The IPL 2022 mega-auction was held on Saturday and Sunday in Bangalore and gave some shocking moments for the franchises, fans, and even the players. Some of whom ended up becoming millionaires as their services were in demand by the teams.
With this being the last mega-auction for a few years now, teams made some unexpected, and fortuitous buys. Of the players which perhaps wasn’t expected and the rates at which they managed to get those.
Here we look at 5 ‘moneyball’ picks of the IPL 2022 mega auction:
Yash Dhull
Even before Yash Dhull took over India under-19 team to the under-19 World Cup title, scouts had been eyeing him as a bright future prospect. Hence, it was indeed a bit surprising that the Capitals managed to get him at a cheap price of 50 lakh after engaging in a small bidding war with Punjab Kings.
Dhull, 19, starred with that bat with a terrific century in the semi-final against Australia. A technically sound batsman, Dhull is likely to have a bright future in India colors and in the IPL.
Dewald Brevis
Dewald Brevis has got the nickname ‘Baby AB’ because of his beautiful stance and power hits akin to that of former South African captain AB de Villiers.
Brevis was the Player of the Tournament at the under-19 World Cup having smashed a record 506 runs in six games; Brevis can also bowl handy leg-spin. These characteristics charmed the Mumbai Indians who got the 18-year-old for a handsome amount of 3 crore. Brevis could become a mainstay in MI’s middle-order.
Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane had set his base price at 1 crore; while that seemed high for a Test specialist and Rahane had played just 2 matches last season for Delhi, KKR snapped him up at his base price with a single bid.
His form in Test cricket for India has been poor and inconsistent for a long while. However, the Knight Riders saw an experienced T20 opener in Rahane.
Robin Uthappa
CSK continued with their plan of buying back their former players – Robin Uthappa, who played a brilliant two brilliant knocks in the playoffs last year, was brought back by CSK. However, one may have felt that his base price of 2 crore was a touch high. Not for CSK though as the last season’s champions brought Uthappa for 2 crore.
The 35-year-old Uthappa smacked 63 off 44 against DC in the first playoffs and 31 off 15 against KKR in the final.
Noor Ahmad
Afghanistan have produced many great spinners. But while Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi went unsold, a young 17-year-old chinaman Noor Ahmad was bagged by Delhi Capitals for his base price of 30 lakh.
While Noor is yet to shoot through the ranks in international cricket, his name has slowly started making murmurs in the franchise circuit. In 34 matches, he has taken 34 wickets at an economy of 7.21.
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