It was in 2014, with another edition of the IPL looming large and having arrived on Indian shores early for the preparation, that John Wright had spotted a talent who, nine years later, unleashed a storm by being the most high-profile transfer of all time. It was on the ides of March, to be precise, that Wright - who was still in his role as head coach of Mumbai Indians that season - first had a glimpse of Hardik Pandya, a player who was an unknown commodity beyond Baroda. Against a Mumbai attack that included Zaheer Khan, not just the unbeaten 82 he made, but everything about Pandya stood out for Wright. Six months later as Wright moved onto his new role as head of scouting at Mumbai Indians, he would convince head coach Ricky Ponting and the Ambanis to spend Rs 10 lakh on Pandya and thus began a career full of glitter. In two successive years, Wright had given Mumbai Indians and India two gems – the first being Jasprit Bumrah – through robust scouting, which was still a novelty for IPL franchises. The likes of Krunal Pandya, Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera keep adding to the list, but with every passing season the element of surprise seems to be reducing. Welcome back 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘! 💙 #OneFamily — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) November 27, 2023 Last June-July, during the Tamil Nadu Premier League, there were a handful of scouts present at various stages, looking to unearth someone who could be an X-factor due to the mystery they bring along. Apart from the regulars in the Tamil Nadu state side, the likes of G Ajitesh, B Surya (mystery spinner), Jhathavedh Subramanyan (leg-spinner) and Gurjapneet Singh (left-arm seamer) were being watched with keen interest. One doesn’t know if any of these players, who are part of the IPL 2024 auction, will gain interest among teams. They could prompt interest from one or more franchises. In this age of data and scouts, it is hard for a franchise to spot a talent and keep it under wraps in the hope they can get him at a bargain in the auction. Before the 2019 auction, Chennai Super Kings had their attention on Varun Chakravarthy, a mystery spinner, who had troubled their star-studded batting unit in 2018. “It still hurts us (missing out on Varun). He tortured us in the nets for a number of years. Just with the auction, the way it is, we couldn't retain him,” the franchise’s head coach Stephen Fleming said. “The thing is with Tamil Nadu players in different teams, they knew about him as well. We were unable to keep him a secret. We were very excited by him as a talent when he bowled against us in the nets. And we would have loved him for a big price this year,” he added. Of course, with most of these uncapped players coming late in the auction list, some of the franchises have been lucky to bag them at their base price as auction dynamics don’t prompt franchises to take risks till the end. Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders were lucky to grab Ayush Badoni and Suyash Sharma respectively at base prices, but as another auction is just a sleep away, a few uncapped Indians - the likes of Manav Suthar, Sameer Rizvi, and Shubham Dubey - could be in line for a jackpot on Tuesday. Welcome to Dubai! 🌇 We are all set for the #IPLAuction 🔨 The 🏆 in all its glory ✨#IPL pic.twitter.com/BZ2JpT0awP — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 17, 2023 “Once we spot these talents, we invariably call them for trials to examine their potential. And unless you are a standout talent, you won’t straightaway make it to the auction list. But now, with 10 teams in fray, it has altered the landscape a bit. And thanks to domestic T20 leagues, there are still players who have not made the domestic cut. They may not be complete cricketers, but with the Impact Player rule, it allows us the scope to just use their expertise more. Suyash was a classic case last year, who bowled and hardly batted. Badoni and Amit Mishra were used smartly by Lucknow,” a franchise official who also oversees their scouting wing tells The Indian Express. Once the player reaches the auction, they leave it to the think-tank to decide the amount they are willing to spend on a player. “It is hard to second-guess at the auction table. At the end of the day, you are looking to put together a strong squad on paper and if a quality player comes up, you won’t miss out on an opportunity. You don't know what will happen later on. It is the reason why some of them come at a bargain because there is no room for a bidding war. And if someone is bought for a hefty price, we off-load them next year and buy them cheaper,” says another franchise executive. Take a look at some of the 🔝 batters for the #IPLAuction 2024 👌 Who do you reckon will top the charts on 19th December 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ivGmWt22BM — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 15, 2023 What to expect in the auction? With most India players already having a home, this could well be an afternoon where uncapped local players attract plenty of interest. That said, this would be another auction in which an overseas player walks away as the most expensive buy. In that regard, Australia’s Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Travis Head could be in for a jackpot. When will IPL 2024 be held? On the eve of the auction, the franchises have been informed by the IPL Governing Council that the tournament will begin on March 22 and run till May-end. The schedule will only be finalised only after the Election Commission releases the polling dates for the general election. Wait! Does it mean the IPL will move abroad? In 2009 and 2014, because of the general elections, the IPL went overseas, for at least a duration of the tournament. But in 2019, when the general election was held in multiple phases, the tournament took place simultaneously, ensuring there was no clash of dates. The BCCI will do likewise again and franchises have not been told of any overseas shift, as of now. Are all players available? With the T20 World Cup scheduled for June, there is a concern whether overseas players will be available throughout the tournament. It is the reason why the IPL is beginning early this time. In a communication sent to the franchises, the IPL GC has said that players from Australia, New Zealand and West Indies will be available for the whole edition. Of course, there are a few riders associated with some players, especially pacers, but that doesn’t seem to be a concern for the franchises. However, England players may not be available throughout as they are lined up to play a T20 series against Pakistan as preparation for the T20 WC. World Cup factor With the auction taking place soon after the 50-over World Cup, expect those players who had a stellar show to ignite plenty of interest. Though both are different formats, in the past it hasn’t stopped franchises from going big. In that regard, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, who hasn’t set the T20 format on fire, could prompt heavy bidding. Even his compatriot Daryl Mitchell can hope for a big pay cheque. Fast-moving pace pack Pacers sell like hot cakes in the IPL. With the likes of Starc, Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Gerald Coetzee, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav and Kartik Tyagi available, this could be another auction where fast bowlers are the most sought after. Raise your hand if your #IPL team will be shopping for one of these bowlers 🙋 🛍️#IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/zO8NBIvLyc — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 17, 2023 In demand Mitchell Starc Hasn’t featured in IPL since 2015, but could walk away as the costliest buy as he can bowl at any time in the 20 overs. Pat Cummins Leadership material, who is in exceptional form, having guided Australia to a 50-over World Cup title. Can be handy with the bat as well. Daryl Mitchell A very strong middle-order option, who can walk into the XI straightway. Is also an exceptional fielder and can also bowl seam-up. Travis Head An explosive, left-handed opener, who can provide quick starts. Who would say no to such a talent, who the whole cricket world is excited about. Harry Brook His maiden season didn’t go the way he wanted. But scored a 7-ball 31 against the West Indies a couple of nights ago to serve as a strong reminder. Plenty To Choose From! 🤩 Which All Rounder will be bought by which #IPL team 🤔 Let us know 👇#IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/GjiHqUdUtZ — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 14, 2023 Gerald Coetzee One who the world took notice of during the World Cup. A fast bowler capable of hitting the high 140s and known to be handy with the bat too. Wanindu Hasaranga Hard to understand why he was released by Royal Challengers Bangalore. A very good leg-spinner, who can also be destructive as a batsman at No 8. Mujeeb Ur Rahman Another from Afghanistan’s spin pack who had a good outing at the World Cup. Surprisingly, he went unsold last time. Shardul Thakur With the Impact Player rule in place, teams don’t usually go big for all-rounders. But Thakur being a local player could aid his case.
