Picture : Twitter.com /IPL
The IPl auction for 2019 season once again made heads turn . In a stunning buy , Unheralded architect-turned-cricketer Varun Chakravarthy was bought by Preity Zinta’s King XI Punjab at sensational price of Rs 8.4 crore. He had a base price of Rs 20 lakh but was much sought after as teams like – Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals went for him during the bid .
The Punjab side also bought promising England all- rounder Sam Curran, who impressed during India’s tour of England earlier this year. he was bought for Rs 7.2 crore.
A look at the Top Buys at the VIVO #IPLAuction 2019. pic.twitter.com/mFJgHyyVA1
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 18, 2018
Jaidev Unadkat was huge disappointment for the Rajasthan Royals when they bought him for Rs 11. 5 crore in 2018. he did not get the wickets as expected and went for plenty of runs and the Royals . Yet Unadkat was bought again by the Royals this time for Rs 8.4 crore. His performances were a let down but not his bank balance. The Royals lapped him up him after a bidding battle with KXI, CSK and Delhi Capitals
Chakravarthy has risen to prominence owing to a strong showing in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. He has been widely credited for Madurai Panthers maiden TNPL title win this year.
37 year-old Yuvraj Singh almost went unsold and was bought in the last minute by Mumbai Indians at his base price of Rs 1 Crore. In IPL 2014 auction Royal Challengers bought him for Rs 14 crore. Clearly a big fall for the flamboyant- all- rounder whose career seems to be nearing its end.
Spinner Axar Patel (Rs five crore), pacer Mohit Sharma (Rs five crore) and Mohammad Shami (Rs 4.8 crore) were the other names to fetch big bids.
Patel, who made his name at KXIP, was bought by Delhi Capitals after a bidding battle with the Punjab franchise.
Shami, who turned up for Delhi last season, was sold to KXIP while Mohit went back to Chennai Super Kings after a stint with KXIP.
Royal Challengers Bangalore paid Rs 4.2 crore for Hetmyer. Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals also bid for the stylish West Indian batsman, who had a base price of Rs 50 lakh.
His teammate Brathwaite, the star of 2016 World T20, was sold to KKR for Rs five crore after a bidding war between the Dinesh Karthik-led side and Kings XI Punjab.
The all-rounder had entered the auction with a base price of Rs 75.
Another West Indian to get an attractive deal was wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran. The 23-year-old, who came with a base price of Rs 75 lakh, went for Rs 4.20 crore to KXIP. He is a T20 find and is yet to play Test cricket.
Indian Test player Hanuma Vihari was sold to Delhi Capitals for Rs two crore, four times his base price.
Pacer Ishant Sharma, who had a base price of Rs 75 lakh, went to Delhi Capitals for Rs 1.1 crore while wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was bought back by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 1.2 crore.
