This IPL season will be a test of character for some players who have bagged record prices at the auction, many times the base price. It would be a tough task for them as expectations will be high to come good for the team.
Here are a few players who have to prove their auction price this season.
1) Glenn Maxwell - Kings XI Punjab – Rs 10.75 crore – base price Rs 2 crore
Maxwell played 4 seasons for Kings XI Punjab before poor form saw him being released from the squad. Delhi Capitals lapped him up in 2018 IPL, but he was released again. Delhi wanted to buy back Maxwell again for 2020 season, but saw KXIP making fierce bidding for him, and finally getting him for Rs 10.75 crore, more than 5 times the base price. KXIP has gambled on Maxwell again, hoping he will come good. Maxwell has tough expectations to live this season now, and match up his price.
2) Pat Cummins – KKR – Rs 15.5 crore – KKR – base price – Rs 2 crore
The Australian bowler bagged a contract worth 8 times his base price as KKR looked desperate to patch up their bowling woes. As a result, Cummins became the most expensive player in IPL auction.
But each and every ball he bowls in IPL would be closely monitored as each ball would be worth lakhs. Hence, he will come under immense scrutiny if he fails to fire. And hence, a lot of pressure would rest on Cummins to silent his detractors and prove he is worth Rs 15.5 crore.
3) Chris Morris – RCB – Rs 10 crore – base price Rs 1.5 crore
Morris, the all-rounder, was for long considered a bits and pieces player. But he has had a couple of good seasons with Delhi Capitals. And saw his stock rise, with RCB making a desperate bidding to get him. But again, it’s a gamble that RCB has taken. And RCB has been quite impatient with new recruits in the past, and a few ordinary performance can see Morris warming the benches. So, expectations will be high on Morris to come good.
4) Shimron Hetmyer – DC – Rs 7.75 crore – base price Rs 50 lakh
RCB released him despite Hetmyer finally coming good in the last match of 2019 IPL season. In 2020 IPL auction, he was bagged at 16 times his base price by Delhi Capitals on the past records of the West Indian who has flayed the Indian bowling attack in the limited-overs series against India.
This is a sound gamble as Hetmyer is young, aggressive, and extremely talented, but needed to be persisted with. But Delhi has a wealth of talent, and time may run out if Hetmyer does not prove himself early.
5) Piyush Chawla CSK – Rs 6.75 crore – base price Rs 1 crore
It was a surprise for one and all. Chawla was considered a done force, but CSK was involved in a bidding war to get him and shore up their spin slots. Dhoni has the knack of getting his best from spinners, so there is high chance Chawla will live up to the expectations, and match up his price. Otherwise, CSK has good backups in Imran Tahir, Karn Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja to fill up the spinners' spots.
Photo courtesy: IPLT20
