IPL 2024’s highly anticipated mini-auction is almost here, and it will happen on December 19 at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Former cricket player and well-known expert Sanjay Manjrekar gave his predictions about the impending event before the auction, focusing on Australian pace Mitchell Starc as a possible game-changer. He talked about how RCB and MI may fight for Starc, emphasizing how he is a dangerous force with his unique ability to deliver yorkers and swing the ball in the air.
Teams that must play the majority of their home games on perfectly level fields might consider him. Possibly the only bowler in the world who can eliminate the pitch entirely, perform air magic, generate swings and throw yorkers with the fresh ball and in the last moments is him. According to Manjrekar on Star Sports, “teams like the Mumbai Indians, who have Jason Behrendorff and Jasprit Bumrah, could show interest in him after letting go of Jofra Archer.”
When asked about RCB, he responded, “RCB has got Reece Topley, who is a pretty good bowler, but on flat pitches where most bowlers struggle, Mitchell Starc and Bumrah are the kind of bowlers who will bring the team back into the game with their bowling because they don’t rely on the pitch as much as some of the other bowlers.”
With a starting price of INR two crore, Mitchell Starc—who is no stranger to the IPL—has joined the auction. The left-arm bowler, who played for the RCB in 2014 and 2015, has an outstanding 34-wicket total from 27 games.
With Mitchell Starc return to the league, there could be more excitement and strategy in the bidding battles as cricket fans eagerly await the IPL auction.
Dubai will host Mallika Sagar’s first-ever IPL auction.
In related news, it has been reported that Mallika Sagar will sell off her first item at the forthcoming IPL auction in Dubai on December 19. The BCCI will no longer choose the auctioneer; instead, Ms. Sagar, an impartial expert, will make all of the auction’s decisions.
According to Cricbuzz, the BCCI notified franchises that “an independent professional auctioneer, Ms. Mallika Sagar, will conduct the auction and serve as the exclusive arbiter regarding all auction-related matters.”