IPL: 10 Players Who Can Fetch More Than 15 Crores If They Go Under The Auction Hammer

The Indian Premier League [IPL] has impinged itself as the most lucrative tournament ever since it was conceived by the Lalit Modi-led BCCI in 2007.

Every year, each of the eight IPL franchises shells out the insane amount of cash to claim the services of the best cricketers from around the world.

Such is the dynamics of the tournament that even little-known faces or those who have disappointed with their performances over the years end up grabbing a lucrative contract. That is also because of the fact that marquee cricketers like Jasprit Bumrah, Rashid Khan, Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, and many others are already retained by their respective franchises and so in order to grab the available options, the team owners go all out in the auction.

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But, assume if the franchises let go of their marquee players and each one of them go under the hammer, imagine the insane amount of cash that will be shelled.

On that note, here’s a look at 10 such marquee players who can fetch more than Rs 15 Crore if they go under the IPL Auction hammer:

Rashid Khan

Ever since he made his debut for the SunRisers Hyderabad, the Afghan leggie has proceeded to become their biggest match-winner.

Not only does he give away any runs but he takes wickets at regular intervals. Rashid Khan has featured in 69 IPL games in which he has taken 85 wickets at an average of 20.11 and an economy rate of 6.24.

Rashid is unlikely to be ever released by the SunRisers Hyderabad but in an unlikely event, if he ever goes under the hammer, franchises will go all out for the leg-spinner and he will surely go for over Rs 15 crore.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

His current injury issues notwithstanding, Bhuvneshwar Kumar remains one of the greatest seamers to have ever played in the IPL.

Kumar courtesy of his truckloads of variations and discipline has been a vital part of the success that SunRisers have enjoyed over the years.

The only bowler to win the coveted ‘Purple Cap’ for two consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017), Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the 7th highest wicket-taker in IPL history, having claimed as many as 139 wickets in 126 games at an average of 24.64 and an economy rate of 7.24.

Just like Rashid Khan, SRH is unlikely to ever release Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and if they do, except the franchises to break the bank for the Indian international.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is the most exciting and perhaps the most successful U-25 player not only in the IPL but also in international cricket.

Pant is a once-in-a-generation talent; someone who can change the course of the game in a span of a few balls and he has proved that to the hilt on numerous occasions since making his debut for the Delhi Capitals in 2016.

In just 76 IPL games, Rishabh Pant has smashed 2292 runs at an average of 35.26 and a strike rate of 149.8 with 14 50s and one hundred.

If the Delhi franchise has a brain fade just like it had in 2011 when it released the likes of AB de Villiers, Gautam Gambhir, then expect Rishabh Pant to rake in more than 15 Crore at the auction.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya was picked at a base price of Rs 10 Lakh by the Mumbai Indians in the 2015 IPL auction and the move immediately paid dividends as the swashbuckling Baroda cricketer played a crucial role in them clinching their second title.

Since then, Hardik Pandya has gone on to become one of the bedrock behind the success of Mumbai Indians. Pandya’s power hitting in white-ball cricket is elite and while his injury issues has put a hold on his bowling, he still remains one of the best white-ball cricketers of the modern era.

And, so, it’s unlikely that Mumbai Indians will ever let go of the junior Pandya. And, if they do, the franchises would go all out to grab the services of the Baroda cricketer.

KL Rahul

There might be a significant question mark on KL Rahul’s conservative approach at the top of the order but that might also be a reflection of the team that he is playing for.

Nevertheless, KL Rahul’s consistency in piling up scored at the top of the order is something no one can question and the stylish batsman should rack up in excess of 15 Crore if he ever goes in the IPL auction.

Rahul has racked up in excess of 500 in three consecutive completed seasons and he had already racked up 331 runs at 66.20 and a strike rate of 136.21 before IPL 2021 came to an abrupt halt.

The stylish opener has thus far featured in 88 IPL games in which he has racked up 2978 runs at an average of 46.53 and a strike rate of 135.86 with 25 50s and two hundreds.

Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer has been the spearhead of the Rajasthan Royals bowling unit ever since he made his debut for the franchise in 2018.

Archer is one of the best white-ball bowlers of the modern era who boasts of the ability to move the ball both ways at a high pace.

Not only that, the disconcerting bounce that he generates off the surface can prove to be the undoing of even the best of batters. Factor in his ability to tonk the ball with the bat and score valuable cameos for his team, and you get a near-perfect T20 cricketer.

Rajasthan Royals will most likely never let go of the young pacer but if they do that, expect the franchises to shell out a ridiculous amount of money to claim the services of the English pacer.

Rohit Sharma

Why would they let go of someone who is one of the best openers in white-ball cricket besides him being a great tactician?

But in the unlikeliest of scenarios, if the Mumbai Indians ever decide to part ways with Rohit Sharma, expect the ‘Hitman’ to break all the past records of the most expensive player to ever go under the hammer.

AB de Villiers

One of the greatest ever cricketers to have featured in the IPL, AB de Villiers has lit up the lucrative cash-rich league through his insane skills and consistency like no other during the course of the last 14 years.

De Villiers, who featured for the Delhi Capitals between 2008-10, joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011, and since he has gone on to establish himself as one of the bedrock of the franchise alongside his best friend Virat Kohli.

De Villiers may have retired from international cricket in 2018 but it has no impact on his performances in the IPL. The champion cricketer has defied the odds and pushed the already stretched envelope with every season and he was in the midst of yet another insane season with the bat before the IPL came to a screeching halt due to Covid.

‘Mr 360’ has thus far featured in 176 IPL games in which he has racked up 5056 runs at an average of 40.77 and a strike rate of 152.38 with 40 half-centuries and three tons. It is near impossible that RCB will ever let go of the champion cricketer but if they do that, expect ABD to smash all the records in the auction.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is the only cricketer who has represented the same franchise in each of the last 14 IPL editions.

The highest run-getter in IPL history and the only cricketer to rack up in excess of 6000 runs, Viral Kohli is also the highest earner in the IPL with RCB shelling out Rs 17 Crore for the champion cricketer.

Kohli has time and again iterated that he will never play for any other franchise but in the unlikeliest of scenarios, if ever such a situation arises, then one can expect the Indian skipper to breach Rs 20 Crore barrier with franchises going all out to claim his services.

Jasprit Bumrah

Arguably the most valuable player in the IPL currently, Jasprit Bumrah is a jewel in the crown of the Mumbai Indians.

Having been picked up as a little-known face during the 2013 IPL auction, Jasprit Bumrah, through his skills and sheer consistency, has impinged himself as one of the greatest-ever to have played in the cash-rich league.

The mere presence of Bumrah’s in the team sends shivers down the opposition team and one can argue that the champion pacer and an incredible death bowler is the most prized asset of the Mumbai Indians, someone who they will never let go of.

But in case they have a brain fade moment like Delhi had in 2011, expect the franchises to run riot and shell out an insane amount of cash to grab his services.

Also Read: Top 10 Players With The Highest Combined Earning In The IPL So Far