IPL 2021: 5 England players to watch out for in the auction

With the IPL 2021 auction on February 18, the excitement is off the charts. The teams are almost ready with their gameplans and the franchises have set targets in their mind. But with the IPL auction, you never know until the last second.

1,114 players initially registered themselves for the IPL, out of which only 292 cricketers have made the cut. The players have set a base price for themselves with the highest slab being the 2 crore base mark. Few players in the slab include Harbhajan Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Jason Roy, Mark Wood, Sam Billings, and other stars.

England players have always made an impact in the IPL. From Ben Stokes to Jofra Archer to Jonny Bairstow, everyone has been extremely valuable for their respective franchises.

Here, we will discuss 5 England players to watch out for in the 2021 IPL auction:

1. Jason Roy

Over the years, Jason Roy has been unlucky to not make any impact on the tournament. However, in the last couple of years, he has been in a league of his own in international cricket. Many would say he is one of the reasons why England are the current world champions. He will be an asset for every team he plays for; such is the status of the Englishman.

The destructive opener last played for Delhi Capitals in 2018. He did not have a breakout season, as he managed just over 100 runs in the season. He scored 91 runs in a match against Mumbai Indians, but that was all for him.

Since then, Roy has been consistently improving his batting, and the majority of the teams will look for Roy in their squad. With RCB releasing Finch, they could now target Jason Roy to open for them. Delhi Capitals faced opening problems last season; they could also try to bring Roy home.

2. Dawid Malan

If you have to name one cricketer who has been in red hot form in T20 cricket, Dawid Malan will be right on top. It is imperative that IPL teams cash in on such a form to gain an upper hand in the tournament. The England no. 3 is easily going to be under the radar of many teams.

Since 2018, Dawid Malan has scored over 750 runs in just 18 innings which includes 8 half-centuries and a century. With 777 runs at an average of 51 and a strike rate of 147, an IPL contract is only a matter of time. A destructive no. 3 is imperative to post a huge total on the board and Dawid Malan will provide exactly that.

With Malan ticking all the boxes a franchise needs, it won’t be a surprise if teams go on a bidding war for him. Chennai Super Kings need to strengthen their middle order, which means they might target Malan. Rajasthan Royals could also unite Malan with other English stars; Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Jos Buttler.

3. Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali is another player who could get himself an IPL contract for the 2021 season. Moeen Ali’s all-around abilities make him a valuable player for an IPL franchise. However, the only thing that makes a franchise think twice is his inconsistency.

Moeen Ali is a dynamic cricketer who is capable of giving you a few overs in the middle with a wicket. He can also get you quick runs at the back end of the innings, which is something a few teams struggle to do. Moeen Ali could therefore be an impactful player for a franchise.

In IPL 2020, Ali failed to make an impact for RCB which cost him his contract with the team. However, given consistent chances, he could very well showcase his talent. Furthermore, we got a glimpse of his hard-hitting abilities in the 2nd Test match against India, where he was on his way to the fastest Test half-century, but fell short of the landmark.

4. Tom Curran

England has been a land of excellent all-rounders, from Sir Ian Botham to Ben Stokes, all have played for England. Tom Curran is just an example of the depth of fast bowling all-rounders in England. The youngster will look to prove to the world that he is just as good as his brother, Sam Curran, if not better.

Curran is a decent bowling all-rounder who can add quick runs to the team’s tally at the back end of an innings. His ability to consistently clock over 140 kph makes him a dangerous bowler as well. The 25-year old has been performing consistently, luring the teams into giving him an IPL contract.

Tom Curran last played for Rajasthan Royals in the 2020 IPL. He never got consistent chances because of hefty competition within the squad. Despite that, he had a decent outing with just over 80 runs in 3 innings, including a half-century.

5. Alex Hales

Alex Hales always makes a strong case for himself to bag an IPL contract. It almost comes as a shock that the Englishman has only played 6 IPL matches. IPL 2021 auction might prove to be beneficial for Alex Hales as he might just make it to the IPL.

Alex Hales is in the form of his life at the top of the order and he showcased that in the Big Bash League 2020-21. Hales was the leading run-scorer of the tournament with just under 550 runs at an average of 38. He was one of the two players to score a century in the tournament, with 110 off just 56 balls against the champions, Sydney Sixers.

A destructive opener who can make use of the powerplay is everybody’s need and Hales would fit right in to do that job. Kolkata Knight Riders might just try and pick him as Shubman Gill’s partner. With that, Hales could have the license to go all out while Shubman Gill takes his time to settle.