The mini-auctions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) are slightly different from the full version. It is more about filling in the gaps, as every franchise has its core ready. The event in Dubai on Tuesday will witness 333 players, including 119 foreigners, going under the hammer.
Among the capped Indian players, there will be a demand for specialists, fast bowlers and experienced middle-order batters who can play finisher roles to perfection.
Here is a breakdown of the cricketers who can turn heads; only up to 47 slots will be available for Indians.
Shardul Thakur: All-rounder (base price ₹2 crore)
Thakur has been the breakthrough man for India in white-ball cricket. Plus, he has proved his mettle as a batter. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had traded him from Delhi Capitals (DC), who had paid ₹10.75 crore for the all-rounder. But a quiet season with the ball in 2023 led to his release.
Thakur picked up only seven wickets in 11 games in IPL 2023. The lone 50, 68 off 29 balls, against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, was not enough to have him on the retention list.
Chennai Super Kings, where Thakur played from 2018 to 2021, could be interested in bringing him back. They have a purse of ₹31.40 and will leave no stone unturned to add more international experience to the existing fast bowling department, spearheaded by Deepak Chahar. Thakur's breakout season with CSK came in 2021 when he finished with 21 wickets.
Even Gujarat Titans will be interested in roping in a bowling all-rounder after Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians.
Manish Pandey: Middle-order batter (base price ₹50 lakh)
Pandey is a seasoned campaigner in the IPL who can settle down with any team. The right-handed batter was the first Indian to score a hundred in the IPL. He achieved the feat in RCB colours in the 2009 edition against the Deccan Chargers.
And since Pandey was part of the victorious KKR side in 2014 under Gautam Gambhir, there are chances of return as the franchise has signed up the former captain as mentor for the upcoming season.
CSK will be missing the services of Ambati Rayudu, who announced retirement, and they can look at Pandey as a replacement. Consistency has been a concern with the Karnataka batter. The 2020 edition of the IPL was his best season (425 runs) with Sunrisers Hyderabad, after 2014 (401 runs) with KKR.
Harshal Patel: All-rounder (base price ₹2 crore)
Harshal Patel is a death-over specialist bowler with different variations among the slower deliveries. He has choked runs and won games for RCB.
In IPL 2021, he clinched the Purple Cap with 32 wickets, a performance that led to his India call-up. But since then, there has been a dip in form. Patel picked up 19 and 14 games in the following seasons. Since RCB has not won the title yet, they hired Andy Flower as head coach for a complete revamp in plans.
KKR, which has a purse of ₹32.7 crore, can bid for Patel as the franchise has released a lot of bowlers from their squad. Additionally, Andre Russell's fitness has been a concern, and it may not be wise to expect him to bowl four overs in every game.
DC, where Patel has played in the past, has a purse of ₹28.95 crore with nine slots to fill. They can also bid for the specialist bowler.
Since there is a bit of Dwayne Bravo in Patel's bowling skills, it can interest CSK as Mahendra Singh Dhoni has an affinity for bowlers with good slower variations.
Umesh Yadav: Fast bowler (base price ₹2 crore)
The 36-year-old Indian fast bowler could have several takers in the upcoming auction, for his ability with the new ball in the powerplay. Since the start of the Impact Player rule, the role of specialists has become crucial. He can figure in the playing XI and can even play as a substitute to play to his strengths.
Yadav has 136 IPL scalps in 141 games at an economy of 8.38. In IPL 2022, he finished with 16 wickets in 12 matches for KKR. However, he could not replicate the performance in 2023, ending with just one wicket.
Punjab Kings, which has Arshdeep Singh and Rishi Dhawan as the only Indian pacers, could go for Yadav. The franchise has ₹29.10 crore available with eight slots to fill, including two overseas spots.
GT, the champions of 2022, will be interested in Yadav after releasing Indian pacers such as Shivam Mavi.
Chetan Sakariya: Fast bowler (base price ₹50 lakh)
Sakariya is a left-arm pacer from Bhavnagar in Gujarat with a great slower and a yorker. The 25-year-old harnessed his bowling skills under the wings of senior India international bowler Jaydev Unadkat, his state team captain, who has been plying his trade in the IPL for several seasons. Sheldon Jackson, another state-mate, helped him in his formative years by giving him his first pair of spikes.
Sakariya was picked for ₹1.20 crore by Rajasthan Royals in 2021. He had a dream debut with 14 wickets in as many games at an economy of 8.19. Later, DC bought him for ₹4.2 crore, but he appeared in only five matches across two seasons with six scalps.
RR, RCB and GT will have their eyes on Sakariya as a left-arm Indian pacer adds value to the overall balance of the side. He played two T20Is and an ODI for India.
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