IPL 2023: Top five bowlers who could spark a bidding war at next week's player auctions

Dec 19, 2022

IPL 2023: Top five bowlers who could spark a bidding war at next week's player auctions Image

On December 23 in Kochi, the player auction for the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) will take place. The final auction list includes 132 foreign players, including four players from Associate countries, and 273 Indian players overall.

There are 286 uncapped players and 119 capped players on the final auction list. Teams will be looking for bowlers at the auction who can perform miracles with the ball in hand throughout different parts of the game. Before the IPL 2023 Auction, here are five bowlers who will be on the want lists of all 32 teams:

Reece Topley

Cricket fans have taken notice of England's tall left-arm pacer's recent international exploits, but he was unfortunate to miss out on a successful T20 World Cup campaign owing to an ankle injury.

The 6-foot-7-inch fast bowler has good variation in the game's last overs and can swing the ball both ways. He demonstrated this ability in his performances against India earlier this year, and with a base price of INR 75 lakh, expect several clubs to engage in a bidding war for his services.

Adil Rashid

Adil Rashid was an important member of England's team that won the T20 World Cup in Australia and is entering the IPL 2023 player auctions. Rashid is renowned for containing some of the most powerful T20 batsmen, and he often eliminates some of the most explosive athletes in the world. Although the leg-spinner has a variety of weapons at his disposal, his preferred tool is his deadly googly.

When he comes in to bowl, Rashid is renowned for throwing economical spells and has the ability to reduce the opposition's run rate. In addition to being highly useful with the bat lower down the order, his ability to bowl at any stage of the game is another plus that teams will be searching for. This enables teams to bat more deeply and makes him more valuable.

Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa, who leads Australia in T20I wickets, has been on a tear since 2020. Leg-spinner Zampa, who has previously participated in three IPL seasons, has played for the now-defunct Pune and more recently, the Bangalore franchises. He also grabbed six wickets while playing for the purple of Pune.

Since he is renowned for his low economy rate and capacity to not give easy limits, many teams will be eager to hire him. Zampa is the ideal spinner for any club to buy at this year's auctions because he is also a fantastic wicket-taking option and has a solid record in Asia.

Shivam Mavi

Shivam Mavi's blistering pace at the 2018 U19 World Cup, which India won, drew the eye of cricket fans. The pacer, who was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 3 crores, has routinely bowled in the IPL at over 140kmph.

Mavi offers real pace and is a viable alternative for taking wickets, making him a fantastic value buy for IPL clubs. Due to his previous tournament experience and ability to bat further down the order, he makes a wise purchase for most teams.

His recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performances while playing for his state side Uttar Pradesh are evidence of this, as he has picked up most wickets for the team in the tournament.

Adam Milne

The 30-year-old Kiwi pacer is renowned for his incredible speed and versatility in all facets of the game. Milne has participated in four IPL seasons and has played for three different teams, albeit an injury ended his time with the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2022.

His versatility and capacity to throw slower balls and yorkers to intimidate batsmen are two of his biggest assets. Milne has a wealth of knowledge from participating in T20 leagues all across the world and from his outstanding exploits on the international stage. Before the 2023 IPL season, franchises will likely engage in a bidding war to secure his services.