5 players who were lucky to get bids in IPL 2020 auction

Indian Premier League has become a breeding ground for the youth and international cricketers. It has so far played an essential role in the growth of the players as well as helped them in getting financially strong. It is a one-stop destination for every cricketer to hit the spotlight and grab some attention from across the globe. However, to get an IPL contract is not a cakewalk as the players have to work hard and give astonishing performances for years in other tournaments in order to attract the sight of the franchises.

This year also same happened in the IPL 2020 auction in which franchises splashed big amount on the players to grab their services for the upcoming season of the T20 tournament. There are several strategies involved with a big team that includes some of the intelligent cricketing minds in their management.

In IPL 2020 auction, a total of eight franchises spent 140 Cr and drafted their preferred players in their respective sides. On one hand, some players got poured with wishes for getting an IPL contract while on the other, there were quite a few players, who were expected by the majority of the fans that they might not get a buyer, but they got bids and were picked at a hefty price to play in the upcoming season Indian Premier League.

The players who were lucky to get bids in IPL 2020 auction are:

1. Piyush Chawla

Piyush Chawla, the veteran Indian leg-spinner was released earlier this year by Kolkata Knight Riders. So far, he had played for Kings XI Punjab for six seasons and in the next six, he played for KKR. He is also one of the most successful spinners in the history of IPL as he has grabbed a total of 150 wickets in the T20 tournament. However, in the last couple of seasons, he has certainly lost his rhythm and has failed to prove his worth.

In the last two seasons, he grabbed only 24 wickets in 18 games on the high economy of 8.36. And, KKR were not impressed with the veteran’s performances and released him at the end of the trade window. He is moving in the early ’30s, and it looked like Chawla might not get bids in the IPL 2020 auction but that was not the case.

CSK splashed a whopping fee of Rs 6.75 Cr to rope Piyush Chawla for the upcoming season of IPL. Moreover, in a surprising addition, he turned out to be the most expensive Indian cricketer in the recently held auction.

2. Nathan Coulter-nile

Nathan Coulter-nile, the fast bowler from Australia is quite a talented bowler but he has so far failed to establish his place in Indian Premier League. He played his last game back in 2017 and the chances of him getting a buyer were quite slim looking forward to his injury-prone IPL career as well as his high base price that was kept Rs 1 Cr.

However, as soon as the auctioneer took the name of the Aussie pacer, the franchises got indulged in the bidding war that was won by Mumbai Indians in the end, who splashed Rs 8 Cr to grab Coulter-nile’s services. It was a surprising decision taken by MI team management as they were having the opportunity to get some good and astonishing domestic talent. Also, the price tag at which they bought right-arm pacer never looked worth.

In overall IPL career, Coulter-nile has played 26 games in which he scalped 36 wickets at a good economy of 7.66 playing for different franchises like Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders.

3. Josh Hazelwood

Josh Hazelwood is one of the best bowlers in the longer format also got a buyer in the IPL 2020 auction. The tall bowler is known for his accuracy and swing bowling in Test format. But, he never tasted success in the shorter format for whichever team he has played so far in his career. The surprising fact about him is that he had played his last T20I game back in 2013 for his national side.

As far as auction trends are concerned, the chances for a player to get picked, who played his last game in the shorter format six years ago were slim. But, out of nowhere Chennai Super Kings lodged a bid and successfully roped him on his high base price of Rs 2 Cr. It was a surprising decision that was taken by CSKs’ think tank in the IPL 2020 auction. They had an option to buy some established T20 bowler but they preferred to pick the Aussie pacer.

It would be interesting to watch whether this move of buying Hazelwood will backfire or not in the IPL 2020. However, his stats are also not convincing in the shorter format as he has grabbed 8 wickets in seven games on high economy 9.60.

4. Pravin Tambe

The shorter format of cricket has played an important role in raising the standard of fitness of the players. Also, it plays an important role for a player in getting an IPL contract from the franchises. IPL is one of the most competitive T20 cricket leagues across the globe that makes it survival for the fittest. However, keeping all these things aside this time Kolkata Knight Riders bought Pravin Tambe, who is currently 48 years old.

It was a shocking and odd one out decision by KKR think tank as they bought a player, who played his last IPL game back in 2016 and is moving in the late ’40s. Currently, he is working as a sports teacher in DY Patil stadium and getting a contract worth Rs 20 Lakhs from the former IPL champions was a jackpot for Tambe.

In overall IPL career, Pravin Tambe has so far played 33 games and has grabbed 28 wickets at a good economy of 7.75. He has been part of several franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Gujarat Lions.

5. Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn is arguably one of the best fast bowlers that South Africa has ever produced in its cricketing history. But, the last couple of years have not gone up to the mark for the pacer, who sustained several injuries and was sidelined from international cricket for long. Last year, he replaced injured Nathan Coulter-nile and played for Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, he sustained an injury just after two games and was ruled out from the tournament.

Earlier, this year he was one of the 12 players that were released by RCB and there were speculations that Steyn might not get any buyer in IPL 2020 auction but that was not the case. In a surprising decision taken by the think tank of RCB, he was bought by the same franchise on his base price of Rs 2 Cr in the recently held players market.

The 36-year-old veteran Proteas pacer has so far taken 96 wickets in his 92 appearances at a brilliant economy of 6.76. Also, he has played for several franchises in IPL like Gujarat Lions, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.