IPL 2024 Auction: Aakash Chopra Predicts The Players For Whom RCB Will Break The Bank

The IPL 2024 auction will be held in Dubai on December 19. RCB will be one of the teams who will look to bolster their bowling attack heading into the auction. The franchises released Harshal Patel, Wanidu Hasaranga, and Josh Hazlewood during the retention window.

Several reputed overseas bowlers will be part of the auction and Aakash Chopra, the former Indian opener feels RCB will break the bank for either one of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, or Gerald Coetzee. There is a huge buzz with the return of Starc into the auction after a gap of 8 years.

There are speculations that he might be the most expensive player in this year’s auction with every franchise gunning to get him. His recent performance in the World Cup also plays a part in his popularity. Starc picked up 16 wickets from 10 matches at an economy rate of 6.06.

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Previewing the IPL 2024 auction for RCB in his recent video, Aakash Chopra said that the franchise will break the bank for one of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, or Gerald Coetzee. All of them are expected to find a franchise in the auction.

RCB To Go All Out For Either Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins Or Gerald Coetzee: Aakash Chopra

“They will go all out for one of those three. Three teams will go absolutely all-out. One is Chennai (CSK), the second is KKR and the third is RCB. So you can find those three fast bowlers between these three teams. Any of those three could land in the Bangalore team but it will come at a huge cost.”

Aakash Chopra further said that in case RCB buys one of the premier pacers they might not be able to buy back Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan leggie will also be on the radar of many franchises who need a quality spinner.

“We did a mock auction on Jio, and it seemed like the fast bowlers could even go for 16-17 crores. If it goes till there, you won’t have much money left. Then the Wanindu Hasaranga dream will remain a dream as you won’t even have five to six crores to spend Then suddenly your hands will be tied. Out of the 23.25 crores you have, if you give 17 crores to one player, you won’t be able to make a team because you let many players go” Chopra said.

RCB released 19 players and released 11 players during the retention window. Ahead of the auction, they have a salary cap of 23.25 crores remaining and they need to stack up their bowling attack. Shardul Thakur might be one of the names they might go for having released Hardhal Patel. Shivam Mavi and Kartik Tyagi are other good Indian pacers they can also think about buying. They can also look to buy back Umesh Yadav who was released by KKR ahead of the IPL 2024 auction.

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