LPL 2023: 5 bowlers who bagged big bucks at auction

The fourth season of the Lanka Premier League begins on Sunday, July 30. Five teams will battle it out in the tournament, with 24 matches, including the final. It goes without saying that the league will provide opportunities for youngsters to make a name for themselves and get into the scheme of things as far as national team selection is concerned.

Last year's edition saw Sadeera Samarawickrama realising his potential and bag the Player of the Tournament award. The Colombo-born wicketkeeper-batter scored 294 runs in 9 matches at an average of 58.80. The stellar performance helped him earn a recall to the Sri Lanka side. Youngsters like Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth impressed experts and fans alike.

In the 2023 edition, more such performances are expected, as many talented players will feature in the five-team tournament. Having good domestic players on their sides bodes well for franchises in these leagues. The teams focused on bagging talented Sri Lankan players at the inaugural LPL auction on Wednesday, June 14. According to cricket pundits, batters win you matches, while bowlers win you championships. So, the franchises at the auction invested wholeheartedly in securing the services of some promising bowlers. In the same light, we look at the five bowlers who attracted lucrative bids at the auction.

Here are the five bowlers who got big bids at LPL Auction 2023

5. Noor Ahmad

The spinner from Afghanistan is the only foreign player to feature in this list. He went to Dambulla Aura at the LPL Auction for USD 50,000. Noor Ahmad has not played much international cricket. However, he is just 18 years old and has already given glimpses of his mettle in leagues worldwide.

After having a spectacular Indian Premier League 2023 season, Ahmad's stocks have risen substantially in the cricketing world. In 13 matches, Ahmad picked up 16 wickets, averaging 23.06. He operated at an economy of 7.82 and had a strike rate of 17.69. The left-arm spin bowler helped Gujarat Titans finish as runners-up in the tournament with his noteworthy performances.

Ahmad will form a spin troika alongside Dhanajaya de Silva and Praveen Jayawickrama. How the three players bowl in tandem will be a telling factor as far as Dambulla Aura's chances in the tournament are concerned.