IPL: 5 players who defied their low auction price
If IPL is ever framed in a layout of a few words, it would be fitting to call it "a vague approximation of talent in terms of cheques". Vague because if IPL editions have seen players like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma performing at par with their monetary measure, there have been players too who were bought at hefty prices but disappointed their team-owners big time. Much less talked about instances are of players who were light on their owners' pockets but, rose above their price tags to capture the fancies of the IPL fraternity.
Despite being overshadowed at the outset by expensive players playing together with them these underdogs turned fortunes in their favor by adroit shows of their abilities. From being their team's highest wicket-taker to the tournament's leading run scorer these players managed to carve a space of their own.
Here's a look at five such players who defied expectations and put their stamp on the league in different editions
#5 Jaydev Unadkat
Unadkat has been a part of the IPL since its third edition. But no significant good did ever happen to him before the 10th edition of the IPL. Although he did show some signs of improvement in 2014 as a part of the RCB setup, his next IPL outing with the Delhi Daredevils posed questions again. As a result, the subsequent auctions saw his price dropping to as low as ₹30 lakhs in 2017.
He made things better for himself in 2017. Playing as the strike-bowler for the Rising Pune Supergiants he took 24 wickets in just 12 matches, and that too with a meager economy of 7.02. Surely this was worth more than ₹30 lakhs. Although his team didn't fare well in the league Unadkat reaped huge benefits afterward, the most significant being a call-up to the Indian team.