Rashid Khan is one of the top T20 cricketers in the world today. The Afghan leg-spinner is a highly sought-after player in T20 leagues with his wicket-taking abilities and miserly economy rate.
As the IPL 2024 auction approaches, Rashid Khan is likely to be one of the top attractions. But how much could he potentially fetch in the bidding war between franchises?
Rashid’s IPL Journey So Far
Rashid Khan made his IPL debut in 2017 for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He was bought at his base price of ₹4 crores. At the 2018 auction, SRH used their Right to Match to retain Rashid for ₹9 crores.
In IPL 2022, he was re-signed by Lucknow Super Giants at ₹15 crores after SRH decided not to retain him.
Over the past 5 IPL seasons, Rashid has picked up 93 wickets with an economy rate of just 6.33. This makes him one of the most consistent performers in the tournament.
Rashid Khan’s Rising Stature in T20 Cricket
Since Rashid’s last IPL contract in 2022, his value as a T20 specialist has grown further. Some metrics that point to his rising stature:
#1 T20I Bowler
Rashid Khan is currently the #1 ranked bowler in ICC T20I rankings. This underscores his pedigree as the best spinner in the shortest format.
Strong Performances Globally
Over the last 2 years, Rashid has continued taking wickets in T20 leagues like the Hundred, CPL, BBL and PSL. His economy rate rarely exceeds 6 runs per over across global T20s.
Leadership Roles
Rashid was recently appointed captain of his BBL franchise Adelaide Strikers. His evolving leadership skills add to his all-round value.
What Could Drive Rashid Khan’s Price at IPL 2024 Auction?
Here are some factors that could see franchises engage in intense bidding for Rashid at the next auction:
Limited Quality Spin Options
With veterans like R Ashwin, Imran Tahir and Piyush Chawla ageing, high quality wrist spinners are rare. Rashid stands out as the #1 choice.
Wealthy New Franchises
Teams like Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans have big purses and are looking to build strong squads. They could bid aggressively for Rashid.
Gaps in Existing Team Squads
Sides like CSK, SRH and KKR have gaps in their spin bowling contingent. They could bid heavily to acquire Rashid’s services.
What Price can Rashid Khan Attract at the IPL 2024 Auction?
Based on current retention rules, Rashid Khan could be released back into the 2024 auction pool by Lucknow Super Giants.
In the bidding war between franchises, here are the likely price points he could attract:
Base Price ₹2 crores
As an overseas capped player, his base price will be set at ₹2 crores.
Sold Between ₹12-16 crores
Considering his growth trajectory and team requirements, most IPL teams could bid ferociously between ₹12 to 16 crores to buy Rashid.
We could see Rashid emerging as one of the top 5 highest paid players of the 2024 auction.
Small Chance of ₹18+ crores
There is an outside possibility of Rashid Khan going for an excess of ₹18 crores if two franchises engage in sustained aggressive bidding.
However, this seems unlikely given teams will need to set aside budgets for multiple player slots at the auction.
The Rashid Khan Difference
Here are some unique aspects of Rashid’s bowling that make him a prized T20 asset:
Excellent Economy Rate
Rashid has an overall T20 economy rate of 6.55 over 295 innings. This ability to restrict runs sets him apart.
Persistent Wicket-Taker
With a T20 bowling average of 17.53, Rashid Khan has impressive wicket-taking skills in high-pressure games.
Varied Bowling Arsenal
Rashid has many arrows in his quiver – googly, flipper, quicker ones. His variations flummox opposing batsmen.
In summary, Rashid Khan’s consistent match-winning performances could attract franchise bids between ₹12-16 crores at the IPL 2024 auction. He has the potential to be amongst the highest paid cricketers from the next mega auction. It will be interesting to see which team finally lands his services as a game-changing spinner.