What a day it has been in Chennai for all the eight franchises at the IPL 2021 auction. Every team looked satisfied at the end of the big day as their plans seemed to work right and they managed to secure the right players for the franchises for IPL 2021.
There were 61 slots to be filled at the most, and remarkably, 57 were filled. Every team has exhausted their overseas quota too, so there are 8 overseas players on each side. On the other hand, only Rajasthan Royals (24) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (22) have not hit the 25-player limit.
A couple of players attracted massive prices from the franchises. To put that in perspective the total spend by franchises was 145.3 crore. So almost 50% of the total spend was on 5 players who were expensive buys, the rest was on 52 players.
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Let us take a look at the expensive buys of the IPL 2021 auction that took place in Chennai:
5. Krishnappa Gowtham (CSK) – ₹9.25 crores
The all-rounder from Tamil Nadu was expected to attract severe bidding at the auction table and rightly the room was on fire when Krishnappa Gowtham’s name came out of the hat.
Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad started the bidding war and the price soon jumped over ₹5 crores. Chennai Super Kings, who has been a breeding ground for local players joined in late at ₹7.75 crores and walked away with the all-rounder at ₹9.25 crores.
The all-rounder becomes the most expensive capped player in the history of IPL. Krishnappa Gowtham is a valuable addition to the Chennai Super Kings setup, who joins as a replacement of Harbhajan Singh. Gowtham has a fair experience of playing in the IPL and playing under the exposure of MS Dhoni, Krishnappa Gowtham will look to shine and deliver the goods for the Yellow Army.
4. Jhye Richardson (PK) – ₹14 crores
The pacer from Australia – Jhye Richardson was one of the surprise picks of IPL 2021 auction. Many didn’t expect him to attract a bidding war but the Aussie quick fetched a mammoth ₹14 crores from Punjab Kings in Chennai.
It was a three-way race between Delhi, Bangalore, and Punjab at the auction room. Although the price racked up pretty fast Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta seemed determined to take him home and ultimately they had the last laugh.
The 24-year-old pacer has played for Perth Scorchers but it will be his first outing in the IPL. Richardson will rub shoulders with the likes of Mohammed Shami and Chris Jordan at Punjab Kings in the 14th edition of the IPL.
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Richardson has played 62 T20s and has picked up 78 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.87 and will be a perfect replacement for Sheldon Cottrell.
3. Glenn Maxwell (RCB) – ₹ 14.25 crores
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has a habit of making it big in the IPL auction and IPL 2021 auction was no different. Many analysts and former cricketers expected to be different this time around but the franchises had different things in mind.
Kolkata Knight Riders started the bidding race at ₹2 crores before Rajasthan Royals joined and induced a bidding war for the hard-hitting all-rounder from the land of Kangaroos. Royal Challengers Bangalore also joined the race at ₹3 crores. Chennai Super Kings also joined the fray at ₹4.6 crores in an attempt to secure a hard-hitting all-rounder.
It was a neck-to-neck fight between RCB and CSK as the price surges for Glenn Maxwell, who was expected to trigger a bidding war before RCB racked him up for ₹14.25 crores. A brilliant addition to the Royal Challengers, who will now join the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
Although Maxwell doesn’t have a great record in the last IPL, but a different atmosphere and dynamics at RCB might light up his game and the Aussie can help Bangalore end their trophy drought.
2. Kyle Jamieson (RCB) – ₹15 crores
Kyle Jamieson from New Zealand came at the auction at a base price of $75 lakhs. The tall and lanky all-rounder was expected to take away a big from IPL 2021 auction and he was on fire at the auction room.
RCB started the bid at the base price. Delhi Capitals joined next. An intense bidding war from both camps for Jamieson, who has impressed with his all-round show. Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir had predicted big buys for the Kiwi cricketer.
The price went up to ₹7.50 crores before Punjab Kings join the race late at ₹7.75 crores. They have been a late starter throughout the auction and made late surges.
It intensified and Jamieson’s bid went over Glenn Maxwell’s ₹14.25 crores and RCB had the last laugh snapping him for ₹15 crores. He will be interesting to watch considering his ability to contribute to all the departments. He can bowl at a pace of 140kph and can also play the long handle and can surely light up Royal Challengers Bangalore’s stint in IPL 2021.
1. Chris Morris (RR) – ₹16.25 crores
The all-rounder from South Africa never in his wildest dream even thought to attract such a whopping price at the IPL 2021 auction. After an intense bidding war, Rajasthan Royals snapped up Chris Morris for ₹16.25 crores – making him the expensive buy of VIVO IPL auction ever.
A couple of franchises – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings had shown interest in the all-rounder but it was Rajasthan, who had the last laugh. He will now join the likes of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer in the Royals lineup.
Meanwhile, Morris’s price attracted mixed reaction and former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir was really surprised to see Chris Morris going for such a huge price. The all-rounder has struggled with injuries in recent times and his last match was during IPL 2020.
It will be interesting to see if Chris Morris finds his rhythm back and manages to give Rajasthan the much desired IPL trophy for the second time.