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After the culmination of the 45-day-long ODI World Cup 2023, the cricketing world is gearing up for the next big event, the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). With the trade and auction window now in focus, IPL teams have until November 26 to finalize their lists of retained and released players. The anticipation for IPL 2024, followed by the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies, has set the stage for a competitive auction. Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, sharing his insights on Instagram, identified two players expected to command significant amounts in the auction.
Ravichandran Ashwin points to two names before the IPL 2024 Auction
According to Ashwin, Rachin Ravindra would be an excellent choice for a team seeking a left-arm spinner with the capability to bowl a few crucial overs and contribute significantly with the bat in the top order. Ashwin emphasized Ravindra’s classical strokeplay and ability to contribute with the ball, making him an all-round asset.
“578 runs at an average of 64 bowling a bit of off left arm spin orthodox. Can open the batting. But wherever or whichever team needs a left arm spinner to give a couple of overs and also have a really good bat at the top of the order will be interested in Rachin. He’s played a lot of T 20 cricket, not got a lot of success. But great future with great bat flow and a lot to look forward to,” Ashwin said.
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Rising star Rachin Ravindra’s versatility
Ravindra, despite limited international experience and no history of batting high in ODIs, made a remarkable impact in the World Cup, opening with a century against England. His record-breaking 578 runs in the tournament marked the highest by a debutant in a World Cup campaign.
Shifting his focus to South Africa‘s pace sensation Gerald Coetzee, Ashwin praised his impressive speed and all-round capabilities.
“My second player on the player watch today is none other than Gerald Coetzee. He is a tear away fast bowler from South Africa. I spoke about Rachin, but what stands out really is that South Africans and New Zealanders are sought after commodities in the IPL auctions. And Gerald Coetzee, I think, will be a sought after commodity and might go for a decent amount of money in this mini-auction. Tear away fast bowler, a big lad, bowls in excess of 145-150, bowls aggressive bouncers and can hit a mean ball. Got a lot of power with the bat as. So Gerald Coetzee and Rachin Ravindra are my two foremost players that I would be watching out if I was an IPL scout,” the 37-year-old concluded.
Gerald Coetzee: South Africa’s pace sensation
Coetzee, making his World Cup debut at 23, outshone established names like Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Setting a record with 20 wickets in the tournament, he became the highest wicket-taker by a South African in a single World Cup edition. Coetzee’s raw pace and effectiveness in the middle overs, along with notable contributions with the bat, position him as a valuable asset for potential IPL teams.
