IPL 2018 Auction: 5 overseas players who could go for big money

The IPL player registrations were closed on 12th January. The list of the participating players and number of players participating from each country has sent out to the eight IPL teams. 1122 players signed up from 13 different countries for the upcoming Mega IPL Auction on 27 and 28 January in Bengaluru.

Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik are a few of the veteran Indian players who will be under the hammer in Bengaluru. Ravichandran Ashwin, Manish Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and KL Rahul are expected to fetch a huge amount of money among the Indian players.

Players from associate nations such as Scotland, Afghanistan and Ireland have also signed up for the IPL Auction.

Country and Players Registered

Afghanistan- 13 Players, Australia- 58 Players, Bangladesh- 8 Players, England- 26 Players, Ireland- 2 Players, New Zealand- 30 Players, Scotland- 1 Player, South Africa- 57 Players, Sri Lanka- 39 Players, USA- 2 Players, West Indies- 39 Players, Zimbabwe- 7 Players.

Joe Root

Joe Root is Captain of England

English skipper Root will be playing his maiden IPL and could fetch some high bids. Root's experience of playing on Indian sub-continental pitches is more than that of most of the other overseas captains.

Root has scored 375 runs in his 9 T20I innings played in India with an astounding average of 53.57 and a strike rate of 128.86. Root made his T20I, ODI and Test debuts in India.

Root would be a key choice for teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils, which are looking for a prominent captain for their squads. His fellow Englishman and teammate Ben Stokes went for big bucks in the previous edition of IPL.

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo has represented CSK, GL and MI

Popularly recognized as DJ, Bravo is one of the most assertive all-rounders in 10 years of the IPL. Bravo contributes to the team in critical stages of the game not only by scoring runs at a tremendous pace but also with precise bowling at the death overs. Bravo is the only player in IPL history to scalp 100+ wickets and score 1000+ Runs.

Bravo, at the age of 34 years, is the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, scalping 407 wickets at an average of 23.60.

Chennai Super Kings would be keen to get him back in their squad using an RTM card. But all other teams would also have an eye on this Trinidadian all-rounder.

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes played for RPS last season

Playing his maiden IPL season last year, Ben Stokes was the highlight of the auction, fetching the highest bid of the season at Rs.14.5 Crores. He scored 316 runs with an average of 31.60 and an overwhelming strike rate of 142.98.

His 316 runs included a match-winning knock of 103 runs against Gujarat Lions at Gahunje, Pune. He also scalped 12 crucial wickets in 12 innings in the league stage.

Ben Stokes took a lead role in Pune's road to final and also won the Most Valuable Player Award for his contribution. With a base price of just 2 crores, he becomes a key choice for teams looking for an overseas all-rounder.

Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn scored 93* against Gujarat Lions

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

He injured his right shoulder after just playing 2 matches last season. Fortunately, Lynn recovered from the injury prior to the conclusion of the league stage. Lynn has also contributed equally in the fielding department too.

Lynn 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. KKR shocked their fans by releasing this Australian hard-hitter, but this will be a boon for other teams looking for a striking opening batsman.

Rashid Khan

Just a year and a half making his national debut, Rashid featured in the 2017 IPL Auction and became the first player to represent Afghanistan IPL.

Soon his countryman, former Afghanistan skipper Mohammed Nabi, was also picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Rashid was bought for Rs.4 Crores which is the highest price for any player from an Associate Nation.

Rashid Khan repaid his team by picking 17 crucial wickets with an economy rate of just 6.63 runs per over. Khan hoodwinked batsmen like Eoin Morgan, Shaun Marsh and other overseas players with his leg-breaks and googlies.