Krunal and Archer lead IPL windfall for uncapped players
bengaluru — Krunal Pandya today became the costliest uncapped buy in IPL history, going for a whopping Rs88 million to Mumbai Indians as rookie players, both Indian and overseas, turned overnight millionaires in the auction here.
From India’s U-19 World Cup stars to domestic and foreign recruits, uncapped players were the sought after lot of the eight teams.
Little-known Jofra Archer from the West Indies attracted a Rs72 million winning bid from Rajasthan Royals.
The 22-year-old all-rounder has had a decent stint for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash and plays first-class cricket for Sussex in England.
Krunal going to Mumbai Indians was expected but not the astronomical figure he went for, surpassing Pawan Negi who was bought by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 8.5 crore in the 2016 auction. Krunal’s base price was Rs4 million.
Mumbai Indians exercised the Right to Match for Krunal after a bidding war broke out between Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Krunal remaining at Mumbai Indians also means that he and his brother Hardik Pandya will turn out for the same IPL team again.
The third-highest bid was for Jharkhand wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan, who was sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs62 million, more than 15 times his base price of Rs4 million.
Australian left-hand batsman D’Arcy Short was rewarded for his batting exploits in the Big Bash with a Rs44 million pay packet from Rajasthan Royals. He is also quite useful as a chinaman.
The other uncapped Indian play- ers who secured hefty deals were Punjab pacer Siddarth Kaul (Rs38 million to SRH), Delhi pacer Navdeep Saini (Rs30 million to RCB), Delhi batsman Nitish Rana (Rs 34 milion to KKR), Baroda allrounder Deepak Hooda (Rs 36 million to SRH via RTM).
Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar (Rs32 million to DD), Maharashtra batsman Rahul Tripathi (Rs 34 million to RR), Mumbai batsman Surya Kumar Yadav (Rs32 million to MI), Haryana leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia (Rs3o million to DD), Uttar Pradesh pacer Ankit Rajpoot (Rs 30 million to KXIP) and Rajasthan left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed (Rs30 million to SRH) were the other rookie Indians to get good deals in the IPL.
The U-19 players who are currently playing the World Cup in New Zealand too were rewarded for their recent performances.
India U-19 captain Prithvi Shaw, who has made hundreds for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy, went to Delhi Daredevils for Rs12 million while opener Shubman Gill, who has played first-class cricket for Punjab, was lapped up by KKR for Rs18 million.
Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who has impressed many with his express leftarm pace in New Zealand, too went to KKR for Rs32 million from a base price of Rs2 million.
There were few others whose life is set to change. Delhi left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya, who was a waiter in Goa not long ago, was picked up by RCB for Rs8.5 million. Kerala fast bowler Basil Thampi was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs9.5 million.
Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal was richer by Rs10 million after winning the bid from Kings XI Punjab.
Punjab opener Manan Vohra, who was in sublime touch in the recently concluded domestic T20 event, got a Rs11 million deal from Royal Challengers Bangalore.