IPL: 5 best buys by Kings XI Punjab over the years

5. Piyush Chawla

Piyush Chawla

Piyush Chawla was a 19-year-old Indian international when he was picked up by KXIP for 400,000 USD at the 2008 auction. That cost more than thrice his base price of 125,000 USD, which showed the high regard he was held in at the time.

Chawla was the main spin bowler for KXIP in the first 6 seasons of the tournament before he was bought by KKR. He picked up 41 wickets in 43 matches for KXIP in the first three IPL seasons.

He was bought again by KXIP for 4.1 crore INR at the 2011 IPL auctions, and went on to play 44 matches and pick up 43 wickets over the next three years. Chawla was the most successful KXIP bowler during his time with the Punjab franchise.

He was bought by KKR for 4.25 crore INR at the 2014 auction after Punjab released him. Chawla is now the third highest wicket taker in IPL history, with 140 wickets in 144 IPL games. He won an IPL title during his time with KKR and famously hit the winning runs against his former employees KXIP in the 2014 IPL final.

Though Chawla is now the third choice spinner for KKR behind Narine and Kuldeep Yadav, he still remains a vital cog of the side.