5 players who are likely to go for the highest price at the upcoming IPL auction

The 2016 IPL auction is less than a month away and the franchises must have started to do their homework on whom to buy and the way they should spend their purse. This time around, there will be more players available in the pool, courtesy the disbanding of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. In the past two seasons, Yuvraj Singh fetched a huge amount of money as Royal Challengers Bangalore spent 14 crores on him in the 2014 auctions, and in the 2015 edition, Delhi Daredevils spent as many as 16 crores on the dashing southpaw.There are possibilities that the costliest buy in IPL might reach new highs (more than 16 crores) in this season’s auction. Let us take a look at the players who could fetch huge amounts in the IPL.

#1 Shane Watson

Watson was named the player of the tournament in the first season of IPL

The player of the tournament in the first season of IPL, Shane Watson is one of the names for which many franchises will fight for. Watson came into the auction pool after he was not picked by the two new franchisees during the IPL draft in December.

Watson brings balance to the side as he is capable of scoring runs with the bat consistently and keep things tight with the ball. Even though Watson is going through a pale patch, he a force to reckon with in IPL. The teams will be tempted to go for the Aussie All-Rounder who is known for his fireworks in T20s.

For teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils, who are in need of an all-rounder, Watson is the right man for the job.

#2 Irfan Pathan

Pathan has been in great form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy

Irfan Pathan will be one of the players for whom the franchisees will go all out. The out of favour Indian pacer has been in terrific form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament as he is making statements with both bat and ball.

Previously, Irfan played for Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad and then he was bought by Chennai Super Kings during the last season but did not feature in a single game for the men in yellow. This time around, he went unsold in the IPL drafts for the two new franchisees and came into the auction pool.

Going by his recent performances, it won’t be a surprise if he is picked in India’s squad for the 2016 World T20 and fetch a big amount in this year’s IPL auction. Defending Champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are in search of an Indian all-rounder might look to break the bank to land him.

#3 Colin Munro

Munro scored a 14-ball half-century against Sri Lanka

Few days back, Colin Munro was a relatively unknown player. Only a few knew that he was a part of Mumbai Indians last season as he came in as a replacement for fellow New Zealander Corey Anderson, who was injured midway through the tournament.

But his heroics in the recent T20s against Sri Lanka and Pakistan might be a turning point for Munro as he can go on to fetch a huge amount of money in the IPL auctions. It might just be two matches, but the way he approached his batting will attract the franchisees towards him.

The only question is that will he be a flop like Richard Levi, Dan Christian, KC Cariappa or will he go on to be successful like Corey Anderson, Sunil Narine, Glenn Maxwell.

#4 Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen

England’s out of favour batsman Kevin Pietersen might be the player who could fetch a lot of money in the 2016 IPL auctions. Pietersen, who is a successful T20 batsman in the leagues he has taken part around the world has tasted limited success in the very few matches he played in the IPL.

Going for a huge sum of money is not something new for the former English skipper as he fetched 1.5 million USD in the 2009 IPL auctions and played for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Apart from the Bangaloreans, KP has also played for Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers and was brought by Sunrisers Hyderabad last season, for whom he did not even feature in a single match due to an injury and was later released by the franchise.

#5 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj was released by Delhi Daredevils after the last season

Yuvraj Singh featuring in the list should not be a surprise as he has it twice in the past. Yuvraj Singh, who has the record of the fastest fifty in T20s (off 12 balls) has been a huge attraction in the IPL auctions in the past.

He has played for Kings XI Punjab, Pune Warriors, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils in the past and has not replicated his T20I success in the tournament. He came into the IPL auction after he was released by Delhi Daredevils to have some money in their auction purse.

Delhi can get him for a lesser price or the new teams in the IPL (Pune or Rajkot) can get him this season.