The IPL 2024 auction, which took place in Dubai on December 19, witnessed numerous players securing lucrative deals. Key foreign players like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Daryl Mitchell garnered significant earnings, while Indians Harshal Patel and Shahrukh Khan attracted top bids.
In the IPL, doing well in the auction doesn’t guarantee winning matches. For instance, the Gujarat Titans won in 2022, surprising many who doubted them before the tournament. However, teams often performing strongly in auctions tend to have impressive IPL seasons.
Let’s examine three teams that faced challenges in the IPL 2024 auction:
#1 Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals had a significant budget of ₹28.95 crore for the IPL 2024 auction but spent only about two-thirds of it, leaving approximately ₹9.9 crore unutilized. They aimed to fill specific slots, including an Indian wicketkeeper, an Indian middle-order batter for finishing, and an overseas middle-order batter, but only secured two out of the three positions.
Delhi Capitals entered the IPL 2024 auction with a substantial budget of ₹28.95 crore but spent only two-thirds, leaving around ₹9.9 crore unused. They missed key targets, such as an Indian wicketkeeper, an Indian middle-order batter, and an overseas middle-order batter.
While they acquired Harry Brook and Kumar Kushagra, the unspent budget could have been utilized to address crucial gaps, especially considering the release of Phil Salt and the availability of explosive middle-order batter Shahrukh Khan.
#2 Punjab Kings
The Punjab Kings had almost ₹30 crore at the beginning of the IPL 2024 auction, focusing on acquiring an Indian fast-bowling all-rounder, a backup overseas batter, and an Indian middle-order batter.
They secured Harshal Patel for ₹11.75 crore, making him the highest-earning Indian player in the auction. Despite this positive move, the team missed out on the opportunity to sign Shardul Thakur, who joined Chennai Super Kings for just ₹4 crore.
Punjab Kings aimed to bring back Shahrukh Khan at a lower price but lost the bidding war to Gujarat Titans, leaving a gap in the lower middle order. Despite releasing Shahrukh, they spent ₹8 crore on Rilee Rossouw and ₹4.2 crore on Chris Woakes, making prioritizing Shahrukh Khan a more prudent choice.
#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers Bangalore hindered their chances in the IPL 2024 auction by trading Cameron Green for ₹17.5 crore, limiting their ability to pursue players like Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins.
While their batting seems formidable, the bowling unit, with releases like Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, and Harshal Patel, has weakened compared to previous years. Hasaranga (₹1.50 crore to SRH) and Hazlewood (unsold) could have been reacquired at more economical prices.
RCB’s IPL 2024 auction was suboptimal, spending heavily on Alzarri Joseph and missing out on budget-friendly players. Concerns arise over their new pace attack and the absence of a quality spinner. Overall, it was the least successful auction among the ten franchises.
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