IPL 2023 Auction: 5 Indian players to watch out for

Mayank Agarwal

Released-Punjab Kings

Base Price- ₹1 crore

Mayank Agarwal was one of the nine players Punjab Kings had released ahead of the mini-auction. He was retained by the franchise for a whopping ₹12 crores. After KL Rahul had made his move to LSG, he was handed the captaincy responsibilities.

Agarwal has a total of 2,327 runs from 113 matches. In the 2022 season, the opener could only accumulate 196 runs from 13 games though. SRH, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders all need a top-order batter and the Bengaluru-born cricketer can be their pick.

While he might set off a bidding war of sorts, his drastic dip might make it difficult for him to make big bucks like the last auction.

Manish Pandey

Released-Lucknow Super Giants

Base Price- ₹1 crore

Among the few experienced Indian batters who are listed for the 2023 mini-auction is Manish Pandey. Lucknow Super Giants who made their debut in the 15th edition of IPL picked the right-handed batter from Karnataka for ₹4.60 crores. He, however, got only 6 matches to play where he scored 88 runs.

In all the 160 matches that the 32-year-old has played, he has scored 3,648 runs. Pandey who has been a part of the IPL set-up since its inception has struggled to call any franchise his home and this time around, the batter who is priced at ₹1 crore would look to find just that.

Jaydev Unadkat

Released-Mumbai Indians

Base price- ₹50 lakh

Jaydev Unadkat, who got an India call for the Bangladesh Test after 10 years would want to end his year on a high with a good IPL deal now. Unadkat was released by Mumbai Indians who had bought him for ₹1.30 crores.

The Gujarat-born player has picked 91 wickets in 91 matches at an economy rate of 8.79. In 2022, the left-arm seamer played only 5 matches and got 6 wickets. However, the 31-year-old boasts of an impressive body of work at Saurashtra. Recently, he also won the Vijay Hazare trophy with his domestic side, where Unadakat was the highest wicket-taker with 19 wickets in 10 games.

Unadkat is yet to find his IPL mainstay. While he has decreased his base price from 75 to 50 lakhs, his recent exploits in domestic cricket might help him fetch a decent amount.

Shivam Mavi

Released- Kolkata Knight Riders

Base Price – ₹40 lakhs

Though Shivam Mavi has had a short IPL career, he can come off as a value buy for any team. His searing pace and amazing performance at the 2018 U-19 World Cup landed him at Kolkata Knight Riders the same year.

Since then, he has been a part of the franchise where Mavi picked a total of 31 wickets in 32 matches. In the 2022 mega auction, KKR bought him back at a staggering price of ₹7.25 crores. He, however, did not justify the money invested. Mavi played only 6 matches and got 5 wickets at a 10.32 economy rate. His Vijay Hazare campaign though may prove to be a game-changer as the Uttar Pradesh bowler claimed 14 wickets in 7 matches.

It, however, will be very difficult for Mavi who is priced at 40 lakhs to earn big bucks. But don't be surprised if he triggers a bidding battle in the upcoming mini-auction.

KS Bharat

Released: Delhi Capitals

Base Price: 20 lakhs

Wicketkeeper batter KS Bharat made his IPL debut in 2021 and has been a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals.

While in this year’s IPL, Delhi picked him for 2 crores, he was released by the franchise. He played only 2 games in the 15th edition where he got just 8 runs. His debut season, however, was considerably better where he amassed 191 runs in 8 games.

Bharat is a known name in the domestic circuit and can come in handy at the top and strengthen the middle order. The low base price of 20 lakh might tempt the top franchises to rope in the Andhra Pradesh-based cricketer.