IPL 2018: Australian stars expected to attract bumper contracts 

What’s the story?

After dominating England in the ongoing Ashes series, the Australian stars could be the hot property at the Indian Premier League auctions next month in Bengaluru.

Test regulars David Warner, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood can all expect lucrative contracts, should they make themselves available to go under the hammer.

The details

Earlier this year, Star India bagged the media rights for Television and digital broadcast worth Rs 16,347.50 crore with a single consolidated bid worldwide.

This will have a knock-on effect on the salaries as well as there will be a 20 percent increase in the salary cap.

Also, the Australian calendar is not entirely packed next year, which will encourage these established names to throw their names under the hat.

In case you didn’t know…

Ben Stokes was the highest paid cricketer in IPL 2016 as he was bought by the Rising Pune Supergiant for a whopping price of Rs 14.5 crore.

Also, his compatriot Tyma Mills was snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 12 crore.

What’s next?

There is little denying the impact of IPL on world cricket and players from all over the world want to test themselves in these conditions. While money is a huge incentive, the growth in the players' skills is also exponential.

"More than the money, I believe the best thing the IPL offers me - and any other player for that matter - is the ability to learn on the job in high-pressure situations," Smith wrote in his recently-released biography The Journey.

Author’s take

Franchises in the IPL are well aware of the quality of the Australian players and a lot of these players have also been elevated to captain the side.

Hence, their availability will certainly add another dimension to the auctions and will inject much more flamboyance to the league.