The mega auction ahead of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) edition is just a few days away and some of the biggest names of world cricket are expected to have a big payday when 590 players will be up for sale in the two-day event in Bengaluru. While almost all franchises have retained at least one opening batsman, the skill which will be in high demand on February 12 and 13 would be pace bowling.

As the last few IPL seasons have suggested, the teams with a stupendous pace department have excelled whether it is Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals or Kolkata Knight Riders. With only the Capitals retaining an overseas pacer in Anrich Nortje, all the 10 teams will be after at least two, if not three, overseas pacemen to strengthen their bowling arsenal.

As the trends of the auctions in the last few years have suggested, some of these players could earn in excess of INR 12-14 crore. Here we take a look at five pacers, who could trigger bidding wars at the auction:

1) Kagiso Rabada

The Purple Cap winner of the 2020 season, Kagiso Rabada will be one of the names to watch out for in the mega auction. Being in the marquee set and coming from a sensational Test series against India, the South African speedster is set to earn big at the auction. 

Rabada may have not gotten the desired number of wickets in the 2021 edition, which worked against his favour as DC retained Nortje but the 26-year-old is surely on at least a few teams’ radar.

2) Lockie Ferguson

Lockie Ferguson didn’t get enough chances for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the last two seasons as the Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins started in the playing XI after the franchise splurged INR 15.5 crore on him but he made the ball talk when he was given a longer run.

Cummins didn’t play in the second half of the 2021 season and Ferguson with his pace and accuracy impressed one and all. He picked up 13 wickets in 8 matches and will be one of the big buys in the auction.

3) Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins, who has become the talk of the town since taking over as Australia’s Test captain, Is currently the World No.1 bowler in the longest format of the game. Cummins may not attract such huge bids as he did in 2020 but a couple of franchises will definitely go after the Aussie quick.

Along with overs in the powerplay, Cummins also provides a decent batting option at No. 7-8. And the runs by the lower order late in the innings have proved to be decisive in many games, in recent years.

4) Trent Boult

New Zealand left-arm pacer Trent Boult formed a fabulous bowling pair with Jasprit Bumrah at the Mumbai Indians after being traded from Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2020 season. In 29 games, Boult picked up 38 wickets playing for the five-time champions and was also the Player of the Final in 2020.

Boult, who is a reliable option at all stages of the innings, provides a left-arm option and could attract huge bids.

5) Mustafizur Rahman

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman after an indifferent season with the Mumbai Indians in 2018 didn’t feature in the IPL for the next two years. However, Rajasthan Royals showed faith in him in 2021 and he proved to be one of the few bright spots for the Men in Pink.

Rahman controlled the run-rate and on many occasions, he was the breakthrough man for skipper Sanju Samson. The resurgence in his form in the IPL could just be the shot in the arm for the pacer ahead of the mega auction.