IPL 2022 mega auction: From David Warner to Kagiso Rabada- Five overseas players who could trigger bidding war

The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction 2022 is just one day away and the 10 teams in the league, following the addition of Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Supergiants, will be bidding heavily for the 227 overseas candidates up for grabs during the two-day event. This year’s auction might witness the maximum number of million-dollar buys (Rs 7.5 crore and above) with more than 10 cricketers set to cross the Rs 10 crore bid range and some are expected to hit close to Rs 20 crore.

Kagiso Rabada (South Africa; Base price: Rs 2 crore)

Kagiso Rabada excelled for Delhi Capitals and was a lethal pacer for his previous team throughout their successful IPL 2020 and 2021 campaigns. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if DC once again battle for the speedster at the auction, but there will be a few other teams who will be looking for a player of Rabada’s talent, so it’s not going to be easy.

David Warner (Australia, Base price: Rs 2 crore)

David Warner scored 289 runs in the World Cup and remains one of the 10 marquee players in the mega-auctions. Expect at least three franchises to empty their coffers for the Australian opener. Apart from opening the batting, Warner is among the rare overseas captaincy candidates, having guided the Sunrisers to the trophy back in 2016 before an ugly fallout last year. It should be of no surprise if there’s a bidding war for Warner at the IPL auction.

Pat Cummins (Australia, Base price: Rs 2 crore)

Australia Test captain is one of the most lethal pacers in the world right and will surely be in high demand, considering his leadership experience. Earlier, in the IPL 2020 auctions, Cummins was roped in by KKR for a whopping Rs 15 crore. Cummins is in the bracket with the highest base price Rs 2 crore and one can expect him to go for a lot more.

Jason Holder (West Indies, Base price: Rs 1.5 crore)

Jason Holder can hit big sixes and is more than a handy medium-pacer who has a lot of variations up his sleeve. His Windies teammates like veteran Dwayne Bravo, along with young bowlers like Odean Smith and Romario Shepherd, are also going to get good deals. Holder recently became the first West Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in T20Is, picking up four wickets in four balls to help West Indies win the series against England 2-1.

Quinton de Kock (South Africa, Base price: Rs 2 crore)

Quinton de Kock is one of the marquee players of the IPL 2022 auctions. Quinton de Kock, one of the best openers in world cricket right now and a world-class wicketkeeper, will be in high demand in the mega auction. Quinton was in top form in the recently concluded ODI series against India, scoring 229 runs from three matches at 76.33 including a century and a fifty, helping the Proteas win the series 2-1.