Over the years there has been a frosty relationship between the Indian Premier League and the England Cricket Board, which has prevented the participation of the English players in the cash-rich tournament. However, things have been quite different ever since Andrew Strauss took over the mantle of the ECB, as he has allowed the players to participate in many overseas leagues all around the world.
The IPL is one such tournament wherein the players fall head over heels to participate as it gives them the opportunity to not only be a part of one big gala event, but it also allows them to get used to Indian conditions. Owing to the experience received in the tournament, many players and many teams find themselves more at ease when they tour the subcontinent, something which was not very common in the last decade.
Also, the current England team is probably one of the best when it comes down to white-ball cricket and their tremendous transformation from an obsolete outfit in 2015 World Cup to a power packed one currently deserves a lot of attention. The players who have come in have sizzled all over the world with their ability and audacity and thus it would take no one by surprise if few of these players prove to be hot cakes at this year’s auctions.
Here in this list, we take a look at 5 England players who could potentially start a bidding war.
#5 Chris Woakes
The right arm seam bowling all-rounder has been one of the most improved cricketers over the past 15 years and has been a prolific performer for the three lions across all three formats. He takes the new ball and has the ability to swing it early on which allows him to pick up wickets in the powerplay.
Also, with the old ball he nails his yorkers perfectly and can contain run scoring, and these two skills make him a complete package which would allow him to get into any team in the shortest format.
Apart from all his ability with the ball, he is a very handy batsman lower down the order and can use the long handle to great effect. He has improved a lot against spin bowling and this holds him in great stead come the actions.
Teams who would look to get him: Kolkata Knight Riders, Rising Pune Supergiants and Kings XI Punjab
| Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike rate |
| 87 | 2245 | 86 | 4/21 | 26.10 | 8.10 | 19.3 |
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 50s |
| 87 | 54 | 656 | 55* | 26.24 | 138.39 | 1 |
#4 Adil Rashid
Leg spinners have always been proven match-winners across formats. However, they come to their own in the shortest format as they have the ability to pick up wickets right through the middle phase.
This is where Adil Rashid could be a hot property in this year’s auction as he has become a highly skilled bowler with the white ball over the past 12 months. He has found a good rhythm and the sporadic iffy deliveries have slowly faded away which makes him a very difficult proposition for batsmen.
Also, in the shortest format, the onus is always on the batsmen to look for quick runs, and this is where a leg-spinner can buy plenty of wickets. Rashid also has a plethora of variety up his sleeve and the job of the batsmen picking him becomes all the more difficult.
He is no bunny with the bat either and has the ability to contribute with the bat lower down the order which gives the team an extra cushion in team selection.
Teams who would look to get him: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab
| Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate |
| 134 | 3316 | 147 | 4/20 | 22.55 | 7.49 | 18 |
#3 Tymal Mills
Probably one of the fastest bowlers in the world at the moment, Tymal Mills is an exciting prospect in the world of cricket. After suffering with a congenital back condition, Mills decided to focus all attention to the shortest format and this decision has been a resounding success for both him and England cricket.
Ever since he made his debut against Sri Lanka at the Ageas Bowl in 2016, he has looked a brilliant International material, and it thus a crying shame that he cannot extend his skills to the other formats.
Not only does he bowl at speeds above 90 mph, he also has a superb slower ball which dips on the batsman and befuddles them towards the death overs. He has had a very good T20 series in India, and there all the indications that he could be an excellent buy for IPL franchises.
Teams who would look to get him: Kings XI Punjab, Rising Pune Supergiants and Kolkata Knight Riders
| Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate |
| 53 | 1342 | 60 | 4/22 | 22.36 | 7.51 | 17.8 |
#2 Jason Roy
The Surrey-man has been a resounding success as an opener for England over the past 15 months and he has combined beautifully with Alex Hales at the top of the order. He is an exciting talent and his stroke play often takes the breath away and his approach at the top of the order epitomises England’s transformation in the limited overs format.
He flourishes when he has been given the free run, and he is having a pretty decent limited overs series against India which would be establish himself as one of the hot picks in the upcoming IPL auctions.
Teams who would look to get him: Mumbai Indians, Kings XI Punjab
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s |
| 131 | 128 | 3412 | 122* | 27.96 | 144.14 | 4 |
#1 Ben Stokes
The Durham man is arguably the best all-rounder in International cricket at the moment, and he has the ability to change the complexion of any match both with the ball and bat.
He bowls a heavy ball and extracts any assitance from the pitch if available, and with the bat there are few better tonkers of the ball. He is a combative individual who revels when confronted with competition and there is little doubt that he would be one of the biggest picks in this year’s auction.
The fact that he has been one of the stars for England in the ongoing series against India would convince the different franchises to get hold of him.
Teams who would look to get him: Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rising Pune Supergiants
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 50s |
| 77 | 68 | 1272 | 77 | 22.71 | 134.03 | 5 |
| Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate |
| 77 | 1165 | 32 | 3/26 | 36.40 | 8.60 | 25.3 |
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