The auction for the 2023 Indian Premier League has taken place and all squads are now settled. There were a number of big moves, many of which were expected. The all-round trio of Sam Curran, Cameron Green and Ben Stokes were subjects of the biggest bids, as predicted. Harry Brook and Nicholas Pooran picked up big deals, as did Mayank Agarwal.
So, how are all the squads shaping up now that the auction is done and dusted, and how have the gaps been plugged?
Gujarat Titans
Main buys: Shivam Mavi, Josh Little, Kane Williamson, KS Bharat, Mohit Sharma, Odean Smith
Predicted needs: all-rounder, overseas top order, Indian bowler
The reigning IPL champions Gujarat Titans were busy with their additions in the 2023 IPL auction. They primarily focused on their seam bowling options and batting. They did, though, get in the exuberant Odean Smith to fill the all-rounder spot.
It was expected that Shivam Mavi would get some significant interest and it was the 2022 title winners who won the race for his signature. He was backed up in the domestic market by IPL veteran Mohit Sharma and Josh Little was rewarded for his strong 2022 with a maiden contract.
Following a bit more of a lean year in the t20 format, it was not nailed on that Kane Williamson would get a contract following his release from Sunrisers Hyderabad. He will instead likely slot straight into the top order and provide some serious experience and leadership qualities as Gujarat look to defend their crown. KS Bharat will also provide a strong domestic wicketkeeper-batsman option alongside Wriddhiman Saha.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Gill, Saha, Williamson, Hardik, Miller, Tewatia, O Smith, R Khan, Mavi, Shami, Dayal
Lucknow Super Giants
Main buys: Nicholas Pooran, Daniel Sams, Amit Mishra, Jaydev Unadkat, Romario Shepherd, Naveen ul-Haq, Yash Thakur
Predicted needs: overseas top/middle order batter, overseas bowler
The other new team from 2022, the Lucknow Super Giants, went big in the auction and beefed up a number of areas of their squad. The standout purchase was that of Nicholas Pooran, who will likely form part of a formidable-looking top order and completed the need for an overseas batter. The overseas bowling options were strengthened through all-rounders Daniel Sams and Romario Shepherd, while Naveen-ul Haq was picked up as a pure seam bowling option.
The bowling department was even further strengthened with the domestic purchases of long-time IPL veterans Amit Mishra and Jaydev Unadkat, alongside the highly-touted Yash Thakur.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Rahul, de Kock, Pooran, Hooda, Stoinis, Badoni, Krunal, Wood, Mohsin, Bishnoi, Avesh
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Main buys: Harry Brook, Mayank Agarwal, Heinrich Klaasen, Vivrant Sharma, Adil Rashid, Akeal Hosein
Predicted needs: wicketkeeper, overseas bowler/all-rounder
Sunrisers Hyderabad brought in a raft of big names and now have a large range of options to choose from. Their overseas batting contingent of Aidan Markram and Glenn Phillips has been bolstered by the in-form Harry Brook who fetched one of the highest bids of the auction. Heinrich Klaasen fills the need for a wicketkeeper but also would potentially take up an overseas slot as a result.
Mayank Agarwal was arguably the most sought-after domestic player and it was the Sunrisers who won the race. He adds another top option within the batting setup and more potential headaches for the selection team. The overseas bowling slots were filled by Adil Rashid and the impressive Akeal Hosein, the latter offering a threat down the order with the bat.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Agarwal, A Sharma, Tripathi, Markram, Brook, Klaasen, Hosein, Sundar, B Kumar, Natarajan, U Malik
Mumbai Indians
Main buys: Cameron Green, Jhye Richardson, Piyush Chawla
Predicted needs: overseas bowler/bowling all-rounder, Indian bowler
The big money signature of Australia's Cameron Green was secured by Mumbai Indians, a good replacement for the outgoing all-round talents of Kieron Pollard. The overseas bowler criteria was met with the arrival of Green's fellow Aussie and Perth Scorchers teammate Jhye Richardson. The pacer did not have the best of times during his debut stint in the IPL with the Punjab Kings but he brings bundles of pace and talent, along with ability with the bat. He will, at the very least, make for good cover for Jofra Archer and could well work in tandem with the England international.
The domestic bowling option was headlined by IPL stalwart Piyush Chawla who will provide heaps of experience and quality with his leg-spin. Duan Jansen's signing provided a quirk in the sense that he is the identical twin brother of Sunrisers' Marco Jansen.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Rohit, Kishan, Suryakumar, Green, Varma, David, Ramandeep, Richardson, Archer, Chawla, Bumrah
Rajasthan Royals
Main buys: Jason Holder, Adam Zampa, Joe Root, Murugan Ashwin
Predicted needs: overseas all-rounder
The outstanding need for the Royals was an overseas all-rounder, ideally to slot in at number seven. They arguably could not have done much better in signing Jason Holder, a player rich in experience and all-round quality. He will likely slot straight in and seriously improve both the Royals' balance and batting depth.
Rajasthan also gave Joe Root his first opportunity for taste of the IPL, as well as bringing in Aussie leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who has impressed in the past year or so on a consistent basis. It may be tough for either to establish themselves consistently through the season but both offer genuine world-class options for the men in pink.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Buttler, Jaiswal, Samson, Padikkal, Hetmyer, Parag, Holder, Ashwin, Boult, Krishna, Chahal
Delhi Capitals
Main buys: Mukesh Kumar, Rilee Rossouw, Manish Pandey, Phil Salt
Predicted needs: all-rounder, overseas top-order batter
The Capitals did not go for a like-for-like replacement for Shardul Thakur and instead went big on emerging 29-year-old seamer Mukesh Kumar. It still looks like they may lack a true option at number eight. There was, though, some strong emphasis placed on beefing up the top order options in the batting department.
One of the stars of 2022, Rilee Rossouw, was brought in alongside England's swashbuckling opener Phil Salt who in turn earned his maiden IPL contract. The experienced IPL batter Manish Pandey was also bought to add yet another franchise to his ever-expanding CV.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Shaw, Warner, Rossouw, Pant, Powell, Dhull, Axar, Kuldeep, Sakariya, Nortje, M Kumar
Chennai Super Kings
Main buys: Ben Stokes, Kyle Jamieson, Ajinkya Rahane
Predicted needs: overseas all-rounder
Like Rajasthan, it seemed like Chennai were in need of an overseas all-rounder, particularly after Dwayne Bravo moved into the coaching staff. Again, like Rajasthan, they could not have done much better. Ben Stokes was one of the three big all-rounders available and he received another huge bid, like he had done back with Rising Pune Supergiant and the Royals.
CSK also picked up New Zealand's towering bowling all-rounder Kyle Jamieson to boost their bowling stocks. Another IPL veteran found a new home, this time Ajinkya Rahane found his way into the yellow of the Super Kings. He will provide a solid option at the top of the order following the retirement of Robin Uthappa.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Gaikwad, Conway, Stokes, Moeen, Dube, Jadeja, Dhoni, Hangargekar, D Chahar, Theekshana, M Choudhury
Punjab Kings
Main buys: Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza
Predicted needs: overseas bowling all-rounder, opener, overseas bowler, overseas middle-order batter
Another team to nail one of their biggest needs, Punjab Kings produced the largest bid of the auction to secure the services of Sam Curran. Having made his IPL bow with the Kings previously, the t20 World Cup's player of the tournament will provide a huge boost to a side with strong potential. The overseas middle-order slot was filled by Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwe all-rounder who is playing the best cricket of his career at the age of 36.
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| t20 World Cup player of the tournament Sam Curran broke the IPL auction record to secure a return to Punjab Kings [CREDIT: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images] |
Punjab did not opt for a significant signing to improve their opening batting options, perhaps suggesting that they are confident about Jonny Bairstow's fitness. The Kings also did not choose to strengthen their overseas bowling options, with Curran alongside Kagiso Rabada and Nathan Ellis likely more than enough.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Dhawan, Bairstow, Bawa, Livingstone, Jitesh, Shahrukh, S Curran, Harpreet, Rabada, R Chahar, Arshdeep
Kolkata Knight Riders
Main buys: Shakib Al-Hasan, David Wiese, Narayan Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Mandeep Singh, Litton Das
Predicted needs: Indian top/middle-order batter, overseas all-rounder
Kolkata had been busy even before the auction, securing the trade deals for Shardul Thakur, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Lockie Ferguson. They were busy once more in the auction house, ticking a number of boxes and developing some good strength in depth. There was a case to be made for the domestic batting to be bolstered and Knight Riders did just that, bringing in the IPL experience of Mandeep Singh and the recent record-breaking Narayan Jagadeesan. The latter has recently hit the headlines after recording five consecutive List A centuries, including an enormous double century.
KKR also moved effectively to bring in a top-class overseas all-rounder in Shakib Al-Hasan, as well as recruit the experienced all-round talents of David Wiese. The top of the innings in both batting and bowling departments were bolstered as well. Bangladesh opener Litton Das was handed his first IPL contract, while powerplay seamer Vaibhav Arora was picked up cheaply.
Potential 2023 starting XI: Gurbaz, V Iyer, S Iyer, N Rana, Jagadeesan, Shakib, Russell, S Thakur, Narine, U Yadav, Chakaravarthy
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Main buys: Will Jacks, Reece Topley
Predicted needs: overseas middle-order batter, overseas top order batter, overseas bowler
The Royal Challengers picked up ready-made cover for Glenn Maxwell in England's Will Jacks, a fellow big-hitting batsman with handy part-time off-spin. Jacks will also provide competition at the top of the order for Finn Allen.
The overseas bowler box was ticked through the signature of England international Reece Topley. The tall left-armer had an excellent year until he injured himself and was cruelly ruled out of the t20 World Cup on the eve of the tournament. He will also provide some serious competition, this time for Aussie seamer Josh Hazlewood.
Potential 2023 starting XI: du Plessis, Kohli, Patidar, Maxwell, Lomror, Karthik, Hasaranga, Shahbaz, Harshal, Siraj, Hazlewood
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