Going once, going twice and sold to the fat man hoping to get some action by lifting up a stick with a number on it. The auction. This sale of human personnel is considered illegal in some nations. However, during the IPL, cricket players exhibit neediness hoping to play for the highest bidder. More often than not, the most flashy and 'in your face' kind of non-performer gets paid more than the silent run accumulator or wicket taker. For eg - Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan etc.
On the 3rd of February, a leash of players will be put under the hammer. Corporate honchos and Bollywood actors sitting at tables with their statisticians, MBAs and cricket analysts, guzzling cognitive ability reducing beverages will bid for that one man. That one man, who will pretend to be Sylvester Stallone from Rambo and win IPL 6 all by himself might just cost as much as Sly made from the movie. So that money isn't flushed down the toilet, we have come up with a cheat sheet for the auctions.
After taking into account the players overall performance in T20s and his base price, we have arrived at a number which we believe should be the maximum amount a particular player should get. Paying beyond that would just be a waste of green.
Batsmen
Most of the teams should be pretty happy with their slaves in this department. With mostly flat wickets being doled out, the batsmen shouldn't have too much trouble. Kings XI Punjab could do with an Indian batsman; someone who would give them that much needed consistency. Pune Warriors India is another team that shouldn't shy away from investing a little in the bat wielding bludgeoners. They could do with 2-3 good hitters. Mumbai Indians need to find a good opener. To be specific, an opener who can last more than 2 overs and score runs quickly, while Sachin bats through the innings.
| Players |
Base Price (in US $) |
Maximum Buy Price (in US $) |
| P Hughes |
1,00,000 |
21,77,327 |
| A Finch |
2,00,000 |
19,13,173 |
| M Guptill |
1,00,000 |
18,63,606 |
| J Ryder |
1,00,000 |
18,48,603 |
| J Burns |
50,000 |
17,48,667 |
| R Levi |
50,000 |
17,47,911 |
| T Samaraweera |
1,00,000 |
17,41,818 |
| Darren Bravo |
1,00,000 |
17,04,483 |
| G Smith |
1,00,000* |
16,87,155 |
| L Pomersbach |
50,000 |
16,74,381 |
| D Munaweera |
20,000 |
16,71,791 |
| D Harris |
50,000 |
16,50,766 |
| A Voges |
1,00,000 |
16,38,517 |
| W Jaffer |
50,000 |
16,18,836 |
| G Bailey |
1,00,000* |
15,85,405 |
| H Gibbs |
2,00,000 |
15,36,047 |
| B Rohrer |
50,000 |
15,32,024 |
| U Tharanga |
1,00,000 |
15,22,089 |
| T Paranavitana |
50,000 |
15,20,670 |
| Tamim Iqbal |
1,00,000 |
15,18,470 |
| Asad Pathan |
1,00,000* |
15,05,943 |
| H Davids |
20,000 |
14,90,289 |
| R Ponting |
4,00,000 |
14,77,879 |
| N Maddinson |
1,00,000 |
14,40,171 |
| R Rossouw |
20,000 |
14,36,338 |
| C Kapugedera |
20,000 |
14,35,131 |
| J Mubarak |
20,000 |
13,44,246 |
| Sunny Sohal |
1,00,000* |
13,21,110 |
| V Rao |
1,00,000* |
13,09,278 |
| T Srivastava |
1,00,000* |
13,02,508 |
| C Ferguson |
1,00,000 |
11,91,151 |
| K Powell |
50,000 |
11,85,077 |
| L Thirimanne |
20,000 |
11,44,692 |
| Faiz Fazal |
1,00,000* |
11,13,983 |
| M Clarke |
4,00,000 |
10,58,756 |
| A Mukund |
1,00,000* |
10,02,206 |
| P Dogra |
1,00,000* |
9,89,947 |
| I Jaggi |
1,00,000* |
9,36,429 |
| R Powell |
50,000 |
6,87,177 |
* Base Price not available, so assumed as 1,00,000 US $.
All-rounders
Releasing Johan Botha can be termed as a gaffe on Rajasthan Royals' part. He provided them with balance and what they seem to lack right now is a spin bowling all rounder. Deccan Chargers, now SunRisers, is another team that could do with an all rounder. Well, what they really could use is a player who personifies their tag line and 'Rises to every challenge.' A little luck couldn't harm their chances either. If at all RCB need anything, it would be an Indian all-rounder. From the available, Abhishek Nayar who has had a good domestic season would be the safest bet.
| Players |
Base Price (in US $) |
Maximum Buy Price (in US $) |
| C Morris |
20,000 |
15,77,514 |
| A Gray |
20,000 |
13,82,629 |
| D Wiese |
20,000 |
13,37,083 |
| D Pretorius |
20,000 |
13,08,790 |
| S van Zyl |
20,000 |
17,48,667 |
| Steve Smith |
1,00,000* |
12,40,204 |
| J Coetzee |
20,000 |
12,34,221 |
| D Sammy |
1,00,000 |
11,79,008 |
| S Prasanna |
20,000 |
11,58,735 |
| S Styris |
1,00,000 |
11,40,581 |
| N McCullum |
1,00,000 |
11,37,718 |
| R Bopara |
1,00,000 |
11,17,575 |
| S Senanayake |
50,000 |
11,04,362 |
| T Perera |
50,000 |
11,01,302 |
| J Ryder |
1,00,000 |
10,85,206 |
| D Christian |
1,00,000 |
10,77,411 |
| K O'Brien |
50,000 |
10,66,975 |
| D Perera |
50,000 |
10,33,997 |
| G Maxwell |
2,00,000 |
10,33,799 |
| J Hopes |
1,00,000 |
10,30,430 |
| J Mendis |
50,000 |
10,23,062 |
| F Maharoof |
50,000 |
10,21,227 |
| J Botha |
3,00,000 |
10,08,053 |
| M Henriques |
1,00,000 |
9,50,962 |
| J Faulkner |
1,00,000 |
9,18,501 |
| A Nayar |
1,00,000 |
9,14,992 |
| D Hyatt |
20,000 |
8,25,077 |
| J Hastings |
2,00,000 |
7,70,972 |
* Base Price not available, so assumed as 1,00,000 US $.
Bowlers
There aren't many requirements for bowlers. Their plight is understood by no one. SunRisers and King's XI Punjab should be bidding for quality spin bowlers. Among the quick men, none seem to be needed. CSK could perhaps go for an Indian quickie to support their foreign contingent.
| Players |
Base Price (in US $) |
Maximum Buy Price (in US $) |
| S Eranga |
20,000 |
11,30,739 |
| A Dananjaya |
20,000 |
11,24,577 |
| A Mendis |
50,000 |
10,48,843 |
| R Herath |
1,00,000 |
9,66,557 |
| D Bishoo |
50,000 |
9,53,714 |
| J Unadkat |
1,00,000 |
8,95,271 |
| J Taylor |
50,000 |
8,43,146 |
| R Rampaul |
50,000 |
8,39,715 |
| D Fernando |
1,00,000 |
8,30,422 |
| C Boyce |
20,000 |
8,18,889 |
| A Birch |
20,000 |
8,07,276 |
| T Best |
50,000 |
7,98,298 |
| P Harris |
20,000 |
7,77,250 |
| D Nannes |
2,00,000 |
7,66,781 |
| Yo Mahesh |
1,00,000* |
7,54,515 |
| A Mcdermott |
50,000 |
7,42,636 |
| A Dole |
1,00,000* |
7,37,000 |
| S Randiv |
50,000 |
7,12,815 |
| A Phangiso |
20,000 |
7,09,141 |
| K Richardson |
1,00,000 |
7,04,000 |
| J Hazelwood |
1,00,000 |
6,95,693 |
| C McKay |
20,000 |
6,88,440 |
| F Edwards |
1,00,000 |
6,78,258 |
| B Cutting |
1,00,000 |
6,70,544 |
| D Bollinger |
2,00,000 |
6,70,544 |
| RP Singh |
1,00,000 |
6,65,677 |
| Kamran Khan |
1,00,000* |
6,60,352 |
| M Gony |
2,00,000 |
6,57,983 |
| B Laughlin |
20,000 |
6,51,749 |
| N Pradeep |
20,000 |
6,45,379 |
| L Tsotsobe |
20,000 |
6,39,628 |
| J Sharma |
1,00,000* |
6,32,037 |
| S O'Keefe |
1,00,000 |
6,06,718 |
| N Coulter-Nile |
1,00,000 |
5,96,416 |
| M Panesar |
1,00,000* |
5,88,130 |
| R McLaren |
50,000 |
5,64,210 |
| R Kleinveldt |
50,000 |
5,60,761 |
| S Tyagi |
1,00,000 |
5,54,918 |
| V Philander |
1,00,000 |
5,45,745 |
| D Prasad |
50,000 |
4,97,853 |
| P Singh |
50,000 |
4,25,156 |
| R Powar |
1,00,000 |
4,11,280 |
| V Permaul |
20,000 |
4,10,667 |
| T Copeland |
50,000 |
# |
* Base Price not available, so assumed as 1,00,000 US $.
# Maximum Buy Price can not be calculated as T Copeland has not taken any wickets and played only two T20 matches.
Wicket-keepers
Half of the teams could use a back up keeper. It is unlikely they will be used, but better to have and not need than to need and not have. PWI and RCB would certainly benefit.
Here are the options and their maximum value according to us.
| Players |
Base Price (in US $) |
Maximum Buy Price (in US $) |
| D Vilas |
20,000 |
18,80,221 |
| Q de Kock |
20,000 |
18,24,141 |
| M Prior |
2,00,000 |
16,93,998 |
| D Yagnik |
1,00,000* |
15,46,930 |
| D Chandimal |
1,00,000 |
15,38,751 |
| D Jacobs |
1,00,000* |
14,24,164 |
| P Bisht |
1,00,000* |
13,55,455 |
| K Silva |
20,000 |
13,28,321 |
| M Wade |
2,00,000 |
12,24,655 |
| D Ramdin |
50,000 |
11,27,447 |
| Pinal Shah |
1,00,000* |
10,82,488 |
| KJ Perera |
20,000 |
10,01,764 |
| P Jayawardene |
50,000 |
8,77,459 |
* Base Price not available, so assumed as 1,00,000 US $.
Of course, these players can only be bought if the team has enough money. And going by the locker power, Rajasthan Royals tops the list with 8.2million USD remaining. If they wish to re-earn the trophy, they better buy sensibly. Although Dravid is no longer their captain, buying him a drink or two at the auctions wouldn't be totally unnecessary. KXIP is the perennial high on hype and low on performance team. With Ms. Zinta on their side and 7.2 million USD in their bank-account, they must buy by being cerebral. The Sunrisers have 7 million USD to play with. The owners must buy some performers instead of mere stars. PWI still have some money in the bank. Let's hope they buy a match-winner.
It's always fun to watch an auction; one person trying to outbid the other in the hope that apart from massaging his ego, the buy will win him some matches. Come Feb 3rd , it's going once, going twice...
Stats by: Karna Yajnik