IPL Auction 2019: Hits and Misses
Indian Premier League (IPL), from past ten years, has become an integral part of India's cricket calendar. Each year, the build-up to every new season tends to get underway from the IPL Auctions, which are slated months before the start of the tournament.
Even this year, when it is believed that the twelfth season will clash with the Lok Sabha elections in the country, the edition is assumed to begin early, even more, due to the World Cup which begins late May next year in 2019.
As a result, the auctions were held in December with no assurance over the hosts of IPL 2019. It was for the first time that the auctions moved from down South in India to the Pink city of Jaipur.
The development to the auctions saw frenzy among the fams with some big names at stake as the teams were geared up to fill in the loopholes in their line-ups.
The auction brought in a lot of surprises as franchises went about their business with smartness.
Some of the reputed names who are past their prime, saw no buyers, while the young crop of boys were the showstoppers at the latest IPL auctions.
It was intriguing as IPL auctions continue the trend to defy all the logic on that particular day. Some signings were astounding, while some saw jaw-dropping reactions.
Here's a look at such purchases which fall under the category of Hits and Misses at IPL auctions for 2019:
Hits:
#1 Varun Chakravarthy (INR 8.4 Crore to Kings XI Punjab)
The most recent spin sensation in Varun Chakravarthy saw cricket stories flooded with his latest signing with Kings XI Punjab for his maiden stint at IPL 2019.
The 27-year old, who is being widely appreciated for his skills as a spinner for his state team at Tamil Nadu, was bought for a whopping INR 8.4 Crore by the Punjab-based franchise. Varun, a leg-spinner by choice has as much as seven variations to boast about his skills.
He was always in the reckoning after his remarkable outing for Tamil Nadu in this year's Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he emerged as the highest wicket-taker(22) for his side.
But he hogged the limelight after his stint in the TNPL for Madurai Panthers in 2018 did a world of good to his popularity as a mystery spinner.
His performance was also acknowledged by the ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh after the veteran saw him at the CSK nets in IPL 2018.
Varun, who was priced at INR 20 lakhs in the auctions, bagged a contract 42-times his base price. It will be interesting to see how the youngster handles the limelight at IPL and forges his path for a call in the national team.