IPL Auction 2018: 10 overseas players every team will be bidding for at the auction

IPL auction is around the corner and we just can't wait for it. Everybody is excited about the auction and is predicting which player will be sold for what amount and for which team he will play for.

This is a mega auction and all players are available to the franchises (except for the retained players), so it is an open auction with lots of permutations and combinations possible. From the 578 players that will go under the hammer, it is very difficult to figure out which players will be the most expensive buys but we will try to narrow it down to 10 foreign players who may be on the list of almost every franchise.

As the IPL teams are going to pick players on the basis of their past IPL record and current international form, we too have tried to pick the players accordingly.

#10 Quinton de Kock

Role - Wicket-keeper batsman

Previous IPL team - Delhi Daredevils

de Kock has been exceptional at the top of the order for Daredevils

Delhi Daredevils has had middling seasons in IPL because of which some strong performances by some of its players went unnoticed - de Kock is one of them. He has been consistent amidst inconsistent performances by his team. He has done well for his national side, and has the ability to score runs against the best bowlers of the world. Apart from this, his wicket-keeping skills are always a huge bonus. If the franchises are smart enough, they will surely go for de Kock.

#9 Kasigo Rabada

Role - Fast bowler

Previous IPL team - Delhi Daredevils

Can Rabada replicate his international form in IPL ?

Rabada was bought by Delhi Daredevils at the last auction for a whopping five crores. Though Rabada showed some sparks of brilliance, he was not able to perform consistently. Since then, Rabada has grown in stature and has performed exceedingly well for South Africa in every format.

It will be interesting to see whether Delhi Daredevils use their RTM card to buy him back. Currently, he is one of the leading fast bowlers in the world and putting money on him won't be a bad idea.

#8 Joe Root

Role - Batsman

Previous IPL team - N/A (Debut season)

Root will look to emulate Stokes' success in IPL

Joe Root did not appear at the IPL auction last year as he wanted to concentrate on his batting. Now that he is not only amongst the top batsmen of the world, but also England's test team captain, he has put his name in the auctions.

Joe Root might be a first timer at the auction but some intense bidding is expected when his name appears. He is one of the leading batsmen in the world and has the ability to win matches single-handedly. It will be exciting to see which team he finally turns up for.

#7 Kieron Pollard

Role - Batting all-rounder

Previous IPL team - Mumbai Indians

Will Pollard continue playing for Mumbai Indians?

The big West-Indian all-rounder has played some fabulous knocks in the past for the defending champions. In the last mega auction of 2014, he was retained by the Mumbai Indians. But since then there has been a dip in his form, owing to which Mumbai Indians hasn't retained him this time.

But, he might still be in contention for being one of the two players who Mumbai Indians can buy back using the RTM cards.

#6 Glenn Maxwell

Role - Batting all-rounder

Previous IPL team - Kings XI Punjab

Maxwell will try to put a strong performance in IPL to get back in his national side

Glenn Maxwell has been dropped from the Australian one-day side by the selectors because of his inconsistency. But Glenn 'Big Show' Maxwell still remains a hot property when it comes to T20 cricket.

Bought by Kings XI Punjab at a high price of six crores at the 2014 Auction, Maxwell lit up the IPL with his power hitting in the 2014 season. He wasn't consistent in the following seasons, but still was able to play some match winning innings for the franchise. Kings XI Punjab might use their RTM card to buy him back.

#5 Chris Gayle

Role - Batsman

Previous IPL team - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Will the teams put their money on Gayle ?

Royal Challengers Bangalore not retaining Chris Gayle was on expected lines as his form has been patchy in the last few seasons, and he was even dropped from the playing eleven a couple of times last season. But Chris Gayle has been the face of RCB and has played some astonishing innings for the franchise.

His monstrous hitting ability has pulled large crowds to the stadium and he can continue to do so. Interestingly, he has been in good form for West Indies since his comeback to the squad. He played some good innings against a top quality England side in the ODI series in England. He still has a lot to offer and will surely be under the radar of a lot of IPL teams.

#4 Dwyane Bravo

Role - All-rounder

Previous IPL team - Gujarat Lions

Dhoni will want Bravo to be in CSK line-up again

Dwyane Bravo was one of the most dependable players in the Chennai Superkings set up. He was Dhoni's go-to bowler in the death overs and more often than not Bravo was successful in doing the job for the team. He also played some good knocks in the lower middle order.

Bravo was out for major part of the tournament last year because of the injury he sustained playing in the Big bash league. Bravo is extremely popular with the Chennai crowd. Dhoni and CSK will want to use their RTM card to get him back in the fold, to build a strong team for the challenging season ahead.

#3 Mitchell Starc

Role - Fast Bowler

Previous IPL team - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Starc back in IPL is good news for the fans

Mitchell Starc chose country over IPL in the last two seasons. Starc is one of the leading fast bowlers of the world and has the ability to turn a match upside down with his menacing pace. Apart from bowling in the start of the innings, Starc can restrict teams with his fast yorkers in the death overs.

The only concern with Starc is his availability, as he is prone to injury and that might go against him at the auctions. In the matches he has played for RCB, he has been extremely effective. He was RCB's strike bowler and RCB would definitely try to get him back in the side.

#2 Rashid Khan

Role - Spin bowling all-rounder

Previous IPL team - Sunrisers Hyderabad

Rashid Khan's golden run will continue in IPL ?

The young Afghan is one of the most talked about players in the world. Sunrisers Hyderabad took a big gamble by buying Rashid Khan for 4 crores. That gamble certainly paid off. Rashid was one of the finds of the tournament, and his ability to maintain composure in pressure situations was applauded by everyone.

He continued to impress, playing both for his national side as well as for Adelaide Strikers even on the pace-friendly pitches of Australia. While it might be a straight forward decision for the Sunrisers to retain him, he will definitely get much more than what he got last year.

#1 Ben Stokes

Role - All-rounder

Previous IPL team - Rising Pune Supergiant

Stokes will be eager to do what he does best

Rising Pune Supergiant surprised a lot of people when they snapped Ben Stokes at a record price of 14.5 crores. People felt that RPSG gave away too much for the Englishman, but he silenced all the critics with his performances. He started a little slow, but gradually got into his groove and ended the tournament as the most valuable player.

Ben Stokes is currently out of the England squad because of the controversy related to the night club incident and the legal process that followed. But, in all probability he will be a part of IPL 2018. A frenetic bidding is expected when Ben Stokes' name comes up at the auction.