A number of New Zealand players were released by the franchises ahead of the IPL 2024 Auction.
Last Sunday was the Deadline Day for the franchises to announce their list of retained and released players ahead of the IPL 2024 Auction, which is scheduled for December 19.
While most of the big-ticket players were retained, apart from the likes of Ben Stokes and Joe Root, both of whom have pulled out of IPL 2024, a few overseas stars, even experienced ones, were released, including a handful of Kiwis.
5 big-name New Zealand players who were released ahead of IPL 2024 auction:
Tim Southee (KKR)
New Zealand Test skipper Tim Southee has been released by KKR. In IPL 2023, Southee played in only 2 games, picking up 2 wickets, but leaked runs at a horrendous economy of 13.16. He didn’t have a great World Cup 2023 tournament either. Southee is also of age 34, so there’s isn’t a great future potential either.
Lockie Ferguson (KKR)
Though Lockie Ferguson is one of the fastest bowlers in the world, perhaps his price tag of INR 10 crore was too much for KKR to hold onto him. Plus he has had injury concerns in recent years.
In IPL 2023, Lockie Ferguson featured in only 3 games, picking only 1 wicket and conceding more than 12 runs per over. Releasing Ferguson was a really easy choice for KKR, though they might want to buy him back at a cheaper rate.
Kyle Jamieson (CSK)
Kyle Jamieson was bought by CSK for INR 1 crore, but a recurrence of a lower-back stress fracture before the IPL ruled him out. Jamieson has had to deal with a back injury for the past two years, and perhaps CSK didn’t want to take a punt on an overseas slot by retaining him. Jamieson also pulled out of IPL 2022.
Finn Allen (RCB)
Finn Allen has been with RCB for the past three seasons but has not played a single game; the presence of Faf, Maxwell, Hasaranga, and Hazlewood/Topley/Willey/Parnell, and the opening slots locked with Faf and Kohli have meant he didn’t get a single opportunity. No surprise that he’s been released while Will Jacks is retained.
Michael Bracewell (RCB)
Bracewell had joined RCB as an injury replacement for Will Jacks. He played in 5 games last season, scoring 58 runs at a strike rate of 123, but did pick 6 wickets. Now, RCB decided to stick with England’s Will Jacks and release New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell. The Kiwi is currently recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.
