IPL 2018: 5 Big money signings who were worth every penny

Over the years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen cash being splashed vociferously, but only sometimes to good effect. So many players like Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik, and Pavan Negi have always been a hot property in the auction, but not on many occasions they did full justice to the amount they received from the club.

Since the inception of the League, a full-fledged auction has taken place on 4 occasions, in 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018. Whilst the initial one didn’t surprise many, the 2011 IPL Auction which was held during the World Cup, threw a lot of surprises. Some local Indian talents splurged big amounts and youngsters started seeing this league as a one-time opportunity to get settled in life.

The 2014 and 2018 auctions also managed to surprise a lot of people. Indian players Jaydev Unadkat, Krunal Pandya and also the youngster from Afghanistan, Rashid Khan, went for a hefty price. Only the commencement of the League will decide if all these players were worth the amount they’re set to receive, but some other players in the past did full value to their contracts. Here’s a list of all those cricketers.

1. Rohit Sharma (Rs. 9.2 Crore)

Hands down the finest auction buy in the last decade, Rohit Sharma has proven his worth with the bat and his captaincy. Rohit going for USD 2 Million (Rs. 9.2 Crore according to 2011 currency exchange rates) actually was a surprise for many. He was not included in the 2011 ICC World Cup squad and was in the worst form his career. Despite representing the country in over 75 limited overs fixtures, his performances were not at par.

The Mumbai Indians franchise nevertheless went after their local boy and splashed a huge amount. He repaid the faith shown by the owners and helped them clinch 3 IPL trophies as a captain, most by any player in the tournament’s history. He also is the third highest run scorer in the league’s history. Rohit Sharma was retained by the Mumbai Indians before the 2018 auction for a whopping Rs. 15 Crore.

2. Gautam Gambhir (Rs. 10.8 Crore)

Gautam Gambhir’s market value back in 2011 was incredibly high and Delhi Daredevils letting him go under the hammer was indeed a mistake. He went for a whopping USD 2.4 Million (Rs. 10.8 Crore according to 2011 currency exchange rates) for the Kolkata Knight Riders, a franchise who performed very poorly in their first three campaigns.

But each and every penny they paid for Gambhir was worth it considering how drastically KKR’s image has changed in the last 7-8 years. They’re two-time champions and one of the most followed clubs in the cricketing fraternity. Gambhir‘s ferocious leadership and impeccable renditions with the bat will be remembered for a long time to come. Interestingly, Gambhir is back with the Delhi Daredevils for the 2018 season.

3. Ben Stokes (Rs. 14.5 Crore)

Touted as one of the finest cricketers in the generation, Ben Stokes went for a mind-boggling Rs. 14 Crore in the 2017 auction for the Rising Pune Supergiant. There was a lot of pressure on him to live up to the expectation and the English all-rounder proved himself with a wonderful performance. Stokes was a pivotal cog in the RPS side who reached the final last year.

Stokes was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 2017 season, an award equivalent to that of the Player of the Tournament. Many even say RPS would’ve won the title given he was available for the knockout stages as well. He earned another massive contract after Rajasthan Royals splurged Rs. 12.5 Crore for him, making him the most expensive player at the auction for two consecutive seasons.

4. Yusuf Pathan (Rs. 9.5 Crore)

Not many kids currently realize the value of a powerful striker in the middle order, as there are many such players in the world right now. But Yusuf Pathan back in the initial seasons for the Rajasthan Royals was an absolute revelation and he eventually was a part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2011. It paid off in the 2011 auction as Kolkata Knight Riders went all-out for him and won his services for USD 2.1 Million (Rs. 9.5 Crore according to 2011 currency exchange rates).

Fast forward 7 years – The Kolkata franchise became one of the most followed franchises and two-time champions. His role in their title triumphs in 2012 and 2014 cannot be forgotten and despite him going a little off beat in the last two seasons, the KKR fans were palpably annoyed with him leaving the club. That clearly is a testament to the love and affection he received from his KKR fans.

5. Rashid Khan (Rs. 4 Crore)

One of the heartbeats of Afghan cricket, Rashid Khan is a name well-known to every cricket fan right now. But before the bidding war, he induced in the 2017 IPL Auction, not many were aware of the youngster’s talent. He went for a whopping Rs. 4 Crore for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He was just 18 years old at that point and no player from an associate nation managed to bag a contract of such high proportions previously.

Many believed it was a huge gamble taken by the SRH management, but the young leggie proved to be a game changer. He picked up 17 wickets in 14 matches at a fantastic economy rate of 6.62, which is mind-boggling even for a senior player. His exploits globalized in the last 12 months and are also the world number bowler in the ICC Rankings for T20Is. Hyderabad regained his services at the 2018 IPL auction for a staggering Rs. 9 Crore.