5 surprises from the IPL 2016 player draft

The Indian Premier League Players draft recently concluded in Mumbai. Both Pune and Rajkot franchises spent Rs. 39 crore each out of their cap of Rs. 66 crore to pick up five players each from a list of 50. The remaining will be used by them to buy players during the main auction in February, competing with the other 6 teams.After the conclusion of the Vivo IPL draft here is the list of players picked up by the two franchises:Team Rajkot's picks - Suresh Raina (Ind), R Jadeja (Ind), Brendon McCullum (NZ), James Faulkner (Aus), Dwayne Bravo (WI).Team Pune's picks - MS Dhoni (Ind), Ajinkya Rahane (Ind), R Ashwin (Ind), Steve Smith (Aus), Faf du Plessis (SA). Many big names missed out on this draft and some eye-catching decisions have been made by the franchises as well. Here’s taking a look at 5 surprises from the IPL Players Draft.

#5 Raina joint most richest player, and leader of Rajkot\'s batting

Suresh Raina is the highest run scorer in IPL history

Indian ODI middle order batsman Suresh Raina became the joint richest player of the Vivo IPL draft, Rajkot team picks him for astonishing Rs. 12.5 crores. Indian ODI Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was also picked up by Pure for the same amount.

The talented left-hand batsman is the leading run-getter in the history of Indian Premier League. He also holds the record for playing the highest number of IPL matches.

In 132 matches Raina has scored 3699 runs with a batting average of 34.25 and a strike rate of 139.84. The part time right arm off spin bowler also added 24 wickets to his tally.

Judging by his recent form in the ODI series against South Africa, the 29-year-old looked to be struggling. But the Rajkot franchise showed faith in him and showed that they can trust him to be the batsman around whom the team will be formed.

#4 Indian domestic players have been ignored

Irfan Pathan is currently without an IPL team

Indian domestic players have been ignored by both the franchises in the VivoIPL draft.

Promising young players like Pawan Negi, Sanju Samson, Rahul Sharma, Karun Nair, Baba Aparajith, and Ishwar Chandra Pandey are still without an IPL team. Established veteran players like Mithun Manhas, Irfan Pathan, Ashish Nehra, Dhawal Kulkarni, and Rajat Bhatia will also look for new IPL teams in the February auction.

#3 Ajinkya Rahane picked up by Team Pune for Rs. 9.5 cr

Rahane after scoring his maiden IPL century

Ajinkya Rahane is one of the most talented batsmen in the current Indian line-up and his recent form in the Test series against South Africa at home speaks for itself. But the talented right-hander is yet to prove his mettle in T20s, yet he has been picked up by Team Pune for a staggering Rs. 9.5 crores.

Rahane has been rated only less than Dhoni and Raina from among CSK and RR players ahead of Steve Smith, to name one more higher vaunted T20 player.

Rahane had shown his class in IPL before, however. He briefly played for Mumbai Indians before moving to Rajasthan Royals. So far he has played 81 matches and scored 2195 runs with an average of 33.76 and with a strike rate of 119.74.

The Mumbai batsman has also scored a hundred in IPL.

#2 Only one specialist bowler picked

Ravichandran Ashwin played for CSK

Among both the franchises, Ravichandran Ashwin is the only specialist bowler picked up, taken by the Pune team. Though Ravindra Jadeja has been picked up by the Rajkot team, he is seen as a recognised all-rounder.

Ashwin, who came to the limelight through IPL, played for the Chennai Super Kings throughout his IPL career. He made his IPL debut in 2009.

So far the number one spinner of India has picked up 90 wickets with an average of 24.23 and with a cruel economy rate of 6.45.

His superb show in the recently concluded Test series against South Africa won him his fifth Player of the Series trophy in just 9 Test series.

#1 Shane Watson ignored by the franchises

Shane Watson playing for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians

The Australian all-rounder has been the best all round performer in Indian Premier League History. He was a regular member of the Rajasthan Royals team from the first edition of the League.

So far Watson has featured in 78 matches in IPL and scored 2372 runs with an average of 36.49 at a blistering strike rate of 141.27. The Queenslander also picked up 61 wickets with an average of 27.88 and economy rate of 7.39 runs per over.He was one of the top performers for RR last season.

Watson is also the only player to have won the man of the tournament award twice in IPL history.

The 34-year-old is currently out of the Australia side both in Tests and in Limited overs formats. His recent poor show of form kept the franchises from investing in him.