The IPL 2023 mini-auction will take place today at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Kochi on December 23 and a total of 405 players will go under the hammer. The preparations for the same have been going on for quite a long time and all the 10 teams will be now going head to head against each other to fill up their vacant 87 slots.
Ahead of D-Day cricket lovers were busy predicting which player will go for the maximum amount of money in the auctions. Now Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh has also joined the bandwagon and has also named the cricketer who he thinks will become the most expensive player at the 2023 auctions.
Just like many experts, Ranveer Singh, who is an avid cricket lover, also feels that the England T20 World Cup-winning duo of Ben Stokes and Sam Curran will fetch the biggest price at the IPL Auction 2023. However, he also feels that Ben Stokes might edge out Curran in the race. In an interaction with Star Sports, he said:
“I think the most expensive player at the auction, it’s going to be between Ben Stokes and Sam Curran, both are all-rounders. Sam Curran showed his fine form and Ben Stokes is well, Ben Stokes. I think in the end, it might be Ben Stokes just a little bit more expensive than Sam Curran because he’s done the biggest things on the biggest stage, highest level of achievement at the very highest level of the sport.”
“So, he has that little bit of sheen to him and he has that superstar presence and quality. He brings in so much to any team that he’s a part of, a diverse 360 player. I think Ben Stokes might be the most expensive one,” Ranveer said.
It has to be noted that, out of 405 players, 273 are Indians and 132 are overseas players of which 4 players are from associate nations. The total capped players are 119, uncapped players are 282, and 4 are from associate nations. A maximum of 87 slots are now available with up to 30 being slotted for overseas players.