The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction delivered cheerful moments to some players who earned big bucks. Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins bagged lucrative contracts of INR 24.75 crore and 20.50 crore respectively and became the costliest players in the history of the auctions.
At the same event, 62 players attracted attention for getting unsold. However, from the unsold chart, a few players might feature in the 2024 IPL edition as they are illustrious figures and can deliver the desired results to the franchises. In the past IPL season, it’s witnessed how some injured players opened doors for some unsold players.
In 2023, when Reece Topley got ruled out of the tournament after playing his first game for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the franchise gave Wayne Parnell the chance to come back in the cash-rich tournament. Similarly in the 2011 edition, when Dirk Nannes exited the tournament, Chris Gayle replaced him and created history with his bat.
Similar instances can occur in the upcoming tournament as injuries are part and parcel of the game. In that situation, some unsold players might get offers from the franchises to play for their teams. Talking more, let’s know five players who can become injury replacements
Here are five players who can be injury replacements in the IPL 2024:
5. Josh Inglis
Josh Inglis went under the hammer with a base amount of INR 2 crore in the first round of the auction but didn’t get any buyers. Days before the auction, Inglis hit his magnificent maiden T20 International (T20I) ton against India in Visakhapatnam and equalled former opener Aaron Finch’s record of hitting the fastest hundred for Australia in cricket’s shortest format.
However, following that century, he failed to produce a quality knock from his bat which might not have put him into the scheme of things for the franchises in the 2024 IPL auction. The Aussie is a fine hitter of the ball and also possesses superb keeping skills. In case of any injury, the franchises might sign him up during the season.
4. Phil Salt
Phil Salt made his IPL debut in the Delhi Capitals’ jersey in 2023 but failed to do wonders with his bat. Playing nine matches, he could accumulate only 218 runs at an average of 27.25. His ordinary performance disappointed the Capitals’ team management and they parted ways with him before the auction.
Salt is known for his excellent power-hitting ability which makes him an effective batter in the top order. His T20I record for England is extraordinary as he has scored 639 runs in 21 matches at a strike rate of 165.97. Noting his batting excellence, some teams might see him as a backup option in a situation if one of their overseas stalwarts fails to show up in the tournament or gets ruled out of the competition during the competition.
3. Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid played for the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2023. Throughout the competition, he got only two games and took two wickets at an economy of 8.00. The 35-year-old was released from the SRH squad before the auction. His basic price was INR 2 crore at the marquee event held in Dubai but all franchises refused to bid for him.
The England legend still has the chance to feature in the upcoming T20 extravaganza as his exceptional leg-break bowling talent might attract some franchises in case of any fatal injuries to any player of their teams. In his 14-year international career, he has played 104 T20Is for England and has grabbed 107 wickets at a thrifty economy of 7.38.
2. Steven Smith
Australia veteran Steven Smith has played a lot of cricket in IPL. In his vast league career, he has scored 2845 runs in 103 matches at a strike rate of 128.09. From 2014 to 2020, he was a vital part of Rajasthan Royals (RR), however, his unimpressive batting and captaincy in the 2019 and 2020 seasons became the reason for his ouster from the 2008 champion side in 2021.
In 2021, Delhi Capitals (DC) signed him up but he looked completely out of rhythm for his new team, scoring only 152 runs in eight matches at a dismal strike rate of 112.59. Witnessing his ordinary batting numbers, Capitals broke ties with him after the competition. Following the 2021 season, he wasn’t seen in the tournament as he went unsold in the 2022 auction and stayed away from the tournament in 2023.
He submitted his name with a basic amount of INR 2 crore for the 2024 auction but no franchise showed interest in him. Like 2022, he went unsold in 2024 as well. However, he won’t lose hope to play in the 2024 season as his immense experience and remarkable batting prowess might make him the best backup option to replace injured players.
1. Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood failed to find his name on Royal Challengers Bangalore’s retention list. Following this move, Bangalore’s newly appointed coach Andy Flower said that the Aussie speedster’s unavailability in the first half of the tournament forced the team management to take a stern decision.
The 33-year-old is expecting his first child with his wife during the upcoming T20 extravaganza. Hazlewood went under the hammer in the auction held in Dubai. His minimum reserved amount was INR 2 crore but the buyers refused to bid for him. However, the star Australia player won’t be disappointed as the franchises might display eagerness to get him in the second half of the competition.
In case of injury crises, the franchises might think about adding him to their squads as he can provide impactful numbers to them with his experience and talent. The lanky pacer has played 27 matches in the cash-rich league and has got 35 wickets at an economy of 8.06.
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