IPL 2018: Bargain buys from each team who have worked wonders

As many as 18 players were retained by IPL teams ahead of the auction, with Virat Kohli being the player to receive the highest salary of Rs. 17 crores. Each team was given a purse of 80 crores before the commencement of IPL 2018.

In the auction, four players were bought for a sum in excess of Rs. 10 crores. While KL Rahul is the only player of the four to justify the hefty price tag, the other three have faltered to make much of an impact.

On the other side, there are players who were bought for a much smaller amount compared to the big buys in the auctions, and some of them have been performing exceptionally well.

Here are the bargain buys from each of the eight teams:

*All the stats are for the first 38 matches*

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#8 Shreyas Gopal - Rajasthan Royals - 20 L

Shreyas Gopal (Source: BCCI)

Shreyas Gopal was bought by the Rajasthan Royals for the smallest salary possible in IPL. He has been a utility bowler for RR in the eight matches that he has played.

In the seven innings that he has bowled, Gopal has scalped six wickets for the Jaipur-based franchise. He also has an economy rate under 8. His economy rate of 7.85 is the third best for a Rajasthan bowler who has bowled at least 10 overs.

The Karnataka leg-spinner is also a reliable batsman lower down the order. Even though he hasn't performed much with the bat, he scored a useful 16-ball 24 for his team in RR's ninth match.

#7 Mandeep Singh - Royal Challengers Bangalore - 1.4 Cr

Mandeep Singh (Source: BCCI)

Mandeep Singh is the only Indian batsman, apart from Kohli, who has performed in the star-studded batting lineup. Mandeep has scored 211 runs in 9 innings at a strike rate of 151.79.

His record this year has been much better compared to what he did in his previous IPL seasons. His overall strike rate in IPL is around 125 which is much less than his strike rate this year. Even his average has seen an increase from 21.33 to 30.14.

Apart from Kohli and ABD, Mandeep has been performing consistently for the Royal Challengers Bangalore this season and RCB management would want him to be a crucial member of the side for the next few seasons.

#6 Shubman Gill - Kolkata Knight Riders - 1.8 Cr

Shubman Gill (Source: BCCI)

Shubman Gill was the leading run scorer and player of the tournament of the 2018 U19 World Cup and was crucial to India's success in the tournament, and he has taken that good form into the IPL.

In the first six instances that he came to bat, he remained not out thrice and has an average of 32.25 in eight matches. In the match against DD, due to fall of wickets, he came into bat in the tenth over and showed that he can play well against international players, with a 29-ball 37.

Two matches later, he was sent to bat up the order in the absence of Nitish Rana and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He scored 57 runs in 36 balls for the Kolkata Knight Riders against Chennai Super Kings and helped his side win with 14 balls to spare.

In the latest match against MI, he was sent to open the innings but could not create an impact. If given further opportunities, Shubman would love to repay the faith that Kolkata management had in him. He is a bright prospect not just for KKR, but also for Indian cricket.

#5 Shakib Al Hasan - Sunrisers Hyderabad - 2 Cr

Shakib Al Hasan (Source: BCCI)

Shakib Al Hasan is the No. 1 all-rounder in Test and ODI cricket and is ranked third in T20Is. Sunrisers were lucky to buy Shakib for a steal price of Rs. 2 Cr.

The Bangla all-rounder has been a key player in the Sunrisers Hyderabad lineup and he has contributed for the Hyderabad-based franchise with both bat and ball.

With the ball, he has picked up 8 wickets in 9 matches for SRH and conceded runs at a measly economy rate of 7.37. With the bat, he did not spend much time in the middle but scored 123 runs in 7 innings with an average of 20.50.

He has formed a brilliant partnership with Rashid Khan, and together they have brought the opposition's scoring rate down. What's more interesting about the spin-duo is that they are capable of bowling at all stages of the game.

#4 Prithvi Shaw - Delhi Daredevils - 1.2 Cr

Prithvi Shaw (Source: BCCI)

Prithvi Shaw, the captain of the U19 World Cup-winning Indian team, had a phenomenal start to his IPL career.

In the five matches that he has played so far, he has scored 205 runs with an average of 41.00. He became the third highest run-getter for Delhi Daredevils in spite of him playing only half the matches.

Shaw already has two half-centuries and a 47 to his name. He has been providing quick starts to DD as his strike rate is above 170.

The 18-year old Shaw has proved his worth and will look to continue the same form in the next four matches to give DD at least an outside chance to get into the playoffs.

#3 Chris Gayle - Kings XI Punjab - 2 Cr

Chris Gayle (Source: BCCI)

The Universe Boss went unsold in the initial rounds of the auction and was bought by the Kings XI Punjab at the last moment. He was the second last player to be sold at the auction and came into this year's IPL with a point to prove.

The big man has proved his critics wrong and has been a great addition to the Kings XI Punjab. In the six matches that he played so far, he has made three half-centuries and a century.

He was involved in five consecutive fifty-run opening partnerships with KL Rahul and missed out only once, in the recent match against RR.

In the six matches that he played so far, Chris Gayle has scored 310 runs at a strike rate of 149.75. His average of 77.50 is one of the best in the tournament and KXIP will hope that Gayle will continue the same form in rest of the matches.

#2 Mayank Markande - Mumbai Indians - 20 L

Mayank Markande celebrating a wicket (Source: BCCI)

Mayank Markande is definitely the find of the season and the Mumbai Indians scouting team will be very happy to see the outcome of their hard work. Mumbai Indians bought the talented leg-spinner for the lowest possible salary in IPL i.e. 20 lakhs.

Markande has picked up 13 wickets in 10 matches for the Mumbai-based franchise. The young spinner has an economy rate of less than 8 and his strike rate of 14.76 is one of the best in the tournament.

His team would want him to fire in their last four matches as they are must-win games for the franchise if they want to reach the playoffs.

#1 Ambati Rayudu - Chennai Super Kings - 2.2 Cr

Ambati Rayudu is the orange cap holder (Source: BCCI)

Ambati Rayudu is one of the most underrated players in Indian cricket. He has been around for quite a while but was never given his due credit.

Rayudu, the orange cap holder, is having a breakthrough season in his eight IPL. He has scored 423 runs in the 10 outings for the Chennai Super Kings. He has been sent in at different positions to bat and has performed whenever asked to.

Rayudu, along with MS Dhoni, has been consistent for the Chennai-based franchise and the two have played a crucial role in CSK's success.