6 times Sunrisers Hyderabad/Deccan Chargers overspent on their players in the IPL auctions

The Deccan Chargers were one of the strongest teams during the inaugural IPL back in 2008 comprising of several international as well as domestic stars in their ranks. Sadly, the results did not go in their favour throughout the 2008 season as they finished last among eight franchises with just two wins out of 14 league matches. They turned it around next season with a title-winning performance under skipper, Adam Gilchrist.

Sadly, the franchise which played the first five IPL editions (2008-2012) was terminated in September 2012 by the BCCI over a financial dispute between the board and the franchise owners. Later, the Sun Group bought the team and renamed it as Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Sunrisers played their first IPLduring the 2013 edition.

While the now-defunct Deccan Chargers won the IPL title in 2009, the Sunrisers Hyderabad won in 2016. Over the years, both Deccan Chargers (earlier) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (now) have spent excessively on their players at the IPL auctions. Let us now look at the six instances the Deccan Chargers/ Sunrisers Hyderabad overspent on their players.#1

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#1 Manish Pandey (INR 11 crore)- 2018 auction

Manish Pandey

Though he began his IPL stint with the Mumbai Indians during the first edition of the IPL, he subsequently moved to RCB in the following season. Pandey became the first Indian to score a century in the history of the IPL when he achieved this feat (114* off 73 balls) while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers during the second edition of the league in 2009 at Centurion.

After his two-year stint with the Bangalore franchise, he joined the now-defunct Pune Warriors India in 2011. An unsuccessful stay at Pune and the eventual termination of the franchise saw him move to the Kolkata Knight Riders for the seventh edition in 2014- amove that paid rich dividends for Pandey. Apart from winning the title in 2014, he amassed 1370 runs across four seasons during his stay at KKR.

At the 2018 auctions, Pandey was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for a staggering amount of INR 11 crore. Such a huge price was rather unexpected and it raised the eyebrows of many in the cricketing circle. He constantly failed with the bat for the Sunrisers on many occasions last season and his struggle to get going was evident. In the 15 matches he played, Pandey made 284 runs at an average of 25.81 and a strike-rate of 115.44.

It was a complete ket down by a batsman who has 2499 IPL runs to his name in 118 matches after being bought for such an astronomical price. In spite of the failure of several batsmen, Kane Williamson's Orange Cap winning performance and their bowling unit's top-class displays took the Sunrisers all the way to the 2018 IPL finals where they lost to the Chennai Super Kings. Nevertheless, the Sunrisers have retained Manish Pandey for the upcoming 2019 IPL hoping for a turnaround in his performance with the bat.

#2 Wridhhiman Saha (INR 5 crore) - 2018 auction

Wriddhiman Saha

The Indian wicket-keeper batsman has played all the eleven editions of the IPL representing four different franchises in his career. Saha began his IPL journey with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008, before moving to the Chennai Super Kings in the fourth season. After a three year stint with the MS Dhoni's men, he went to Kings XI Punjab in 2014. After a pretty good four-year stay at Punjab, Saha was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the 2018 auctions for INR 5 crore.

The Bengal star was touted to be the first-choice wicketkeeper for the Men in Orange only to be replaced by Shreevats Goswami for several matches including the playoffs. In the 11 matches he played throughout the 2018 edition, Saha managed just 122 runs at an average of 15.25 and a strike-rate of 119.60.

It was a complete let down by an experienced campaigner who has amassed 1679 runs in 115 IPL matches across eleven seasons after being bought for INR 5.5 crore. The 2016 IPL winners have released Saha ahead of the season twelve auctions after his poor one-year stint with them.

#3 Deepak Hooda (INR 4.2 crore) - 2016 auction

Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda's big-hitting capabilities were evident during his exploits with the bat for Rajasthan Royals in season eight and the youngster grabbed the headlines when he was bought for INR 4.2 crore at the 2016 IPL auctions. The Haryana lad was expected to continue his good run with the bat low down the order as well with his off-spin. But the then 21-year-old scored just 144 runs and took three wickets in 17 matches throughout the ninth season.

Though the Sunrisers won that edition of the IPL under David Warner, Hooda failed to live up to the price tag and expectations. He was retained by the Sunrisers despite his poor run fo the 2017 edition, where he managed just 78 runs and two wickets in 10 matches. At the 2018 auctions, he was retained by the Orange Army using the Right-to-Match card (RTM) for INR 3.6 crore.

Though he once again failed, scoring just 87 runs and going wicketless throughout the 2018 edition he has been retained by Hyderabad ahead of the 2019 IPL auctions.

#4 Kemar Roach (USD 720,000) - 2010 auction

Kemar Roach

The Barbados pacer was one of the hottest properties at the 2010 IPL auctions along with the Trinidadian, Kieron Pollard and kiwi pacer Shane Bond. Franchises that were keen to strengthen their pace department went for Roach at the auctions, with Deccan Chargers and Chennai Super Kings emerging as the front-runners.

After an intense bidding, the Deccan Chargers managed to secure his services for $720,000 making him the second costliest buy of that season behind Pollard and Bond (joint-costliest at $750,000).

Hopes were high on Roach to set the season three on fire with his pace, but he could hardly break into the star-studded Chargers XI managing just two games throughout the 2010 IPL. In those two games he played for Adam Gilchrist's men, Roach failed to pick up any wickets and was eventually released ahead of the 2011 auctions. Unfortunately, it remains to be the only IPL stint for the talented pacer so far!

#5 Kevin Pietersen (USD 650,000) - 2011 auction

Kevin Pietersen

The former England skipper began his IPL stint in 2009 with the Royal Challengers Bangalore after being bought for a whopping $1.55 million at the season two auctions. Pietersen, who was the joint most expensive buy during the 2009 auctions along with his fellow countryman, Andrew Flintoff (CSK) has represented five different franchises in the IPL.

Following his two-year stay at the RCB, he moved to the Deccan Chargers for season four after being bought for $650,000 at the 2011 auctions. Unfortunately, the English batsman did not get to play even a game for the Deccan Chargers during the fourth season in spite of being bought for a hefty amount. Eventually, he was released by the Chargers ahead of the 2012 IPL auctions where he was bought by the Delhi Daredevils. His one year stay with the Deccan Chargers turned out to be a forgettable experience for Pietersen.

#6 Amit Mishra (INR 4.75 crore) - 2014 auction

Amit Mishra

Mishra started his IPL journey with the Delhi daredevils back in 2008 before joining the Deccan Chargers in 2011. After his exceptional bowling performances for Deccan Chargers (19 wickets in 2011 and 13 wickets in 2012) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (21 wickets in 2013), he was bought back by the Sunrisers for INR 4.75 crore using the Right-to-match card (RTM) during the 2014 auctions after an intense battle between the Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad during the bidding.

It was a rare failure with the ball for Mishra in the 2014 IPL, as he managed just seven wickets in 10 matches after being retained for such a huge amount. The Haryana leg-spinner failed to recreate the magic he produced in the past IPL seasons for the Hyderabad franchise. Eventually, he was released by them before the 2015 auctions thereby ending the four-year association with the city of Hyderabad. Mishra was bought by the Delhi Daredevils at the 2015 auctions.