The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the world’s biggest T20 domestic league.

One of the first in terms of franchising the game, the tournament has only grown since its inception.

The IPL’s 12th season will be played from 29th March to 19th May 2019. ODI World Cup will follow this tournament. Additionally, India’s general elections mean that consensus is yet to be reached about the venue of the tournament.

» IPL Live Stream

Alongside India, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa are being considered to host this edition.

One of the highlights of the IPL is its auction system. Criticized by some for making sports-persons similar to commodities, it’s entertaining to see two or more franchises going head to head to acquire services of a player.

Go see Kieran Pollard’s bidding war from 2010 auction of Krunal Pandya’s bidding war from the last IPL auction to know what I mean.

IPL 2019’s auction was held on 18th December 2018 from Jaipur, India. A one-day affair, this mini auction saw 60 players, 40 Indians and 20 overseas, getting sold across 8 franchises. Among 20, only two Australians found suitors. However, the returning Steven Smith and David Warner will increase star-power of the tournament.

In this article, we take a look at the biggest gainers from the recent IPL auction.

Note that they are not listed for their acquiring fees. Aspects such as how unknown of an entity they are for IPL, comparison between their expected fee and actual fee (Thus Sam Curran, Jaydev Unadkat and Shimron Hetmyer are omitted as they were expected to be few of the highest earners in the auction), being capped or uncapped by their national side and how effective will they be for their franchise are considered.

1) Varun Chakaravarthy (Kings XI Punjab)
Nation: India

Role: Legbreak googly

Acquiring fee: Around 1.67 Million AUD

T20 career stats:

M: 10 Wickets: 9 Avg: 20.88 BBI: 3/16 ER: 4.70

IPL Stats: Yet to play

A mystery spinner, Varun raised numerous eyebrows emerging as the highest earner during the recent auction.

He started as a wicketkeeper, then became a medium pacer but failed to break into a higher setup. An injury came as a blessing as he started to bowl spin during his rehab program. Today, he has developed seven variations to bamboozle the opposition.

His first brush with the highest level batsmen came while bowling to Kolkata Knight Riders in nets during last IPL. He impressed all alike and fetched a contract with Tamil Nadu’s local Tamil Nadu premier league (TNPL). His returns were very impressive.

After going at under 5 in TNPL, he emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the group stages of India’s 50 over tournament Vijay Hajare Trophy.

Getting plaudits from Harbhajan Singh among many, Varun will like to form a lethal partnership with Ravi Ashwin and Mujeeb Rehman while playing for Kings XI Punjab in this IPL.

2) Prayas Ray Barman (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Nation: India

Role: Legbreak googly

Acquiring fee: Around 300,000$

T20 career stats: Yet to play

IPL stats: Yet to play

Like Varun Chakaravarthy, youngster Prayas Ray Barman has enjoyed a meteoric rise in cricket. At just 16, he is the youngest ever cricketer go under the gavel and get an IPL contract.

He is still an unknown entity in cricket but had a successful Vijay Hazare Trophy. Representing Bengal, he took 11 wickets in 9 matches at an economy rate of under 4.5.

Barman is a big Virat Kohli fan who always dreamed of clicking a selfie with the Indian captain. Now, he is excited to share a dressing room with Kohli himself.

It will be interesting to see if Barman gets to make to RCB’s playing XI this season. With Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar and Pawan Negi, the Bangalore franchise has one of the deepest pools of spinners. However, in this move for future, Barman is certain to emerge as a much better bowler by the end of IPL.

3) Prabhsimran Singh (Kings XI Punjab)
Nation: India

Role: Wicketkeeper batsman

Acquiring fee: Around 960,000$

T20 career stats: Yet to play

IPL stats: Yet to play

Punjab’s under-19 captain, Prabhsimran was one of the most expensive signings of this IPL auction. Still only 17, this wicketkeeper-batsman models himself on modern greats like Adam Gilchrist and Virender Sehwag.

Earlier this year, Prabhsimran scored 298in the semifinals of a state-level tournament. He followed that by emerging as the highest run scorer in India’s under-19 national level Cooch Behar trophy with over 500 runs.

Currently a part of India’s under-19 and under 23 setups, Prabhsimran should carry his fearless approach to the tournament. He will be the second choice wicketkeeper for KXIP behind West Indian Nicholas Pooran (as K L Rahul plays as a specialist batsman lately).

In a tournament where every franchise will juggle to play four foreigners amid a gruelling schedule, Prabhsimran may get a chance or few to shine in IPL 2019.

4) Shivam Dube (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Nation: India

Role: All-rounder

Acquiring fee: Around 1 Million$

T20 career stats:

M: 21 Runs: 402 (9 NO) Avg: 33.50 SR: 154.72 Wickets: 22 Bowl Avg: 19.81 ER: 9.78

IPL stats: Yet to play

A Mumbai all-rounder, Shivam Dube is one of the best performers of India’s ongoing domestic season. A flamboyant cricketer, he already has two different instances of five sixes in an over this season. He first achieved this during Mumbai T20 League against Pravin Tambe. Dube repeated this feat during a Ranji trophy match against Baroda just one day prior to the auction.

His stock was on an all time high going into the recent auction. Dube emerged as a millionaire on that day. In IPL 2019, he will represent Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore. (RCB) Typically classified as a top-heavy team, their middle-lower middle order has struggled to conjure enough runs in recent seasons.

Shivam Dube will like to strike a claim in RCB’s playing XI. It must be seen if he replicates the performances of fellow Mumbaikar Shreyas Iyer or the frustration of another Mumbaikar Sarfaraz Khan in the Indian Premier League.

5) Colin Ingram (Delhi Capitals)
Nation: South Africa (Kolpak)

Role: Batsman

Acquiring fee: Around 1.3 Million AUD

T20 career stats:

M: 203 Runs: 5187 Avg: 30.69 SR: 139.21 Highest Score: 114

IPL career stats:

M: 3 Runs: 21 Avg: 10.5 SR: 80.77 Highest Score: 13

One of the most elegant stroke-makers in T20 cricket, Colin Ingram has got his long due second IPL break, years after frustrating first stint.

Inching towards mid-30s, Ingram is performing consistently in nearly every domestic T20 league in the world. Inconsistency, while performing as well as with respect to batting positions, marred his South Africa career. It propelled him to sign a Kolpak deal with county side Glamorgan where his career revived.

Interestingly, Ingram’s first IPL stint also came at the Delhi based franchise, then Delhi Daredevils. His returns of just 21 runs at an average of under 11 meant that he wasn’t retained. After eight years, Colin Ingram will be back as a much-improved cricketer.

With Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant, Delhi Capitals have one of the best cores of Indian batsmen. Ingram, alongside them should be a very important addition in stabilizing Delhi’s batting line-up.

Currently captaining Adelaide Strikers in Travis Head’s absence, Ingram will want to wow cricket fans at IPL 2019.

6) Joe Denly (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Nation: England

Role: Batting all-rounder

Acquiring fee: Around 200,000 AUD

T20 career stats:

M: 192 Runs: 4864 Avg: 28.44 SR: 122.98 Wickets: 28 Bowl Avg: 18.25 ER: 7.72

IPL stats: Yet to play

The Englishman is one of the leading domestic T20 players in the world. Primarily a batsman who can bowl, his experience of 192 matches can be an asset for any team.

For the upcoming season, Denly will make his IPL debut. Signed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during this auction, he will compete with Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn and Carlos Braithwaite among others to fill the foreign quota in KKR’s playing XI.

He has enjoyed a career renaissance with a string of impressive performances since returning to Kent from Middlesex. Denly is back in England’s T20 national team after nearly a decade. He will certainly want to play consistently and consolidate his place in the national side.

Currently, Joe Denly is playing for Sydney Sixers at the Big Bash League. His all-around ability makes Denly a prized asset for the upcoming IPL season.

7) Ashton Turner (Rajasthan Royals)
Nation: Australia

Role: Allrounder

Acquiring fee: Around 100,000 AUD

T20 career stats:

M: 58 Runs: 754 Bat Avg: 20.37 SR: 143.34

Wickets: 28 Bowl Avg: 16 ER: 6.97

IPL stats: Yet to play

In the recent auction, Australian Ashton Turner was the only Australian alongside Moises Henriques to be signed for IPL 2019.

A middle-order batsman who bowls a handy off-spin, Turner made his international T20 debut against Sri Lanka in 2017. He enjoyed decent returns but failed to consolidate his position in the national side.

Ashton Turner has been ever present in the Big Bash League for Perth Scorchers. Yet to play the IPL, a stint at Rajasthan Royals is represents a possibility of playing under the coaching of legendary Shane Warne.

With Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Steven Smith heading to respective national duties during the IPL and Jofra Archer possibly following them, Turner is certain to get some game time during the upcoming season of the tournament.

8) Harry Gurney (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Nation: England

Role: Fast bowler

Acquiring fee: Around 150,000 AUD

T20 career stats:

M: 114 Wickets: 134 Bowl Avg: 22.89 ER: 7.77 BBI: 4/17

IPL stats: Yet to play

Currently 32, Harry Gurney has emerged as one of the most impressive pacemen in English domestic cricket in recent years.

In 2014 under Peter Moores, Gurney got his England debut. After playing 10 ODIs and 2 T20s to modest success, Gurney’s English career looked over. However, his smart bowling and variations make him a dangerous T20 bowler. Gurney recently played a T10 tournament at Sharjah. He will soon join Melbourne Renegades replacing Pakistan’s Usman Khan Shinwari for the second half of the Big Bash League.

This left-arm pacer’s speciality is his knack of getting top order wickets. With taking at least a wicket per match conceding around 31 runs in his 4 overs, Gurney is a good addition to an already solid Kolkata Knight Riders side.

It will be interesting to see how many matches will Gurney feature in. He will compete against Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Carlos Brathwaite and Joe Denly among others to fill the foreign quota in KKR’s playing XI.

Sports opinion delivered daily 

   

9) Sherfane Rutherford (Delhi Capitals)
Nation: West Indies

Role: Batsman

Acquiring fee: Around 400,000 AUD

T20 career stats:

M: 16 Runs: 401 Avg: 33.52 SR: 157.71 HS: 134*

IPL stats: Yet to play

This 20-year-old is another off the long conveyor belt of top-class West Indian limited over cricketers. He debuted in Caribbean Premier League 2018 and produced quickfire starts for Guyana Amazon Warriors. However, it was at this year’s Global T20 Canada where he made a statement.

His unbeaten 134 for West Indies B against Vancouver Knights was the only century of the tournament.

He also starred in recently concluded T10 league where he scored 195 runs in 8 innings. Impressively, in six out of those innings, his strike rate was 200.

Sherfane is a pinch hitter with age on his side. He can be an ideal long-term replacement for Chris Gayle if he continues to progress.
This IPL, he may not get many opportunities in Delhi’s nearly settled playing XI. However, Indians fans should expect fireworks if and when he plays.

10) Akshdeep Nath (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Nation: India

Role: Batsman

Acquiring fee: Around 720,000 AUD

T20 career stats:

M: 51 Runs: 774 Avg: 23.45 SR: 122.66 HS: 80

IPL stats:

M: 6 Runs: 29 Avg: 5.8 SR: 70.73 HS: 12

One of the stars of India’s 2012 under-19 world cup winning team, Akshdeep Nath has enjoyed a good string of performances in Indian domestic cricket as the Uttar Pradesh captain.

However, he has failed in the Indian Premier League so far. Nath has played for two IPL clubs (Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab so far) to unimpressive results. For a player with a first class average of over 46, his IPL career of under 6 after six matches is frustrating.

However, Nath is blessed with a sound technique and good temperament.

During 2016 auction, Gujarat Lions bought him for 20000$. After staying at the now defunct franchise for two seasons, he was acquired by Kings XI Punjab during last IPL auction for 200,000 AUD. However, it was during the recent IPL auction which drew the most eyebrows.

Nath was subject to an aggressive bidding war between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Superkings. In fact, Chennai Superkings were ready to go all-in to get him only for the Bangalore franchise to outbid them.

Currently 25, this will be a high time for Nath to kickstart his IPL career. He will want to make the most at the Virat Kohli-led side.