IPL 2023

IPL 2023 Auction Predictions: Which players will the IPL teams target?

We will see in this article two things:

  1. The type of players every IPL team will target in the IPL 2023 Auction
  2. The remaining purse and the available slot of players for each team

Also, before moving to the article, you can find here the complete list of players retained and released by every team before the IPL 2023 Auction here.

Let’s get going!

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Purse remaining going into the auctions INR 32.2 crore

Players got through trade from other teams: 0

Overseas slots remaining to be filled: 3

As expected, PBKS will be one of the busier teams in the auctions and have over 30 crores to spend to fill 9 more slots in the team including 3 overseas players. By the looks of it, PBKS might require a prominent overseas top-order batsman and a fast-bowling all-rounder to replace Odean Smith. They also need a quality spinner to assist the leg-spinner Rahul Chahar.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Purse remaining going into the auctions INR 8.75 crore

Players got through trade from other teams: 0

Overseas slots remaining to be filled: 2

With all the bases covered, RCB is a side that doesn’t have to worry about its team combination when it comes to the auctions. They have only 8.75 crores to spend at the auctions and 2 overseas slots to fill. With Behrendorff not available with them, RCB might look to add an overseas pacer to Josh Hazlewood, while bolstering the middle order with a solid overseas batter. Other than that, RCB will have a real quiet time in the auctions.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Purse remaining going into the auctions INR 20.55 crore

Players got through trade from other teams: 1- Jason Behrendorff

Overseas slots remaining to be filled: 3

With over 20 crores left, MI has much to do in the IPL auctions this December. They are faced with the difficult task of finding a suitable replacement for Kieron Pollard. Also, the top-order batting was a cause of concern for them last season, and they will need to add a quality overseas batter at the top. Similarly, they would also need a backup option for someone like Jofra Archer, who is returning from a long injury layoff.

Also, a good crop of quality Indian batters will help the most successful IPL team get back to their winning ways in the 2023 edition of the IPL.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Purse remaining going into the auctions INR 20.45 crore

Players got through trade from other teams: 0

Overseas slots remaining to be filled: 2

With over 20 crores left, CSK will look to go for an all-rounder who can replace Dwayne Bravo, and one of the ideal candidates they might target is Sam Curran. Curran was in CSK colors in the 2021 edition and missed out on the 2022 season due to injury. He was the player of the tournament in the 2022 World T20, and it is fair to say buying back Curran will be on CSK’s agenda. Another area they need to fill is the fast bowler’s slot left vacant by England’s Chris Jordon.

Also, a couple of quality Indian batters will be the need of the hour for CSK, as that has been a cause of concern for them in the last edition.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Purse remaining going into the auctions INR 42.25 crore

Players got through trade from other teams: NA

Overseas slots remaining to be filled: 4

As a result of the bulk release that includes 3 of their most expensive buys from the last season, SRH now has 42.25 crores left in their bag to fill 4 overseas slots and buy some quality Indian talents. At the same time, SRH may be looking to get back the duo of Pooran-Williamson at a lower price, but they need to find some from the pool of foreign players to replace them and bolster the batting order, which was a cause of concern for them.

Also, they need firepower at the lower middle order which let them down in the last few seasons.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Purse remaining going into the auctions INR 7.05 crores

Players got through trade from other teams: Shardul Thakur, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Lockie Ferguson

Overseas slots remaining to be filled: 3

KKR, as a result of their aggressiveness during the trade window, have only 7.05 crores up in their sleeves when they go into the auctions. They will most likely be silent in the auctions but finding the 3 overseas players could be crucial. They have a vacant top-order foreign batting slot left and require an all-rounder who can be a backup to the injury-prone Andre Russell. The Indian domestic batting talents should also be a priority, given their bulk release of the same.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Purse remaining going into the auctions INR 13.2 crores

Players got through trade from other teams: 0