Big spend at IPL auction

A sum of Rs 145.30 crores was spent on 57 players, out of which 22 were from overseas, at the high profile auction for the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League held in Chennai on Thursday.

Over the years, the IPL has been touted as recession proof. Yet, for the auction to take place bang in the middle of a high profile series between India and England was very interesting.

The day undoubtedly belonged Chris Morrison, the 33-year-old South African, who was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 16.25 crores. Just behind him in second place was Kyle Jamieson of New Zealand who was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 15 crores.

Indeed, the surprise of the day was Glen Maxwell, the Aussie who flopped in the last season, also going to RCB at Rs 14.25 crores. Social media was awash with comments on Maxwell as he had a below par IPL last year in the UAE. As has been the case many times in the past, players are picked up at whopping prices.

Kings XI Punjab, rechristened as Punjab Kings, bought Jhye Richardson, 24, at Rs 14 crores. The Aussies have become super-hits at the IPL over the years, with even coaches and support staff raking in the moolah.

The big newsmaker of the day was uncapped K.Gowtham going to Chennai Super Kings at Rs 9.25 crores.

In all, there were several eyebrow-raising sales at the auction. What was good for all the fans who have followed the recent exploits of India’s Test stars was Cheteshwar Pujara getting picked by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 50 lakhs. That Pujara is a Test master-batsmanis well known but if the CSK think-tank led by MS Dhoni perceives a role for him, it is good.

Sacked Rajasthan Royals captain Steve Smith was picked up by Delhi Capitals for Rs 2.2 crores. The Delhi- based franchise picked up Tom Curran at Rs 5.25 crore. The Delhi Capitals also acquired four domestic players – Lukman Meriwala, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod and Manimaran Siddharth at their base price of Rs 20 lakh. For the record, Delhi Capitals lost the IPL final last year.

Speaking on his team’s major buy, Steve Smith, co-owner Parth Jindal said that going for the Australian was part of their plans, “It was just incredible to get Steve Smith. We are shocked about how he went only for Rs 2.2 crore, but to get a player of the calibre of Steve Smith, it’s going to add a lot to our squad, a lot to our balance. His leadership, his batting, his experience, everything. Everyone associated with Delhi is just thrilled,” he said.

Umesh Yadav, who started his IPL career with the Delhi franchise, was bought by the Capitals at the auction for his base price of Rs 1 crore. The 33-year-old has taken 119 wickets in 121 matches in his IPL career.

Meanwhile, untested Arjun Tendulkar, was picked up by Mumbai Indians at Rs 20 lakhs. The left-arm pacer is yet to prove himself in first class cricket.