Here is a look at who could be some of the best and worst buys from the auction based on the money they were sold for.
Best
Dawid Malan (£150,000/INR 1.5 crore to Kings XI Punjab)
England international Dawid Malan is the number one ranked batsman in the ICC T20 world rankings at the moment, therefore, it is a real surprise he went for as low as £150,000 to the Kings XI Punjab.
The 33-year-old recently featured in the KFC Big Bash in Australia for Hobart Hurricanes. He scored 265 runs in 10 matches for the franchise at a strike-rate of 113.73. Although those statistics were a long way short of those put up by the leading players in the league, his 75 against Melbourne Stars proved what he is capable of.
Malan has been in excellent form for his country over the last couple of years. In England’s winter tour of South Africa, he hit 55 not out and an unbeaten 99 in the second and third T20 internationals respectively.
As of 19th February, Kings XI Punjab were 9/1 in the Betway IPL outright betting for the 2021 season. If Malan can hit top form, they will have a good chance of performing better than their odds indicate they will do.
Liam Livingstone (£70,000/INR 75 lakh to Rajasthan Royals)
Given how destructive he can be in T20 cricket, Liam Livingstone’s sale for just £70,000 could be the bargain of the whole IPL auction.
The Lancashire Lightning all-rounder has just recently been called up to the England squad for their T20 internationals against India. Competition for places in the England set-up is very high at the moment, so it says a lot about how well Livingstone is playing.
Livingstone scored 426 runs for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash last season. He was an important player for the franchise. The highlight of his campaign was his 77 off just 39 balls in his side’s victory over Brisbane Heat.
The 27-year-old will be keen to prove himself in the IPL. He will join up with his Lancashire teammate Jos Buttler in what could prove to be an important partnership for the Rajasthan Royals.
Worst
Glenn Maxwell (£1.4 million/INR 14.25 crore to Royal Challengers Bangalore)
There is no doubting the ability of Glenn Maxwell. The experienced all-rounder has produced some breathtaking T20 innings over the years, however, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have really paid over the odds to secure his services for £1.4 million.
Maxwell was released by the Kings XI Punjab at the end of last season. His form has been inconsistent at both a domestic and international level over the last 12 months.
Given his price tag, there will be a lot of pressure on Maxwell to deliver in this year’s IPL. RCB were able to hold off competition from Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders for the Australian.
Maxwell did help King XI Punjab reach the final of the IPL in 2014. He had a strike-rate of 157.69 for the franchise. His new team will be hoping he can find his old form.
Moeen Ali (£700,000/INR 7 crore to Chennai Super Kings)
Moeen Ali spent three years with the Royal Challengers Bangalore but he will have a new team in 2021 as Chennai Super Kings won the rights for the player for a fee of £700,000.
Ali is very capable with the ball and bat, however, his form in the IPL so far has not been great. He scored just 12 runs across three innings in 2020; while, in the two seasons prior to last year, he managed just three 50s.
The Worcestershire player has not fared much better with the ball either. He picked up just 10 wickets in 19 matches for RCB so it is no surprise that they decided to move on from the England international.
The 2021 IPL begins on the 11th April, with the final scheduled to take place on the 6th June at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.