Faf du Plessis will be the most sought out player in IPL mega auction, could blow out to 11 crore: Brad Hogg

Faf du Plessis will be the “most sought out player” in the upcoming IPL mega auction and will be on the radar of teams like RCB, PBKS, KKR and CSK in the opinion of former Australia spinner Brad Hogg. du Plessis has been one of the most successful batters in the league and played a crucial role in CSK’s title-winning effort in 2021 while batting at the top of the order. 

The 37-year-old, who has fallen out of national selectors’ radar as he failed to make it into South Africa’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad, was released by the Super Kings despite finishing as the second-leading run-scorer in the most recent edition. The franchise instead opted to retain spin all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali alongside skipper MS Dhoni and the 2021 Orange Cap winner Ruturaj Gaikwad. 

“Du Plessis will be the most sought out player in the auction, because of his leadership skills. RCB, PBKS and KKR and CSK will go for him. He has leadership skills as well, which is why the other three teams will look to bring him in,” Hogg reckoned while speaking on his YouTube channel. “He is very consistent at the top of the order as well. I reckon he could go for 7 Crore, could blow out to 11 crores, after especially what he did last year.”

PBKS and RCB will go for Shreyas Iyer: Brad Hogg

Hogg further opined on big players such as Shreyas Iyer, Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Shami. The former spinner identified PBKS and RCB along with KKR as the potential franchises that will have their eyes on Iyer, while he also prophesied the sums of money these marquee players might end up receiving in return for their services. 

“Iyer is a consistent player, controls the innings, but also with his experience in captaining in the IPL, I think PBKS and RCB will go for Iyer, KKR might even have a dab as well. I think he will go for about 4 crores,” said Hogg. 

“Rabada, always bowling in those dangerous situations and he does the job well, picks up wickets, bowls with a reasonable economy. I think he should go for 4-5 Cr. 

“All 10 teams will be very aggressive going after Shami, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is up about the 5 Cr mark or more. Don’t see Warner going for anything more than 4 Cr.” 

Regarding off-spinner R Ashwin, he said: “Ashwin, very economical with the ball, good lower-order batter, last year did not pick up the wickets, but still a very valuable player. I think he will go for 5-7 crores.

The IPL mega auction is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13, with 590 players set to go under the hammer.