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We are one step closer to IPL 2019. Auction for the 2019 IPL campaign is done and dusted as franchises engaged in an off-field battle to sign the player of their choice. With the 2019 ICC World Cup starting in May, some of the star players went missing in the auction. Some of the Australian players like Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, and Aaron Finch decided not to participate in the tournament.
Chennai Super Kings bought Mohit Sharma for INR 5 Crore while Mumbai Indians signed Lasith Malinga for the base price. Shimron Hetmyer, the latest Carribean sensation, was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Jaydev Unadkat and Varun Chakravarthy were the most expensive player in 2019 auction with a bid of INR 8.4 Crore from Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab respectively. Some of the prominent names that went unsold in the auction are Brendon McCullum, Chris Woakes, and Hashim Amla.
Over the years, IPL auctions have had their fair share of overpriced and underpriced players. While some of them went for millions, a few of the underrated players turned out to be a great piece of business for the price they were bought.
On that note, let's take a look at the 5 biggest bargain buys in the 2019 IPL auction.
#5 Moises Henriques, Kings XI Punjab
The 31-year-old Australian all-rounder was bought by Kings XI Punjab for INR 1 Crore in the 2019 auction. Moises Henriques has played four Tests, 11 One Day Internationals, and 11 Twenty20I for Australia so far.
Henriques is not new to the Indian Premier League. He has played 57 games in IPL and scored almost 1000 runs at an average of 28.50. He has also picked up 38 wickets at an economy rate of 8.38. With his abilities to win games with both the bat and ball, Henriques is certainly one of the best buys at the 2019 IPL auction.
#4 Wriddhiman Saha, Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Indian wicket-keeper is one of the smartest buys by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2019 IPL auction. They released him before the auction and bought him back at a cheaper price. INR 1.2 Crore is an absolute steal for a player of Saha's caliber.
Arguably the best wicket-keeper in Indian cricket at the moment, Saha will be a key player for Sunrisers and is expected to provide stability in the middle order. Wriddhiman Saha has played 115 games in IPL and scored 1679 runs at a decent strike rate of 130.
The 34-year-old is an experienced campaigner and could benefit Sunrisers Hyderabad next season. He is currently out of the Indian team because of an injury and is expected to return soon.
With David Warner back from his ban, Sunrisers Hyderabad is definitely a force to reckon with in IPL next season.
#3 Hardus Viljoen, Kings XI Punjab
One of the smartest buys by Kings XI Punjab for INR 75 lakhs in the 2019 IPL auction. Hardus Viljoen took the 2018 T10 League by storm with his stunning bowling performances throughout the campaign. The South African seamer picked up 18 wickets in the tournament from just 18 overs and finished as the top wicket-taker.
Viljoen possesses a lot of variations and is a clever bowler to have in the squad. He can bowl well with the new ball and also in the death overs. The 29-year-old averaged 7.7 with the ball and his strike rate was an unbelievable 6.0 in the T10 League.
Despite some good performances in domestic cricket, the seamer could never make it big for South Africa. Viljoen has played just one Test match in his career so far and later signed the Kolpak deal in 2016.
#2 Oshane Thomas, Rajasthan Royals
Oshane Thomas for just INR 1.1 Crore is an absolute steal for Rajasthan Royals. The 21-year-old from Jamaica was sensational for Tallawahs in the 2018 Carribean Premier League. He finished the tournament as the second highest wicket -taker with 18 wickets in just 10 games at an economy rate of 8.36.
He made his One Day International debut for West Indies in October and bowled well against India. He has played four ODIs and four T20Is for West Indies so far. The youngster can consistently clock 150 kmph and shows a great deal of maturity.
Oshane Thomas is good at bowling yorkers and does not hesitate to get one go past the grill. He is getting better with every game and definitely a player to look out for in IPL 2019.
#1 Joe Denly, Kolkata Knight Riders
Joe Denly was bought by Kolkata Knight riders for INR 1 Crore in the 2019 auction. Joe Denly is back in the England Twenty20 team after a long hiatus. Denly was exceptional in his comeback game against Sri Lanka and was named 'Player of the Match'. Denly scored 20 runs with the bat and also picked up four wickets in the game.
Joe Denly was phenomenal for Kent in the 2018 Vitality T20 Blast. Denly proved more than useful with both the bat and ball. He scored 409 runs in 12 innings at an average of 37.18 and a strike rate of 145.03.
He has also bowled well throughout the tournament. Denly finished with 20 wickets at an economy rate of less than eight. He has been hugely consistent in 2018 and INR 1 Crore is a bargain.
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