New Delhi:
The 2019 Indian Premier League auctions will see 346 players go under the hammer. Out of the 346, 213 players will be uncapped with a low base price starting from Rs 20 lakhs. It is these uncapped players who have often proven to be major money-spinners in the IPL. Having a low base price, these players turn out to be great bargain buys and they can offer utility to the side. Some make it to the playing XI and put in consistent performances while others are paid a huge price but are often seem warming the benches. The upcoming auction, which will be held in Jaipur on December 18 and 19, is expected to throw up something similar. Ahead of the auction, here are some of the uncapped Indian players who raked in plenty of money in the auctions.
1.) KC Cariappa – 24 Karat charm
The IPL 2015 auctions were going smoothly. The name of KC Cariappa, whose base price was Rs 10 lakh, seemed to be just another addition in the auction list. However, what followed was simply spectacular. Kolkata Knight Riders had a fierce bidding war with Delhi Daredevils and after some minutes of mayhem, Cariappa was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping Rs 2.4 crore, which was 24 times his base price. Cariappa’s auction was the first notable instance of an unknown, uncapped Indian player breaking the bank in the IPL Auction.
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2.) Pawan Negi – Mind-blowing sum
The meaning of the Hindi word Pawan in English means wind. The IPL 2016 auction witnessed a windfall for Pawan Negi. With his base price at Rs 30 lakhs, Negi was touted to win big bucks thanks to his exploits for Chennai Super Kings in the Champions League T20 and in the IPL in 2014. However, the amount which Negi went for was simply mind-blowing. From Rs 30 lakhs, Negi was picked up by Delhi Daredevils (Now Delhi Capitals) for a whopping Rs 8.5 crore. He became the highest-sold Indian in the auction.
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3.) Nathu Singh – From rags to riches
Nathu Singh’s tennis ball exploits made him famous in gully cricket and slowly, he made his way to the U-19 set-up and put in some credible performances. During the 2016 auction, Nathu had a low base price but he went for Rs 3.2 crore to the Mumbai Indians. Nathu, whose father is a factory worker, said that he would now want to build a good house for his parents.
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4.) Murugan Ashwin – Same name works wonders
‘What is in a name’, asked William Shakespeare once. Plenty as the 2016 IPL auction proved. Ravichandran Ashwin, who has made a big impact for the Indian cricket team and for Tamil Nadu, was instrumental in the success of this youngster. After a great run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy of 2015/16, Murugan Ashwin came into the IPL auction with a base price of Rs 10 lakhs. After a huge bidding war, Rising Pune Supergiants secured him for Rs 4.5 crore, 45 times his base price. Analysts had said Ravichandran Ashwin, also picked in the same team, had a hand in getting Murugan a place in the side. The same name had worked.
5.) Krishnappa Gowtham – Twice the charm
In the 2017 IPL auction, Krishnappa Gowtham was picked for the Mumbai Indians side for Rs 2 crore but did not play a single game. In the next auction, he went one better, getting picked for Rs 6.2 crore after a bidding war between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals. The purchase worked wonders for Royals as the all-rounder played a key role in their run to the play-offs with both bat and ball.
