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Follow UsThe Afghan mystery spinner, who is more than capable enough to wield the willow as well, will be a hot property, especially after his exploits against Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series in UAE.
He picked 6/26 in Sharjah to come into the limelight. But even before that series, the 18-year-old picked six wickets in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024 T20, including combined figures of 4/28 against India and Sri Lanka in the knockouts.
Although a right-arm off-break bowler, he has unique varieties of sliders and doosra to surprise the batters, which will certainly entice the team owners. In his small T20 career, the Afghan has taken 29 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 11.62 and an economy rate of 5.71 which is as good as it gets.
The Australian all-rounder will have a beeline forming to sign him for the kind of potential he brings to the table. Though the 25-year-old has played only 11 ODIs and 12 T20Is and doesn't have much to show for with batting averages of 16 and 21 in both formats, the Western Australian had a cracker of the Big Bash League in 2023-24, scoring 334 runs in 11 matches at an average of 37.11 while taking six wickets. In fact, across the last two BBL editions, only Matthew Short (999) has scored more runs than Hardie (794), who has averaged 40.00 with the bat.
With the ability to contribute both with bat and ball, he is in the league of fellow Perth citizens Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis and thus could get a big-money deal in the cash-rich league.
William O’Rourke, the latest pace sensation from New Zealand, showed one and all as to what he is capable of doing with red-ball in India. But will that be enough to get him a white-ball contract? Well, he is more than just a decent shout with the white-ball too. Along with 42 wickets in 24 List-A matches, he took 12 wickets in the last Super Smash season.
Having already made his debut in all three formats for the Blackcaps, O’Rourke, more than the numbers, can create wicket-taking opportunities and bring to the table hunger to be better than the last day, which would favour him to land his maiden IPL contract.
Young, exciting quicks getting an IPL contract, even if they are raw, has also been a trend over the years. So O'Rourke could very well be set for a significant payday.
A U-19 World Cup graduate, Bethell showed the world what he is capable of when he smashed 44 off just 24 balls against Australia, hitting Adam Zampa all over the park in a 49-ball 90-run stand with the explosive Liam Livingstone. It was only his second outing in international cricket.
Since then, the 21-year-old has gone on to score two fifties in T20Is and averages 57.66 after in T20Is six games.
With the ball, Bethell is also more than just a part-timer; he brings a different variety to any attack with his unique slow left-arm orthodox spin. Bethell is far from a finished product but his sheer potential might tempt teams to bid for him come the mega auction.
Another Englishman who could fetch a maiden IPL contract and most probably a big one is fast bowler John Turner. With a sturdy build and a good height, Turner generates pace mostly from his shoulders as he has a slow run-up and just about a good enough follow-through where he doesn't end up bending too much sidewards or falling forward.
But his unique ability to bowl deliveries that follow the batter and rise at a steady pace has made him a really tough customer to deal with.
In the 2024 T20 Blast, Turner picked 15 wickets in 10 matches and was quite lethal with the new ball. He has only played one T20I to date, three international games in total, but once again the potential he brings to the table will really tempt several franchises to take a punt on him.
Not necessarily seen as a T20 bowler, Morris has a fantastic first-class record. However, over the last few years, the quick has improved his white-ball skills and has also gotten opportunities to represent Australia in ODI cricket.
Bowling quickly is the biggest asset for Morris. However, his accuracy is what's turned him into a lethal customer. Morris' first-class numbers - 74 wickets @ 25 a piece - reflect just how disciplined he's been, despite being someone who consistently threatens the 150 kph mark.
Having just taken three wickets in his first 13 T20s, he has now taken 22 wickets in his last 14 T20 games, massively improving his short-format numbers.
Express pace has always sold like hot cake in the IPL. Don't be surprised if a couple of franchises go hard for Morris due to him being one of the quickest and most exciting seamers in the auction list.
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