Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
The IPL Auction came and went, and with it being a big talking point right now, it’s time to discuss which teams and players benefited the most.This article will highlight my winners and losers from the auction.
My winners will include teams who picked not only the biggest players, but also players who represent value for money and who I believe will have a great impact for their team. My losers will include players who surprisingly missed out, as well as teams who paid more than they should have for a certain player.
Winners:
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Rashid Khan (USD 1.37 million)
Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained the services of Rashid Khan, and this is a big win for them in the auction.
Rashid Khan has risen rapidly to become arguably the best T20 bowler in the world, and in subcontinent conditions, he will present an even tougher examination for batsmen. In the current Big Bash, following on from impressive stints overseas, including the IPL, Rashid Khan has been a sensation. In conditions that aren’t conducive to spin bowling, Rashid Khan is equal top of the wicket taking charts with 17 wickets in 10 matches at 13.00, with an economy rate of just 5.52. He has been an integral part of Adelaide Strikers’ run to the semi finals.
Sunrisers have picked up Rashid Khan, and is the eighth most expensive purchase in the auction. Looking at his ability and record, being eighth is quite low in my opinion, and represents an excellent value-for-money purchase for Sunrisers.
Kings XI Punjab – Chris Gayle (USD 312,000)
Who would have ever thought Chris Gayle would go without a bid in the first two rounds, only to be saved right at the end?
For me, Kings XI Punjab are big winners here, snapping up Gayle for his base price of just USD 312,000. This is a fantastic price for two reasons. First, Gayle is a proven match winner despite his disappointing IPL campaign last year – just look at his recent performances in the business end of the recent BPL. Second, if Gayle doesn’t fire, Kings XI won’t really feel the pinch as they didn’t break the bank for him.
For a player of his reputation and record, Kings XI Punjab have done the right thing and taken a chance at a pretty low price.
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| Can Chris Gayle have a big IPL? |
Nepal & Afghanistan Cricket
What a fantastic story to come out of the IPL Auction. The first ever Nepalese player will grace the IPL! Sandeep Lamichhane, the 17 year old legspinner, who has played close to home in the Sydney Grade Competition with Michael Clarke, was purchased by Delhi Daredevils for his base price of USD 31,000. He may not play a game, but the experience of working under the guidance of Ricky Ponting will be fantastic for him.
Also, this year, Afghanistan will have four players at the IPL, which would have been unthinkable two or three years ago. Sixteen year old Mujeeb Zadran and Zahir Khan (not Zaheer Khan) joined Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan, who were in the IPL last season. Onwards and upwards for Afghanistan cricket!
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Shakib Al Hasan (USD 312,963) and Mumbai Indians – Mustafizur Rahman (USD 341,131)
Sunrisers Hyderabad make this list again, with an excellent value-for-money purchase. Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, one of the top all-rounders in international cricket over the last decade is picked up at a reasonably cheap price. Shakib bowls economically with wicket taking potential, and can play either role with the bat – accumulator or big hitting.
Mumbai Indians are also winners with the signing of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman. Two years ago, Mustafizur was one of the hottest prospects in world cricket, mixing his bowling up between 140km/h thunderbolts and that magnificent slower ball cutter. His shoulder surgery in 2016 has put him back a little, but he bowled really well in the recent Tri-Series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Mustafizur promises to be a good signing for Mumbai because of his ability to keep the runs down and take wickets in subcontinent conditions.
Rajasthan Royals – D’Arcy Short (USD 626,897)
What a journey it’s been for D’Arcy Short. Told a few years ago that he was lazy and overweight, Short has transformed his career, and has been rewarded for his stellar BBL07 campaign.
In this season’s BBL, Short topped the run scoring list with 504 runs in 10 matches at an average of 56.00 and strike rate of 147.80. For Rajasthan, this is a good purchase as Short is a powerful player, who times the ball wonderfully, and can prove to be an excellent value-for-money purchase.
Rajasthan Royals – Jofra Archer (USD 1.13 million)
Rajasthan Royals also win with the purchase of Jofra Archer, who is a magnificent fast bowler.
With the ability to bowl 145km/h, as well as a beautiful slower ball, Archer is a superb pick up. He has wowed us all in the BBL with his bowling, as well as some extraordinary fielding, including one of most incredible return catches against the Brisbane Heat.
Australia’s big guns
Australia are struggling in limited overs cricket at the moment, but that has not stopped seeing their biggest stars earn lucrative contracts.
Six players went for over USD 1 million – Chris Lynn (USD 1.5 million), Mitchell Starc (USD 1.46 million), Glenn Maxwell (USD 1.41 million), Andrew Tye (USD 1.13 million), in addition to Steve Smith and David Warner (both USD 1.7 million). A few players also were very close to that mark – Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Finch (USD 970,000), and Patrick Cummins (USD 849,103)
Ben Stokes
And, of course, Ben Stokes, who went for a whopping USD 1.94 million, the highest in this season’s IPL.
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| Big pay day for Ben Stokes |
Losers
Rajasthan Royals – Jaydev Unadkat (USD 1.78 million)
Rajasthan were mentioned a couple of times in my winners list, but they also get a mention in this season’s losers list. They forked out nearly USD 2 million for Unadkat, making him the 2nd most expensive player in the auction after Ben Stokes.
I believe they have paid a lot more than Unadkat is worth. In 89 T20s, Unadkat has not set the world alight with either bat or ball (15.92 bat avg. with SR 127 and 20.83 bowl avg. with econ 7.43). In addition, he has played a total of just 12 internationals for India, with his last Test in 2010, ODI in 2013 and T20I recently v Sri Lanka in December.
It remains to be seen if he is truly worth the money…
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| I believe Rajasthan have overspent on Jaydev Unadkat |
Joe Root
If I were head of an IPL franchise, I would have picked Joe Root at his base price of just INR 1.5 crore…. Root is one of the finest batsmen in the world, and possesses the lowest dot ball percentage in ODIs in the middle overs (11-40) since 2015. He is consistent and would have been an excellent addition to any team.
Martin Guptill
Another big name player unsold at the auction. Martin Guptill only a few days ago became the second player to reach 2,000 T20I runs, and didn’t get sold in the auction…
Hashim Amla
The “Hash” perhaps isn’t the player he once was, but to see him go unsold was a surprise.
Rajasthan Royals – Ben Stokes
Rajasthan make the list again, and this might be quite controversial.
Despite Ben Stokes being a superb cricketer, I personally wouldn’t have bid for him. This is not about his cricketing ability, but rather for personal reasons considering everything that his happening with charges laid against him. Also, he hasn’t played top level cricket since the English summer, and I have to say, to have Ben Stokes as the most expensive player in the auction is a gamble by Rajasthan. We will see if it pays off…
Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga went unsold, and with Sri Lanka overlooking him for international duties, it looks like the end is near for one of T20’s finest bowlers.
It is sad that it has come to this.
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What do you think of this list? Have I missed anyone you think should be included?
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