The IPL 2023 has been an exciting tournament so far with plenty of players standing up and delivering for the franchises. While there is always big expectations from those purchased/retained at high price rates, those bought for cheaper rates have also made telling contributions in the IPL 2023.
Here are 3 players who were bought for less than 1 crore in the auction, but have performed well in IPL 2023:
Ajinkya Rahane – 50 lakh
After being on the bench for the first couple of games, Ajinkya Rahane took the tournament by fire with his blazing match-winning half-century against Mumbai Indians after coming in the side for the injured Ben Stokes. Rahane cracked 61 runs off only 27 balls taking CSK to an emphatic run-chase victory.
In the next two games, he continued with his new-found aggressive mode and scored 31 (19) vs Rajasthan Royals and 37 (20) vs RCB. Rahane’s runs have come at a belligerent strike rate of 195!
Rahane was bought as a backup batsman for INR 50 lakh in the Indian Premier League 2023 auction by CSK and so far, the veteran has done wonders with the bat.
Sikandar Raza – 50 lakh
Bought in as the backup all-rounder for the injured Liam Livingstone, Sikandar Raza became the first-ever Zimbabwean player to bag the Man of the Match award in the IPL for his effort of 57 runs off 41 balls against Lucknow Super Giants on a two-paced surfaced in the run-chase of 160.
Raza, bought for INR 50 lakh in the auction, has also snapped up a couple of wickets in the 3 innings he’s bowled in with his handy off-spin. Raza has filled for Livingstone very well.
Piyush Chawla – 50 lakh
The veteran IPL spinner Piyush Chawla is turning the clock back in the Indian Premier League 2023 with his canny leg-spin bowling performances. Chawla, who had managed only 7 wickets in 8 matches in the last three seasons, has now taken 7 wickets in 5 matches for the Mumbai Indians in Indian League 2023, and those have come at a brilliant economy of 7.15, and is in the top 10 wicket-takers in the tournament currently. He was bought by MI for his base price of INR 50 lakh in the auction.
