Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg reckons Mumbai Indians will go for Gerald Coetzee and Lance Morris in the IPL 2024 mini-auction. MI had earlier released Jofra Archer and they will want to add an overseas pacer to their squad.
Mumbai Indians have a remaining purse value of INR 17.5 crores and has four overseas slots remaining. Meanwhile, Coetzee has set his base price at INR 2 crores and he had recently impressed in ODI World Cup for South Africa. The South African pacer picked 20 wickets in eight matches of the tournament and thus played a key role in taking the Proteas to the semifinal.
On the other hand, Lance Morris has set his base price at INR 75 lakh and he will look to deliver the goods in the IPL if gets acquired by a franchise. Morris has taken 12 wickets in 18 T20 matches.
Meanwhile, a total of 333 players will go under the hammer for 77 available spots in the 10 teams of the tournament.
“MI need a fast bowler, they have been boosted with an Indian all-rounder in Hardik Pandya. They still need someone to complement Bumrah and Behrendorff. I think they will go for Coetzee upfront, they will be hoping to get him cheaply. If not Coetzee, then they will go for Lance Morris. If MI get both Coetzee and Morris, they will be challenging GT because they will have a very balanced lineup,” said Hogg on his YouTube Channel.
On the other hand, Hogg reckons Punjab Kings lack depth in their fast bowling line-up. Hogg feels the Mohali-based franchise could target Josh Hazlewood in IPL 2024 auction.
“I don’t know where they are going to go in this particular auction. One thing that they did lack last year is depth in their fast-bowling. They relied on Ellis a lot and Rabada did not really fire as well. I think they will go for Josh Hazlewood. He will be really good up there in Mohali as well,” Hogg added.
The IPL auction will be held in Dubai on 19th December.
