IPL auction made a lot of news with groundbreaking bids for the Australian pace-duo Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Coming into the auction with limited resources, the franchise representatives came with a limited purse, seeking the best available options for their team as per their wishlist.
While Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player, going to Kolkata Knight Riders, Pat Cummins went to Sunrisers Hyderabad, who desperately wanted a fast bowler and a captain.
Rachin Ravindran – Chennai Super Kings Rs 1.8 crore
Who doesn’t know Rachin Ravindran? The young lad with curly hair, playing exemplary cricketing shots. The batting-allrounder from New Zealand has grabbed the attention for all the good things: his batting, bowling and fielding. He had a successful World Cup debut campaign in India, scoring 578 runs (the most for any World Cup debutant). He also took 5 wickets. He is a great prospect, and honestly a steal for CSK.
Wanindu Hasaranga – SRH Rs 1.5 crore
The reliable leg-spinner and an impactful lower middle-order batsman, Hasaranga can bowl four overs, and strike the ball as well. He has 35 wickets in 26 IPL games, with the best figures of 5/18. In international cricket, he has an impressive record of 91 wickets in just 58 games, averaging 15.8. SRH would be happy with this addition to their squad.
Shardul Thakur – CSK Rs 4 crore
Lord Shardul is a key player in this format, and he has proved his utility on many occasions. Shardul has 89 wickets in 86 IPL games at an average of 28.76. He is coming back to play for CSK. His batting potential has not been tested often, but he can bat well. He is a good steal for CSK.
Gerald Coetzee – Mumbai Indians Rs 5 crore
A fresh face in Cricket, the South African tall pacer has already started leaving an impact with his pace and discipline. He was a last-minute replacement in the World Cup squad, and his impact will last longer. He was the highest wicket-taker for South Africa and impressed everyone. With the lowest amount in their purse, Mumbai Indians will be more than satisfied to bag him! It can be foreseen that Mumbai Indians will let him share the ball with Bumrah and use him well!
Lockie Ferguson – RCB Rs 2 crore
Lockie Ferguson went unsold in the first round of the auction. He was then taken by RCB who needed such a bowler of his statute. Lockie Ferguson has 37 wickets in his 38 IPL games. His international career is even better, with 44 wickets in 33 games. He has the calibre to be a match-winner for any team he plays for!
Mujeeb Ur Rehman – KKR Rs 2 crore
Mujeeb is a familiar name in T20 cricket. He is the second-spinner for Afghanistan and a brilliant off-spinner. His international record shows 56 wickets in 43 T20s that he has played. His economy is 6.28 in international cricket and 8.18 in IPL.
Chris Woakes – Punjab Kings Rs 4.2 crore
The experienced bowling all-rounder from England, Chris Woakes is a handy white ball cricketer who has 30 wickets in 21 IPL games, averaging 21.93. More of a longer format player, he has 149 test wickets in 48 games, including 5 five-wicket-hauls and 1 ten-wicket-haul. He will play for the Punjab Kings this season.