4 Players who can become the biggest buys in IPL 2019

The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League saw Chennai Super Kings scripting a perfect comeback and lifting the trophy for the third time.

Right from the auction, a couple of big names went unsold whereas some new entrants had the time of their lives getting picked up for crores. With players like Jofra Archer, Gowtham Krishnappa, and the India Under-19 players raking in millions, it is no surprise that the next year could be equally as shocking.

This year, money was spent without inhibition by team owners, and if this is any indication of what's next to come, 2019 may see even bigger bids when superstars come under the hammer.

Let's take a look at five such players who can become the most expensive buys in IPL 2019.

Honourable Mention: Jofra Archer, Mitchell Starc

(Note: The following list is prepared in consideration that none of the following players are retained by their teams and will go under the hammer.)

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#4 Dwayne Bravo

DJ Bravo

Matches: 16

Runs: 141

Wickets: 14

Even at 34, Dwayne Bravo is one of the most feared death bowlers today, and his batting cameos have sailed the Chennai Super Kings to victory at a plethora of occasions. One of the most beloved and celebrated players of this generation, Bravo has played a vital role in all the T20 leagues he has played.

A 10-year veteran of the IPL, "DJ" Bravo has become one of the main faces of the franchise, along with skipper MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina. In the 2018 edition of the tournament, he picked up 14 wickets and scored 141 runs with an indispensable attitude and multi-dimensional skills, steering CSK to their third trophy.

CSK’s bowling consultant Eric Simons praised the impact the West Indian all-rounder has had:

Bravo is massively important from two perspectives. No 1, he is an incredibly experienced cricketer. We were dead and buried against Mumbai last time we played and his was one of the great T20 innings I’ve ever see, I didn’t think we are going to win it. Other thing is his ability to control in those middle overs. He bowls to his field and for me it is wonderful to watch. And then the third component, which you don’t witness, is the amount of mentoring he does for our bowlers. He does lot of talking, lot of advising.

Ageing like fine wine, Bravo might have a few more years left in him, and with the kind of form and experience he possesses, all the franchises would love to have him in their side. With no international cricket, Bravo is a free-wheeling T20 cricketer, who with his antics and tactics, would be an asset wherever he eventually lands up.

#3 Andrew Tye

Andrew Tye

Matches: 14

Wickets: 24

Andrew Tye became an overnight sensation with his 5-wicket hall in the 2017 edition playing for the Gujarat Lions. In only six matches, Tye picked up 12 wickets and became a big name for this year's auction. Picked up by the Kings XI Punjab for INR 7.2 crores, he proved every penny worth by becoming the first Australian to become the purple cap owner in IPL history.

Getting better after every season, Tye has garnered the attention of fans worldwide with an ability to bowl yorkers at will and variations to keep the batsmen on their toes.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Andrew Tye is the most sought after bowler come the next season of the tournament. Numbers don't lie; he is tailor-made for T20s and with him in top form, teams will line up to have him in their squads. With the impact Tye has had in the last two seasons, on his day there are not many better than him.

#2 KL Rahul

KL Rahul

Matches: 14

Runs: 659

KL Rahul had an unforgettable 2018 IPL as he finished third in the list of highest scoring batsmen with staggering 659 runs in the tournament, with an average of 54.92. Picked up by the Kings XI Punjab for INR 11 Crores, Rahul proved his mettle by hitting the fastest ever half-century in the history of IPL and having three 90+ scores.

His stellar performances even got him a call in the T20 national team, and it's just a matter of time when he becomes a regular member in all the three formats.

After representing Royal Challengers Banglore for five years and not getting retained for 2018, Rahul had this to say in an interview:

It is just how the IPL goes. Each team has different plans and I had not played a lot of cricket in the four-five months leading up to the auction. I would have loved to play for RCB because of the opportunities they have given me and helped me become who I am today. But this is how the game goes and you get different challenges. You have to be able to adapt,

With his current form in consideration, it is no surprise that the Kings XI would love to retain the southpaw. But even if he manages to land up on the auction table, all the teams would surely fight for the wicketkeeper-batsman, and there's a good chance he breaks the 11 Crore barrier set earlier this year.

#1 (Shared) Krunal Pandya / Hardik Pandya

The Pandya Brothers

Krunal Pandya -- Hardik Pandya

Matches: 14 -- 13

Runs: 228 -- 260

WIckets: 12 -- 18

Two of the best allrounders in the world today, the Pandya brothers have become the backbone of the Mumbai Indians' middle order and are a huge asset to the bowling line-up of the side. After becoming household names due to their astounding performances with both the bat and the ball, Krunal and Hardik seem perfect for the high-pressure T20 brand of cricket.

While Hardik first made headlines in the 2015 edition of the IPL, big brother Kunal hit the high notes in 2016, and there has been no turning back for the two ever since. Their performance continued in 2017 and 2018 where both Krunal and Pandya took crucial wickets and played match-winning cameos to help MI take a commanding position at sporadic occasions.

V.V.S. Laxman feels multi-skilled cricketers like Krunal and Hardik will be in demand irrespective of the formats. He said,

A batsman should be able to bowl and a bowler should be able to bat. Cricketers like the Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya will be more in demand because of their performance irrespective of the format. The guys who can do all the three things good will be more in demand.

With an all-star team, the management will look out to retain both the allrounders, but with the limitation of only three, it is likely that one of them does end up getting under the hammer. Whoever it may be, the bidding is sure to break records, and it's not a possibility, it's a spoiler.