Top 5 Releases Ahead Of The IPL 2024 Auctions
Hardik Pandya will play for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024
This is the most awaited time of the cricketing here as we inch closer to the IPL 2024 Auctions. The players' bidding will be taking place on the 19th of December, 2023. While there are some exciting new additions to the pool of players, a few more big names will make it to the Auctions after the announcement of the retentions.
All ten IPL franchises have announced their retentions. As we head into another season of the biggest franchise cricket league, the Indian Premier League 2024, we are witnessing a massive turnaround of events. There are surprises on both sides, whether it's the retentions or the releases.
Let's have a look at the top 5 releases that earned hefty amounts of money.
Ben Stokes (Chennai Super Kings)
Ben Stokes (X.com)
Ben Stokes, one of the greatest players in modern cricket, has always been among the top buys in the IPL Auctions. He made his IPL debut in 2017 with Rising Pune Super Giants, who bought him for a considerable amount of 14.50 crores, which made him the most expensive buy of the 2017 Auctions.
In his IPL career of 45 games, the English southpaw has scored 935 runs, including two centuries and two half-centuries. Apart from the first two seasons, Stokes had a couple of quiet seasons and with a few injuries, he could not play every game. Last year, when Stokes returned to the IPL, CSK went all in for the all-rounder and bought him for a hefty amount of 16.25 crores.
He went on to play just two games, and he could not continue with an injury. Now that he has opted out of the upcoming season, Chennai doesn't want to spend a huge amount on a player who is not available and, hence, released.
Harry Brook (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Harry Brook (X.com)
The young Harry Brook, who shook everyone in the cricket fraternity with his blistering performances in the red-ball and shortest format, made his debut in the IPL 2023 season and was among the top buys. Sunrisers Hyderabad, who were looking for a great hitter of the ball, bought Harry for a massive amount of 13.25 crores.
In his debut season, Harry Brook did not live up to the expectations of the franchise as well as the fans of the Orange Army. He could only score 190 runs with a poor average of 21 despite featuring in 11 games. He seemed to struggle against the spinning conditions and had a forgettable debut season.
In one of the games, Brook went on to smash a hundred but could not carry the form and failed to secure a retention for the upcoming season as Hyderabad decided to release him.
Wanindu Hasaranga (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Wanindu Hasaranga (X.com)
The premium leg-spinner from Sri Lanka was the highest buy among the Sri Lankan players as the Royal Challengers Bangalore went all in for Wanindu Hasaranga. Due to his ability to smash a few boundaries, RCB even dropped Chahal and relied on the foreign spinner for several seasons. In mega Auctions in 2022, RCB spent 10.75 crores on the Sri Lankan spinner instead of bidding for their former spinner.
He made his debut in the IPL 2021 and came in as a replacement for Adam Zampa, and his display of skills helped him grab a contract for the next year, and that too with loads of money. In the IPL 2022, he was the second-highest wicket-taker of the season with 26 wickets. But this year, he could not perform, and because of his injury, he could only play eight games.
Hasaranga is currently injured and also missed the entire World Cup 2023. Considering his availability, performances and the amount, RCB decided to let go of him for the upcoming season.
Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Harshal Patel (X.com)
Harshal Patel revived his cricketing career with his ability to bowl slower balls. He did not miss any season after making his debut for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL except the 2013 season. But he was playing matches in bits and pieces as no team allowed him to play all the games.
He was again bought by the RCB team for the IPL 2021, where it all changed for him. The right-arm seamer picked 32 wickets in a single season, equalling DJ Bravo's record. RCB had to release him for the mega Auctions in 2022, but it was sure that they would buy him in the auctions.
For the IPL 2022, Harshal Patel fetched a massive contract of 10.75 crores as he performed brilliantly in the last season. In the previous two seasons, he hadn't been performing well, and that amount was too high for him, which made them release him for the upcoming season.
Shardul Thakur (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Shardul Thakur (X.com)
The right-arm fast bowling all-rounder, Shardul Thakur was doing well during his time with the Chennai Super King with a deal of just 20 lakhs. Chennai had to release him for the mega Auctions in 2022, eventually making him a millionaire as the Delhi Capital bought him for 10.75 crores ($1.433 million) for the IPL 2022.
For the next season, Shardul Thakur was traded with Kolkata Knight Riders in an all-cash deal, which was a bit too much for the Knights. His performance was below average as he could only pick up seven wickets in 11 games and scored 113 runs.
Ahead of the Auctions for IPL 2024, KKR has decided to release him as 10.75 crores is a lot of money considering his latest performances.
 "Saksham Chugh")
