Steve Smith could go from golden duck to golden ticket in Indian Premier League auction

Steve Smith does not look like the player he once was but he could still make a shock return to the IPL to team up with an Australian cricketing great.

Steve Smith’s Test form may be under the microscope, but he could make a shock return to the IPL with rumours cashed-up coach Ricky Ponting is looking in his direction.

The IPL auction kicks off in Saudi Arabia of all places on Sunday night straight after play in the first Test finishes in Perth and Smith might be set to go from golden duck to golden ticket, albeit in an auction that is a complete lottery and impossible to predict.

Steve Smith can put his disappointing first innings performance somewhat behind when he re-enters the IPL auction. Picture: Saeed Khan / AFP

Many thought Smith would never make it back to the IPL again after four long years in the wilderness since he was last picked up.

But the 35-year-old has reinvented his T20 batting over the past 12-24 months and starred under Ponting’s tutelage for Washington Freedom in the Major-league Cricket tournament in the US earlier this year.

Ponting has the biggest purse to spend at the auction with his new team Punjab Kings and there is speculation Smith might be on his radar as a potential opener and captain.

Smith during his time with the Rajasthan Royals. Picture: Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ricky Ponting when as head coach of the Delhi Capitals. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Jake Fraser-McGurk was another Ponting pupil at his previous IPL club Delhi, and might be another target for Punjab provided Delhi don’t opt to match the money a rival franchise might offer.

Josh Inglis isn’t playing for Australia in this Test, but the squad member is also a massive chance of landing his first ever big IPL pay day.

Versatile to bat anywhere in the order and with wicketkeeping as another string to his bow, Inglis shapes as a smart pick especially with a T20 international century in India to his name.

Mitchell Starc is set for a multimillion-dollar pay cut after his $4 million bonanza last year, but he will almost certainly be a must-have pick after he justified his mega pay cheque and led Kolkata to the 2024 title.

Mitchell Starc could be set for a huge pay cut despite winning the IPL title with the Kolkata Knight Riders’ earlier this year. Picture: Punit Paranjpe / AFP

Josh Hazlewood skipped last year’s IPL for the birth of his first child but will be back in the market as another highly sought weapon.

Veteran Marcus Stoinis’ timing is good for another IPL pay day after his strong form for Australia in the T20 format.

Fellow Australian international Matt Short only has limited availability for this IPL due to his wedding to Olympian Madi Wilson clashing in the same window.

All eyes will be on IPL great Glenn Maxwell after he was let go by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but they could yet use their right to match mechanism to bring him back.

Cameron Green is not part of the auction as he continues to recover from back surgery, potentially bringing another Australian all-rounder like Aaron Hardie into the reckoning.

Originally published as Steve Smith could go from golden duck to golden ticket in Indian Premier League auction