IPL 2019: Rashid Khan welcomes Martin Guptill to Sunrisers Hyderabad

Guptill featured twice in the auction and was eventually signed by the Sunrisers at his base price.

Published - 19 Dec 2018, 12:40 IST | Updated - 19 Dec 2018, 12:40 IST

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New Zealand star Martin Guptill’s performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a pretty much opposite of what he has done in T20 Internationals. One of the most accomplished and decorated batsmen in the T20Is, Guptill has looked like a pale shadow of his usual self in the cash-rich league. He is the leading run-getter in the shortest format of the game but has so far failed to showcase his immense talent in the IPL.

He has already played two seasons of the tournament but without much success with the bat. In 2016, he represented Mumbai Indians in three games and could score only 57. A year later, Kings XI Punjab signed him up with a hope to see him replicate his international heroics for them. However, Guptill disappointed again as he managed to score only 132 runs in seven games.

The poor shows eventually cost him an IPL deal in 2018. The Kiwi opener had kept his base price at a very reasonable Rs 75 lakh but failed to land any deal after his two poor seasons. Unfazed by the setback in the last auction, Guptill had set his base price at INR 1 crore. And fortunately this time, he found a suitor as Sunrisers Hyderabad secured his services. The winner of the 2016 edition signed the Kiwi star at his base price.

Rashid Khan welcomes Guptill

Soon after bagging the deal, Guptill took to Twitter to express his delight and excitement over his return to the league.

“Excited to be joining @SunRisers for this years iplt20 ! #orangearmy,” he wrote.

Excited to be joining @SunRisers for this years iplt20 ! #orangearmy #Repost @SunRisers with get_repost
・・・#OrangeArmy, put your hands together for the newest addition to our family,… https://t.co/DOuQyUm7gS
— Martin Guptill (@Martyguptill) December 18, 2018

He was soon welcomed by Sunrisers Hyderabad star Rashid Khan as the latter wrote: “Wellcome to Orange Army bro can’t wait to play again together 👍🏻👍🏻“

Wellcome to Orange Army bro can’t wait to play again together 👍🏻👍🏻
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) December 19, 2018

Guptill then posted a funny reply, making Rashid burst into laughter as he wrote: “Glad I only have to face you in the nets!! 😂👍🏻 looking forward to it mate!”