IPL 2019: One expensive signing from each team who might not be included in the playing XI

The IPL auction at Jaipur was full of surprises. A total of 60 players were picked by the franchises for the 2019 campaign. Chennai Super Kings were pretty quiet throughout the auction as they made only a couple of signings.

On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore were the busiest of teams at the auction.

Jaydev Unadkat got the highest bid among domestic players alongside uncapped Tamil Nadu spinner Varun Chakravarthy. It was an eventful evening as some of the little-known Indian teenagers grabbed a lot of attention.

Youngsters like Prabh Simran Singh, Prayas Ray Barman, and Shivan Dubey went for a lot of money. Though most of the players deserved their huge price tag, a few of them did not.

Also, some of the most prominent international players went unsold at the auction. Brendon McCullum, Luke Ronchi, Hashim Amla, Chris Woakes, and Corey Anderson did not receive a single bid.

Most expensive buys at the 2019 auction:

Jaydev Unadkat - INR 8.4 Crore

Varun Chakravarthy - INR 8.4 Crore

Sam Curran - INR 7.2 Crore

Colin Ingram - INR 6.4 Crore

Without much ado, let's take a look at the one expensive signing from each franchise who do not deserve a place in the playing XI.

Delhi Capitals: Colin Ingram

Glamorgan v Surrey - Vitality Blast

Colin Ingram became the second most expensive overseas player at the 2019 IPL auction. Ingram attracted a lot of attention from various franchises and Delhi Capitals dug in deep to sign the 33-year-old.

He has been phenomenal for Glamorgan over the years and extremely consistent. However, Delhi has an abundance of overseas talents with the likes of Chris Morris, Colin Munro, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, and Sandeep Lamichhane, and Ingram might have to wait for his opportunity in the tournament.

Rajasthan Royals: Varun Aaron

Royals paid INR 2.4 Crore for the injury-prone seamer in the 2019 IPL auction. He has played 10 games in a season only once and was hugely inconsistent. In his 42 IPL games, Varun Aaron has picked up only 38 wickets and went for almost 9 runs per over. Though he has found some form in the recent weeks, he is a risky buy for RR.

Kings XI Punjab: Prabhsimran Singh

Bairstow, England v India - 2nd ODI: Royal London One-Day Series

The 17-year old wicket-keeper batsman from Patiala was one of the biggest surprises at the 2019 IPL auction. He was bought by Kings XI Punjab for INR 4.8 Crore after an intense bidding war. For a player who has not played first-class or T20 cricket yet, this comes as a shocking surprise. However, chances of him making into the playing XI looks very slim at the moment.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Jonny Bairstow

Sunrisers Hyderabad remained a quiet franchise at the 2019 auction. They retained the core of their squad and made only three signings at the auction. They allowed Dhawan to leave but Warner is expected to return. Jonny Bairstow was Sunrisers' expensive buy at the auction. However, Bairstow might not find a place in the XI straightaway. Saha and Warner are expected to open the batting and the Englishman has to wait for his opportunity.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Akshdeep Nath

Akshdeep Nath has played six games in IPL so far

One of the biggest surprises of the 2019 auction, Akshdeep Nath was bought for a huge sum of INR 3.6 Crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Despite having a heavy batting lineup, Bangalore went in big for the 25-year-old. Though he is a good player, Akshdeep Nath is not an automatic choice for Kohli in the RCB's middle-order. He might get his opportunities late in the tournament.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Lockie Ferguson

Despite a star-studded batting lineup, Kolkata Knight Riders lacked a genuine seamer in IPL 2018 and that has brought their downfall. They have also released Starc and went into the auction with fast bowler as a priority buy. They signed the New Zealand seamer Lockie Ferguson for Rs 1.6 crore. However, the arrival of Carlos Brathwaite has cast doubts on his place in the XI.

Mumbai Indians: Barinder Sran

Barinder

Sran

will play for the three-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians had a quiet evening in Jaipur on Tuesday. They bought Lasith Malinga and Yuvraj at their base price. The only player they had to fight with other franchises was Barinder Sran. Mumbai Indians paid INR 3.4 Crore to sign Sran.

The 26-year-old has a mediocre record in IPL with just 18 wickets from 22 games at an economy rate of more than nine per over. Mumbai has good overseas seamers and Sran might have to contend with a place on the bench, at least for the initial few games of the season.

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings retained most of the players ahead of the 2019 auction and bought only two players on Tuesday. Mohit Sharma is expected to lead CSK's pace attack and will play a key role next season. Ruturaj Gaikwad has to do something extraordinary in the next few months to find a place in the XI.