IPL 2024: Best Indian XI from the auction (Photo Source: IPL)

The IPL 2024 auction in Dubai on December 19 was a symphony of enthusiasm and calculations, as franchises competed heatedly for the finest stars in the event. An assemblage of outstanding Indian talents found new homes amid the flurry of bids and breakthroughs, generating excitement and anticipation among fans. 

As the dust settles and final squads take shape, it’s time to assemble the perfect Indian XI, handpicked from the best of the crop who won IPL 2024 bids. Let’s see who made it into the Best Indian XI from the IPL auction.

Here is the best Indian XI from the IPL 2024 auction:

1. KS Bharat

KS Bharath. (Photo Source: Twitter)

KS Bharat is a wonderful pick by the KKR team. His journey from one franchise to another continued and the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise has their backup keeper for Rahmanullah Gurbaz. KKR had tried out various options in IPL 2023 like Baba Indrajith, N Jagadeesan, and a few others, before deciding on KS Bharat. 

As an opener, he showed his hitting prowess for the RCB in IPL 2021 and then warmed the bench for the next two seasons for Gujarat Titans. He will hope to get regular chances with KKR this time, to show that he is not only a safe keeper but an excellent hitter in powerplays.

2. Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Manish Pandey returns to the franchise, with whom he has seen the most success in Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In 170 IPL matches, Pandey has 3808 runs with 22 fifties and one century with a strike rate of 120.97. But in recent times, Pandey has seen a huge downward trajectory in his career. And will hope that returning to the OG team will help him gain confidence and perform.

3. Sameer Rizvi

Sameer Rizvi. (Photo Source: UPT20 2023)

Sameer Rizvi has been dubbed the “right-handed Suresh Raina” after his achievements in last year’s UP T20 tournament, where he scored 455 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 188.80. This, along with some praise from Suresh Raina, was enough for Raina’s former IPL side, CSK, to splurge INR 8 crores on Rizvi. He will have the big boots of Ambati Rayudu to fill in the MS Dhoni-led CSK XI.

4. Shahrukh Khan

Shahrukh Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Gujarat Titans wisely jumped on the opportunity to acquire him in the auction. He will offer them much-needed lower-order firepower and provide some relief to Rahul Tewatia. This answers a major concern for GT in terms of lower-order hitting after Hardik Pandya went for MI. Shahrukh Khan has 928 runs in 83 T20s with a strike rate of 133.52. His highest score is 47, but he has hit 57 sixes thus far.

5. Shubham Dubey

Shubham Dubey. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Vidarbha’s Shubham Dubey saw a huge paycheck of INR 5.8 Cr from Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2024 auction. This after the big-hitter topped the batting charts for Vidarbha in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, amassing 187.18 runs in seven innings and hitting 18 sixes. The 29-year-old is noted for his huge hits against quick bowlers and has a strong foundation. He can be the finisher RR is looking for.

6. Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur in DC camp (Photo Source: Delhi Capitals)

Shardul Thakur returns to Chennai Super Kings, with whom he had won the IPL 2021. He was then released and he spent one season each with Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders. CSK needed a dependable all-rounder after the Ben Stokes debacle and hence went for Shardul Thakur in the auction. He will not only strengthen the bowling of CSK but can hit some lusty blows with the bat.

7. Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

In the IPL 2024 auction, Harshal Patel was the most expensive Indian player auctioned. He was signed for INR 11.75 crore by Punjab Kings (PBKS), who were hunting for a top Indian pacer. He will be a big help to Kagiso Rabada and the rest of the PBKS bowling unit. Harshal provides PBKS with a seasoned India pacer at death to complement the talents of their foreign pace contingent.

8. Manav Suthar

Manav Suthar(Photo Source: Twitter)

Manav Suthar has represented India A and India U19s, as well as Rajasthan in domestic cricket. He currently has 44 FC wickets, 15 List-A scalps, and 4 T20 wickets to his name. After two years as a net bowler, he was selected by the GT team at his base fee. Suthar was also a member of the Mumbai Indians’ talent development squad. He was also seen in action in the 2023 Emerging Nations Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

9. Shivam Mavi

Shivam Mavi. (Photo Source: Instagram/gujrat_titans)

Shivam Mavi was the ideal Indian pacer for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2024. He cost them INR 6.4 crore, and LSG will be hoping that he is the answer they are searching for in pacers to back up Mark Wood and Mohsin Khan.

Shivam Mavi, who has already played for India, will assist LSG’s inexperienced Indian pace unit featuring Yash Thakur and Yudhvir Singh. With Wood, Naveen Ul Haq, and Mohsin, he will make a fearsome pace attack, and he can also get LSG some quick runs with the bat down the order.

10. Shreyas Gopal

Shreyas Gopal. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Shreyas Gopal, an accomplished leg-spinner and decent batter in the lower order, will play for the MI team in the IPL 2024. His T20 statistics are outstanding, with 107 wickets in 97 outings and an economy rate of 7.55. His greatest bowling average is 5/11.

He has played for the Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad teams. In IPL, he has a hat trick to his name. Gopal has 49 wickets in 49 IPL matches, with a high of 4/16 and an economy of 8.11. Along with Kumar Karthikeya and Piyush Chawla, Gopal will lead the MI spin attack in IPL 2024.

11. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav against PBKS. (Photo Source: IPL/ BCCI)

Umesh Yadav has over 130 wickets in 141 games in the IPL, with a high of 4/23 and an economy of 8.38. Despite being in his 30s, Umesh Yadav maintains his velocity and has consistently bowled above 140kph in the IPL. In the death overs, he can swing the new ball and possesses a mean slower one.

While his last two IPL seasons were not particularly successful, his expertise will be vital for Gujarat Titans, who already have Mohammad Shami and Mohit Sharma in their pace attack. GT has picked him as a backup for their first-choice pacers and to lend help to the youngsters in the team.