It’s been just three months since the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League ended, but the teams are already gearing up for another fight at the upcoming auction. A total of 814 players from India and 283 overseas cricketers would be up for grabs at the 2021 IPL auction on February 18.

With this being a mini auction, only 61 players out of the 1097 can find a new team. Despite this, there is expected to be heavy bidding around some players who can turn the game around in a matter of overs.

Here are 5 players who could strike gold at the IPL auction:

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell was released by the Kings XI Punjab after a poor run in the last IPL season. But the Australian all-rounder seemed to have gotten back his groove and notched up stellar performances at the recently concluded Big Bash League.

The 33-year-old has played 82 matches in the IPL. He has scored 1515 at a strike rate of over 150.

The attacking batsman was one of the most expensive picks in the last IPL auction. He was picked by the Kings XI Punjab for Rs 10.75 crore.

Chris Morris

The South African all-rounder picked 11 wickets in the nine matches that he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2020. Chris Morris had an average of 6.63 and picked a wicket every 17 balls. He is also handy with the bat, and in the last season itself, scored at a strike rate of 160+.

It was surprising to see RCB let go of a all-rounder of Morris’ calibre. But one factor that may have gone against him is his price tag. In last year’s auction, RCB bought him for Rs 10 crore.

The 33-year-old is a handy bowler, both in the powerplays and the death overs. So when his name comes up on February 18, you can expect the paddles of several teams to go up.

Also read: Along with Harbhajan and Kedar, Maxwell, Smith in top bracket for IPL auction

S Sreesanth

Sreesanth returned to cricket after seven years by featuring in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 for Kerala. The pacer has set his base price at Rs 75 lakh.

The 37-year-old pacer was initially banned for life by BCCI for his role in the spot-fixing scandal in the 2013 IPL but the ban was reduced to seven years in August 2019.

Indian fast bowlers are always in demand at IPL auctions, and an experienced one like Sreesanth could strike big.

Shakib al Hasan

Former Bangladesh captain Shakib al Hasan will make a re-entry into competitive cricket after serving a year-long suspension by the ICC for not reporting corrupt approach.

In 2015, he was the no. 1 all-rounder in all three formats. He has a formidable record in the IPL. Shakib has scored 746 runs and picked 59 wickets in 63 matches. He was even instrumental in leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2014.

The hard-hitting left-arm batsman is likely to spark a bidding war.

Dawid Malan

Dawid Malan is currently the number one T20 batsman in the world. He scores at an average of 53.5 and a strike of nearly 150. The England top-order batsman, at a base price of Rs 1.5 crore, might make his debut in IPL this year.

His recent exploits in the Big Bash League, where he played for Hobart Hurricanes, is expected to add to his klout.

The IPL 2021 auction will begin at 3pm on February 18.