batting, he has 1731 runs scored at a strike rate of 135.65.

Curran was outstanding for England in the previous calendar year. He appeared in 19 T20Is and took 25 wickets at an economy of 7.56. With his bowling performances, the left-arm pacer also grabbed the T20 World Cup 2022 by storm. He was Jos Buttler’s go-to guy at the end, taking 13 wickets in six matches with an economy rate of 6.52.

The outstanding all-rounder has shown his ability to bowl at any stage of the game. He can also contribute with the bat and serve as a floater in the batting order. A player of Curran’s level is an asset to any team, therefore teams competed for him in the 2023 player auction.

At the headline event, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings, and Rajasthan Royals all submitted bids for England all-rounder Ben Stokes. Curran was eventually purchased by PBKS for a whopping INR 18.5 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history.