Rajasthan Royals’ spinner Ravichandran Ashwin thinks that teams might compete fiercely to sign Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 auction. Ashwin also pointed out that the teams could face challenges if Cummins and Starc decide not to participate due to their commitments to The Ashes and the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Ashwin said:

“Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are the only two fresh guys. Though there are guys like Rachin Ravindra, Gerald Coetzee, and a few other names, it looks pretty sure that these are the two names everybody wants to acquire. The Ashes is going to come, as is the T20 World Cup, and there is a heavy chance that Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are going to pull out of the tournament, and it is there in their histories.”

Travis Head, the hero of Australia’s World Cup, will be available for bidding at the auction. He was named Player of the Match in both the semi-final and final.

Even though the batting all-rounder is in great form, Ashwin thinks he might not get a big offer.

He said, “I don’t expect a high bid. If I’m wrong, it would surprise me.”

Head played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017 but hasn’t been in the IPL since. He didn’t find a buyer at the IPL 2023 auction.

Mumbai Indians Likely to Pursue Gerald Coetzee if Unable to Secure Other Players in IPL 2024 Auction
Ashwin thinks Mumbai Indians might sign South African pacer Gerald Coetzee in the upcoming mini-auction, possibly before Mitchell Starc. He added:

“Gerald Coetzee is a very Mumbai Indians player. That blue jersey with gold on him, bowling at the Wankhede Stadium, bustling in—he looks like an MI sort of a player. If they don’t get anybody, I think they are going for him. In my view, they might not even go for Mitchell Starc.”

Coetzee performed exceptionally well in the 2023 World Cup in India, taking 20 wickets in eight matches and becoming South Africa’s top wicket-taker.