IPL 2018 Auction: Top 5 steals of Day 2

This year's IPL Auction saw 578 players competing for 182 slots in 8 teams. Among the 578 players, we had 360 Indian cricketers and 218 Foreign cricketers in the mix. The auction finally ended with the teams picking up 169 players.

Day 2 of the IPL Auction started off with all the teams having a decent idea of how the core of their teams looked. The teams were looking to fill the slots which were vacant. Let's have a look at the best buys of day 2.

#5) Mark Wood (Rs. 1.5 Crores )

Mark Wood had a base price of Rs. 1.5 crores against his name at the beginning of the auction. He was purchased by the Chennai Super Kings side for Rs 1.5 Crores itself.

The England bowler has picked up 17 wickets in 16 T20s at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 18. He has also performed well for his national side in ODIs and Tests.

Wood is known for his disciplined bowling and his toe-crushing yorkers. Chennai's hadn't picked a single pace bowler throughout the 1st day of the auction and Wood is an ideal bowler who would fill that slot.

#4) Trent Boult (Rs. 2.2 Crores)

Boult's experience could be a great asset for the young Delhi team

Trent Boult played his first two seasons in IPL with the Sunrisers Hyderabad and remained under the shadows of Dale Steyn who was their premier bowler. He was then picked up Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017. He hasn't got enough chances in IPL to prove his worth and Delhi Daredevils buying him in the auction this year may just give him a chance to do so.

The New Zealander has scalped 69 wickets in 72 domestic T20s at a strike rate of 20. He has been a splendid servant for the New Zealand team as well, picking up 29 wickets in 20 T20 matches at a splendid strike rate of 15 and an average of 20.

Boult is among the best pacers in the world now. He is a great bowler who swings the ball both ways and is a great asset to any team. Getting a world class bowler at a price of Rs. 2.2 Crores is a great deal for Delhi Daredevils.

#3) Lungisani Ngidi (Rs. 50 Lakhs)

Ngidi has displayed enormous potential in the limited opportunities he has got

Lungisani Ngidi had a base price of Rs. 50 Lakhs at the beginning of the auction. He was bought by the Chennai Super Kings side for that price.

The South African pacer has picked up 6 wickets in 3 T20 Internationals at a brilliant average of 7 and a strike rate of 8 and an economy of 5.5. In domestic T20s he has scalped 43 wickets in 39 matches at an average of 19, a strike rate of 16 and an economy rate of 7.2.

The young pacer made his debut in Tests against India recently and has impressed one and all. This youngster has a great potential and under Dhoni's leadership, he could reach greater heights.

#2) JP Duminy (Rs. 1 Crore)

Duminy could prove to be a great buy for the Mumbai side

JP Duminy had started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2009 and since then has played for three other IPL sides. Mumbai picking him up at the auctions this year was a homecoming of sorts for the protea.

The South African all-rounder has a brilliant record in IPL, scoring 1993 runs in 77 matches at a splendid average of 40. He has also contributed with the ball as he has picked up 23 wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 7.25.

Duminy is a great player who performs the role of a finisher for his national side. He has been a brilliant finisher for South Africa and has tasted success with Delhi Daredevils as well. A world-class finisher and a handy spinner is a great addition for the Mumbai side.

#1) Chris Gayle (Rs. 2 Crores)

Gayle will be a huge asset for the Punjab side

Royal Challengers have surprisingly not retained Chris Gayle for the 2018 season. He had a poor IPL last year and this prompted many IPL teams to overlook him. He went unsold twice before Kings XI Punjab finally decided to buy the Jamaican.

The West Indian batsman has an extremely impressive IPL record, amassing 3626 runs in 101 matches at a mind-boggling average of 41 and an extraordinary strike rate of 151. He has 5 centuries against his name and has scored the tournament's highest individual score of 175*.

Gayle is by far the most destructive batsman of this generation. He is an asset to any team when he is in form. He would like the Mohali wicket where the ball comes on to the bat and this year may well turn out to be his most successful year in IPL. Gayle at such a low price is amongst the best buys in IPL history.