From Malan to Smith: Five overseas players to lookout for in IPL 2021 auction

IPL 2021 Auctions: 292 players have been shortlisted to go under auction for the upcoming Indian Premier League. These players have been picked from the initial list of 1,114 cricketers. The auction for IPL 2021 will be held on February 18 in Chennai.

Let's take a look at five overseas players, who could attract one of the highest bids in this year's auctions:  

Former Rajasthan Royals skipper Steve Smith will be one of the hottest picks in this year's Indian Premier League. Despite a poor 2020 season, the Australian bounced back to trouble the Indian team in the T20I series. The Australian could be among the highest-paid batsmen in the auctions. Smith's base price is Rs 2 crore.

Currently, the number one ranked batsman in T20 internationals, every franchise has an eye on the 33-year-old Briton. This will be the first Indian Premier League for Dawid Malan and he has been given the top slot of Rs. 2 crores as the base price. 

England batsman Dawid Malan has set a ranking-points record for batsmen in international Twenty20 cricket. He has 915 points in the International Cricket Council rankings.

The young Aussie has proved himself in the world of Test cricket and is set to explore the shortest format of the game. After an impressive Big Bash League season. However, the Aussie went unsold in the auctions. He could fill in the all-round position at the Royals.  

Tall Kiwi bowler, who has impressed many in Test cricket, is set to try his luck in the cash-rich T20 league. Kyle has played just four T20Is and has three wickets to his name. However, the New Zealand player has enough capacity to trouble several oppositions.  

Top all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be returning to IPL 2021 after over a year. The Bangladesh player is often considered to be one of the best in the format. He can bat, he can bowl, and can trouble the opposition for sure. Hasan has been given the top slot in the auction with the base price of Rs 2 crore.