We didn't want to jump the gun on Chris Morris: Delhi Daredevils Manager, T.A. Sekhar
South Africa international Chris Morris was central to an uncanny bidding war, during the ongoing VIVO IPL auction today. In a surprising move, a player whose base price was set at Rs 50 lac, saw a furious bidding war ensue for his services before going for a whooping sum of Rs 7 crore.
Delhi Daredevils manager, T.A. Sekhar spoke about the choice of the Delhi Daredevils: "We have seen so many auctions, that we didn't want to jump the gun. I have been a part of eight auctions now and it was better to notice the team's upper limit and weigh our chances. We wanted Morris."
Chris Morris is a South African fast bowler who has only played four T20 International matches in his career. In the 8th IPL, Morris was bought by the Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.40 crores. He had made a decent career for himself. But even he would have been surprised at the bidding war which ensued for him.
Morris had set a base price of Rs 50 lacs for himself. The Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders were engaged in a game of one-upmanship in attempting to get him. Pune Supergiants were in the fray as well.
The bidding kept rising and he was almost sold for 6.5 lacs to the Kolkata Knight Riders before the Delhi Daredevils swooped in at the last moment and picked him up for Rs 7 crore.
The 28-year-old bowler has played 48 first-class matches in his career. He has taken 152 wickets while allowing 3868 runs in the same span. He had made his T20I debut back in 2012.
In his last T20I match, Morris played against India and took two wickets on 5 October, 2015.