The Indian T20 League auctions have always been unpredictable. Thursday's auction in Kolkata was no different. From youngsters going for big money to prominent names going unsold, we saw everything.
As many as 338 players went into the auction and only 61 were sold, with all teams filling up their eight overseas spots. It was an Australia's evening. Thirteen Australians found a team, out of which three became millionaire. Pat Cummins became the most expensive overseas buy in Indian T20 League history, at INR 15.5 Cr. There were many other players who also made heads turn. In this article, we will look at some of the players whose signings could prove to be very fruitful in the upcoming INDIAN T20 LEAGUE season.
1. Alex Carey
How many players can open the innings or play as a finisher and play spin very well and keep wickets? Carey ticks all those boxes. Carey, whose base price was INR 50 lakh, went to Delhi for INR 2.4 crore and one can say it was a steal.
The left-handed batsman first gathered attention in 2018 when he scored his first Australia T20 League century. Following his stint in the tournament, the southpaw impressed the cricket pundits in the World Cup. Carey scored 375 runs from 10 matches at an average of 62.50.
Carey's flexible role makes him a hugely attractive option. Delhi has struggled with a proper finisher in the past and Carey’s finishing skills will be crucial for the franchise. The Australian is a brilliant wicket-keeper as well and can be a good backup for Rishabh Pant who has been a little Jittery behind the stumps.
2. Josh Philippe
Another great pick in the auction was Josh Philippe. The 22-year-old was bought by RCB for his base price at INR 20 lakh and this could turn out to be a masterstroke by Bangalore franchise. The youngster has earned high praise in the Australia T20 League.
He made a breakthrough in the previous season of the Australia T20 League with Perth and since then, he has gone strength to strength and made a strong start in this season as well. The youngster is an attacking batsman and a very good wicket-keeper as well. In a small ground like the M. Chinnaswamy, Philippe could be a fantastic addition to an already strong batting line-up.
3. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Yashasvi Jaiswal had already grabbed headlines with some stunning performances in the domestic circuit and his INDIAN T20 LEAGUE contract was pretty much expected. The 17-year-old, who once sold pani-puris for a living, was signed by Rajasthan for a hefty amount of 2.40 crore. In the presence of modern greats like Ben Stokes and Steve Smith, the Mumbai boy might be the next big thing in the INDIAN T20 LEAGUE.
Jaiswal recently stole the limelight with a double century in the 2019-20 domestic tournament. He became the youngest cricketer to achieve this feat. The young gun can be a great opener along with Jos Buttler.
4. Tom Banton
Tom Banton burst on to the scene after a fantastic T20 Blast with Somerset. The explosive batsman scored 549 runs at a strike of over 160. The English wicketkeeper-batsman was snapped by Kolkata at his base price of INR 1 crore. Banton, can be a handy replacement for Chris Lynn, who was released by Kolkata before the auction.
The English wicketkeeper-batsman can be a fiery opener and on pitches where the ball comes on to the bat, he could be as destructive as anyone else. His ability to go 360 much like AB de Villers has earned him high praise and the youngster could be a superstar in the INDIAN T20 LEAGUE.
5. Chris Green
T20 specialist, Chris Green, has been under the radar for a while now and his purchase at his base price was a bargain buy for Kolkata. Green, 26, has a lot of experience in T20 format and has played in many T20 tournaments.
He specialises in bowling in the Powerplay, and with an economy rate of 6.02 over the last two years, he is among the leading T20 spinners in this phase. He can be very effective on spin friendly Eden Garden pitch. With Sunil Narine's form pretty ordinary over the last two seasons, Green could be very handy for Kolkata.
