5 most expensive players released by franchises in IPL 2024

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 retention deadline has been closed. On the other hand, the trading window has been opened till December 12, a week before the auction. With all the teams retaining and releasing the players respectively. The auction is scheduled to take place in Dubai on December 19 and it will be the first time that the auction will be taking place outside the country. The franchises will strategize their game plan and pick the players that they have listed in the notebooks.  

Most of the releases and retentions were known before they were even confirmed by the respective franchises. The tactical battle will take place on December 19 in order to add the players they have listed. Ben Stokes has been released by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) he missed the previous edition of the IPL due to injury and was expected to be released. Hardik Pandya has been officially traded to Mumbai Indians (MI). 

Pandya's deal with MI was one of the biggest trades in the history of the IPL. The star all-rounder was part of the championship squad for MI in the year 2015, 2017,2019, 2020. He was then bought by Gujarat Titans (GT) and under his captaincy they won their maiden title in the year 2022. In the article, will be looking for the most expensive players released by franchises ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. 

Here are the 5 most expensive players released by franchises

5. Shardul Thakur 

Shardul Thakur was the obvious choice to be released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The franchise has released the most number of players, 12 of whom have been excluded leaving all their overseas fast bowlers. Thakur was traded from Delhi Capitals (DC) at an amount of INR 10.75 crore could not value his price tag besides his name. The bowling all-rounder scored 113 runs in 11 innings and managed only seven wickets with the ball at a poor economy of 10.78. 

4. Wanindu Hasaranga 

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has released Wanindu Hasaranga, adding INR 10.75 crore to their IPL purse. Hasaranga was a crucial spin bowler for RCB in IPL 2023, with nine wickets in eight games. His release surprised everyone because RCB really needed a decent spinner. Hasaranga had an outstanding IPL 2022, finishing as the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker with 26 wickets. He got to play eight games and took nine wickets and his economy rate was also high at 8.90 early this year. 

3. Harshal Patel

RCB paid 10.75 crore for Harshal Patel. Harshal has 111 IPL wickets with an economy of 8.59. His last season, however, was not ideal. He got 14 wickets in 13 matches with an economy of nearly 10 runs per over. He emerged as a surprise to the franchise after taking 32 wickets in the IPL 2021 and won the purple cap as well. This is the reason that he has been released by the franchise. 

2. Harry Brook

Harry Brook, came in with a big reputation in the IPL and he was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) with INR 13.25 crore. But he could not live up to the expectations. He struggled to score runs and scored 190 runs with an average of 21.11 and a strike rate of 123.38. Brook only scored one hundred against KKR and after that, he could not score past 30 runs. 

1. Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes is possibly the biggest name released from the IPL. He was bought at a price of INR 16.25 crore by CSK. Stokes missed the majority of the season with his knee injury and could not perform when he was given a chance. He won't be available for the IPL 2024 and will miss the tournament due to workload management. The English all-rounder also became the most expensive player to get released ahead of the IPL 2024 auction.