At the upcoming IPL 2023 auction, players such as Ben Stokes, Cameron Green, and Nicholas Pooran will be up for grabs

On Friday, an auction will take place to select 405 players to compete in the lucrative Indian Premier League in the next year. The auction will feature some of the best cricket players in the world. The Associated Press takes a look at five stars who could be in line for hefty paychecks when the ten franchises bid for players in Kochi prior to the Twenty20 competition that is scheduled to begin in late March. Ben Stokes (England) The powerful left-handed batsman and dangerous right-arm seam bowler last participated in the Indian Premier League in 2021, however he did not appear in this year’s tournament since he elected not to play due to an injury.

Ben Stokes, who is now 31 years old, was an integral part of England’s triumph at the Twenty20 World Cup in November and guided the Test side to a historic series victory in Pakistan this month.

Ben Stokes was purchased by Rajasthan Royals at the auction for $1.96 million in 2018, which set a new record for the Indian Premier League. He is currently listed in the highest base-price bracket at $246,000 today.

Sam Curran (England)

At the Twenty20 World Cup, the all-rounder won the award for Player of the Tournament due to his abilities as a “death bowler” who shut down the batting lineups of opposing teams in the last overs of the game, making him a valuable asset for England.

The left-arm fast and attacking middle-order batsman had a great tenure with Chennai Super Kings, but the two parties split ways when he had a back injury, and he did not participate in the 2022 edition of the tournament.

Curran has a strike rate of over 150 and is positioned, like Stokes, in the top band of the auction list; hence, Chennai and its workhorse captain MS Dhoni may want him to return as they attempt to win a fifth championship.

Cameron Green (Australia)

Green, who is six feet six (1.98 metres) tall and has a wicked outswing, was selected to play fast bowler for Western Australia when he was first selected, but he has since developed into a formidable batsman as well.

The top opener for the Perth Scorchers, who is 23 years old, made a significant impact in India with his aggressive batting while the team was touring there in September. During that time, he scored 118 runs at a strike rate of 214.54.

David Warner, Green’s countryman, cautioned him against playing in his first Indian Premier League tournament while also having a demanding 2023 schedule that will include a trip of India, an Ashes match, and a World Cup match.

“This is going to be an extremely challenging year. That is something that, as far as I can tell, nobody disputes. But it’s a pretty excellent opportunity, I think,” Green remarked.

Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)

Pooran, a left-handed batter, has played in tournaments all over the world, ranging from Australia’s Big Bash to the Abu Dhabi T10. West Indies stars have had a long history of success in the Indian Premier League.

The wicketkeeper-batsman announced his resignation as West Indies’ white-ball captain after the team’s disastrous performance at the T20 World Cup. Last month, he was also let go by the Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Pooran, on the other hand, has a T20 strike rate that is higher than 141, which places him in the top bracket of players for the auction alongside his fellow West Indian Jason Holder.