IPL 2024 Auction: From Jofra Archer to Wanindu Hasaranga, top five surprising player releases

The deadline for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 player retentions and releases closed on Sunday (26 November), with less than a month to go for the IPL 2024 player auction.

Sunday provided the final opportunity for all 10 franchises to finalise their retentions and releases. While the likes of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni, Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant, RCB’s Glenn Maxwell and MI’s Suryakumar Yadav were retained, there were quite a few big names who were let go of by the franchises.

The IPL 2024 player auction is scheduled to take place in Dubai on 19 December. Let’s now take a look at five surprising player releases following the deadline of the IPL 2024 player retention and releases:

Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

An Achilles injury meant Josh Hazlewood missed a majority of the IPL 2023 season with Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Australia pacer’sv game time was thus limited to just three matches, wherein he took as many wickets.

However, ahead of the IPL 2024 player auction, Josh Hazlewood was released by RCB.

While his performances may not be the reason for Hazlewood’s release, the matter of fact is that Hazlewood and his wife are expecting a baby in March 2024. This would mean Hazlewood miss at least the first half of the IPL season, which is reportedly set to start in mid-March.

“Josh Hazlewood…very pleasingly, has a baby on the way, due in March. So Josh won’t be with us, certainly not for the first half of the season,” RCB head coach Andy Flower said.

Wanindu Hasaranga (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

After a three-year stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) between 2021 and 2023

After a three-year stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) between 2021 and 2023, Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga was released by the franchise on Sunday.

RCB had signed Hasaranga for Rs 10.75 crore in the IPL 2021 player auction, and since then, the legbreak bowler has gone onto take 35 wickets from 26 matches at an economy of 8.13.

His most successful season with RCB was in 2022, when he scalped 26 wickets from 16 matches.

Harry Brook (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

While for some, it may not be that surprising that Sunrisers Hyderabad let go of Harry Brook, his release by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 player auction might have raised a few eyebrows, given the batting potential he possess in him.

SRH finished rock-bottom of the points table and much of it has to do with how their middle-order batting lacked firepower. Brook had managed to score just 190 runs from 11 matches, including a solitary century against KKR.

Jofra Archer (Mumbai Indians)

It’s not everyday that a big name like Jofra Archer is released by a big team like Mumbai Indians in he IPL. However, while Archer was pipped to become MI’slead pacer along with Jasprit Bumrah, injuries and fitness issues have been a cause for concern.

Archer played just five games last season for MI, as a result, missed majority of IPL 2023 after sustaining an elbow injury during the season.

Jason Holder (Rajasthan Royals)

Despite playing eight matches in IPL 2023 for Rajasthan Royals, West Indian Jason Holder was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2024 auction after a below par season.

It might be surprising given the fact the experience Holder provides, especially in the RR setup which is known to groom youngsters.

In IPL 2023, Holder scored just 12 runs from eight matches while taking four wickets.