IPL 2018 Auction: 5 openers who could go for big money

This year's IPL auctions are to be held at Bangalore on 27th and 28th January. Almost all the teams have retained their core players at the retention event which took place in Mumbai. Due to limitations on retentions, many star players have been released from their squads.

The salary cap of the franchisees has been increased to Rs. 80 crore, up from the previous year's amount of Rs. 66 crores. Franchisees would be looking to make the most of it by bidding over marquee players.

Virat Kohli was retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore by paying a whopping 17 crore rupees. It is expected that some key players could cross that mark too.

Opening batsmen are the most important in this list of key players, especially in T20s. Here's a look at 5 opening batsmen who could go for big money.

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is the only player in the IPL history to twice win the Orange Cap. He can contribute to the team with his astonishing long sixes and ability to score runs at a tremendous pace. Gayle holds the record for highest individual score in a T20 game, which is his knock of 175 runs against the Pune Warriors India in 2013.

When Royal Challengers Bangalore retained Virat Kohli, AB De Villiers and Sarfaraz Khan ahead of Chris Gayle, it turned to be a surprising move. They will be surely looking to bring back this Jamaican Batsman into the squad using their Right To Match card. Even other teams would be looking to strengthen their side by acquiring this player.

Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn is an obstinate hitter of the cricket ball. In the previous edition of the IPL, Lynn contributed a powerful hike to the scoreboard along with Sunil Narine in the important powerplay overs.

Lynn has also contributed equally in the fielding department too.

Lynn has scored 295 runs in just 7 innings he played last season, with a breathtaking strike rate of 180.98 and an astounding average of 49.16.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane is one of the most gritty and poised opening batsmen India has ever produced. He initially was seen as the next Rahul Dravid, but along with calm perspective towards the game, he also scores runs at an enormous pace. He manipulates pressure situations with his never-say-die attitude.

He made his T20I debut for India at Manchester, England on 31 August 2011. In 2012 he was the leading scorer for Rajasthan Royals and subsequently was the highest run-scorer in the Champions League 2013.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan is an assertive left-handed opening batsman. He kick-started his IPL career with 4 half-centuries in 14 matches. He scored 340 runs for Delhi Daredevils in the same season in 2008.

Shikhar Dhawan's attractive strokes and dynamic fielding skills make him a conspicuous player of the shortest form of the game. His spectacular performances in the IPL 2016 played a major role in Sunrises Hyderabad's win in the same season.

Colin Munro

Colin Munro is a technically sound all-rounder who hails from New Zealand. He is the only batsman in the world to score 3 centuries in T20 Internationals. One of his 3 crackling centuries came on Indian soil.

Colin Munro has earned notoriety as one of New Zealand's most reputable big hitters. Despite his impressive track record, Munro has only played 4 IPL matches and that too came as a replacement for injured Josh Hazlewood in the 2015 IPL. Munro would be a perfect pick for all the teams looking for a dependable overseas batsman.