IPL 2021 Auction set a new standard for the mini-auctions. Usually, the star cricketers would not be available in such events, and hence, the spending will be less. However, in Chennai on 18th February, franchises were in a different mood. Money was spilt on cricketers who are unknown commodities, not in form and do not play international cricket consistently.
Amidst all this, there were few players who were sold at their base price. If no two teams aim for a single player, it means that the cricketer might not be part of the playing XI of the team which selects them. In this article, we present to you a well-balanced XI comprising cricketers who earned bids worth only their base price.
Openers: Vishnu Vinod (WK) (INR 0.2 cr) and Dawid Malan (INR 1.5 cr)
Kerala wicket-keeper Vishnu Vinod will play for Delhi Capitals next season. DC required a backup for Rishabh Pant, and Vishnu would fill those duties in IPL 2021. Getting Dawid Malan at his base price was a coup by PBKS. Surprisingly, no teams showed interest in the Englishman, although he is ICC’s No.1 T20 batsman at the moment.
Middle-Order: Cheteshwar Pujara (C) (INR 0.5 cr), Karun Nair (INR 0.5 cr) and Kedar Jadhav (INR 2 cr)
The middle-order comprises an Indian trio. Much to the appreciation of all the other franchises, CSK took home Pujara for just INR 0.5 cr. It might not be a surprise if this move can actually fire CSK to the playoffs. Karun Nair will be a backup in KKR’s batting unit. If Nitish Rana is out of form, Karun would be the automatic replacement. For SRH, Kedar Jadhav will be a good addition. He will add experience to the department where SRH always struggles.
All-Rounders: James Neesham (INR 0.5 cr) and Fabian Allen (INR 0.75 cr)
James Neesham and Fabian Allen will play for Mumbai and Punjab respectively in IPL 2020. Neesham has been average in recent months and him getting sold at the base price was understandable. However, Fabian Allen is red-hot form, and again, PBKS pulled off another coup by signing a top player at his base price.
Bowlers: Harbhajan Singh (INR 2 cr), Umesh Yadav (INR 1 cr), Mustafizur Rahman (INR 1 cr) and M Siddharth (INR 0.2 cr)
We have a really good bowling line-up in this XI. To start with, we have the experience of Harbhajan Singh and Umesh Yadav, who will lead this unit. While Bhajji will be a KKR player, Umesh will represent Delhi. Mustafizur went to Rajasthan for just INR 1 cr, which is also his base price. It was a smart buy by RR. M Siddharth, the hero of the SMAT 2021 final will ply his trade for DC in IPL 2020.
