Some teams in IPL 2020 invested heavily in some players, with the hope that they will prove to be real assets to them, and help them win matches. But despite heavily investing in them, these players have proved to be major flops. And during the tournament, these players saw themselves benched for other better options. So, here is the look at some costly buys who have been big flops this season.
1) Sheldon Cottrell – KXIP
Base price - Rs 50 lakh
Final price - Rs 8.50 crore
KXIP had a bidding war to get West Indian Cottrell for Rs 8.5 crore. Cottrell did well initially, bagging 2/24 and 2/17 in the first two games. But in his third game against Rajasthan Royals, his bowling was torn apart by Rahul Tewatia who slammed 5 sixes in an over bowled by the West Indian. And since then, Cottrell lost his confidence, getting just 1 wicket in 3 matches. He has been warming the benches since then.
2) Nathan Coulter-Nile - MI
Base price - 1 crore
Final price – 8 crore
Mumbai spent Rs 8 crore for all-rounder Coulter-Nile but the abundance of foreign talent in the squad saw the Australian warm the benches initially. When he did get his chance, he could not make the best use of it, managing just 1 wicket, and scoring 24 runs in 4 games. His place has since been taken up by James Pattinson who has been doing well so far.
3) Jaydev Unadkat - RR
Base price – 1 crore
Final price – Rs 3 crore
Royals have played the 'hide and seek' game with Unadkat, buying him, releasing him, and rebuying him this IPL season for Rs 3 crore. But Unadkat has been an underachiever so far this season as well, managing 4 wickets in 7 games. He has not played since AB de Villiers smashed his bowling for 3 straight sixes in the penultimate over to all but handed over the match to the opposition.
4) Glenn Maxwell - KXIP
Base price – Rs 2 crore
Final price – Rs 10.75 crore
Bought at more than 5 times the base price, Maxwell failed to hit a six in IPL 2020. That's shocking from a batsman known for his six-hitting. And the weird thing is that Punjab has had continued to back the Australian, playing him in 13 matches. Maxwell had managed just 108 runs at an average of 15.42 with the highest of 32 in 13 games this season.
5) Aaron Finch - RCB
Base Price – Rs 1 crore
Final price – Rs 4.4 crore
Finch was expected to resolve RCB's opening woes. And initially, it looked like he and Devdutt Padikkal are finally making a winning opening combination. But Finch just couldn't sustain the momentum, and his run of low scores saw him losing his place in the side. Finch has managed 236 runs at an average of 21.45 with a strike rate of 111.84 in 11 games this season.
