IPL 2019: IPL starting XI cheaper than million dollar baby Varun Chakravarthy   

Varun Chakravarthy bagged a million-dollar deal with Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2019 auction

A total of 350 cricketers went under the hammer at the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 auction at Jaipur. A total of 60 players were sold, including 20 overseas players and 40 Indians.

Jaydev Unadkat and the uncapped Varun Chakravarthy were the two most expensive buys of the season. They were bought by Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab for Rs 8.40 crores each.

The little known Varun Chakravarthy came to limelight during the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). He is capable of bowling seven variations with his off-spinners and carrom-balls. Despite his success in TNPL, Varun is still a raw product with not much of international exposure. A sum of Rs 8.4 crore for an uncapped player is a big gamble Kings XI Punjab has taken.

Here is the imaginary IPL XI comprising seven Indians and four foreigners who could have been bought at the IPL auction with Varun's price of Rs 8.4 crore.

#1 Martin Guptill - Opening batsman

Bought by SRH for Rs. 1.00 Cr

Guptill was bought by SRH for one crore INR

Martin Guptill is one of the stalwarts of the New Zealand cricket team in the shorter format of the game. He is the only New Zealand player to score a double century in ODIs.

The New Zealand opening batsman has played 213 T20 games scoring 4810 runs at an impressive average of 32.60. He also has a healthy strike-rate of 128.2. He is playing T20 since 2006 and has four hundreds against his name.

SRH made a smart move by purchasing Guptill who can act as a cover for SRH during Warner's absence in the later part of the tournament. Guptill has played only 10 IPL games so far and would like to showcase his potential in the IPL too.

#2 Manan Vohra - Opening batsman

Bought by RR for Rs. 20 lakhs

Vohra was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs. 20 Lakhs

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bought Manan Vohra for Rs 1.1 crores last season. However, the 25-year-old batsman was asked to play in the middle order as Virat Kohli opened the innings with either de Kock or Parthiv Patel.

He played only four games scoring just 55 runs failing to make an impact. He was released by RCB in the trading window.

In the auction, Rajasthan Royals bought him for a base price of 20 lakh INR. The stylish opening batsman can rejuvenate his career with Rajasthan Royals as they don't have many opening batting options in their arsenal.

#3 Anmolpreet Singh - Middle-order batsman

Bought by MI for Rs. 80 lakhs

Anmolpreet Singh was bought by MI for Rs. 80 lakhs

Anmolpreet is one of the rising stars in the Indian domestic circuit. The right-handed batsman has scored 931 runs in the first-class games scoring runs at an impressive average of 62.1. The striking aspect of his batting is his ability to score quick runs even in the 5-day format. He also maintains a brilliant List-A average scoring 59.7 runs per match.

Anmolpreet's consistency has earned him a buyer in the recently concluded IPL auction as MI bought him for Rs 80 Lakh. The Punjab-batsman can solve MI's middle-order conundrum with his consistent batting in the middle overs.

#4 Yuvraj Singh - Middle-order batsman

Bought by MI for Rs. 1.00 Cr.

Mumbai Indians bought Yuvraj Singh for 1 crore INR

Yuvraj Singh found a last-minute bid from the Mumbai Indians during the auction. The three-time IPL champions bought the south-paw for the base price of one crore INR. Yuvraj's IPL form has been on the decline for the past few years. This will be his last chance to retire on a high note.

The left-handed batsman would love to use his experience to help Mumbai Indians win the fourth title of the IPL. Yuvraj's partnership with Rohit Sharma will also bring a lot of commercial value to the Mumbai Indians franchise.

#5 Heinrich Klaasen - Middle-order batsman

Bought by RCB for Rs. 50 lakhs

Klaasen is to set join AB de Villiers in the RCB squad

The Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise has bought Heinrich Klaasen for a bargain price of 50 Lakh INR. Klaasen, who played for the Durban Heat in the Mzansi Super League, will join AB de Villiers in RCB squad.

The 27-year-old batsman is one of the clean strikers of the cricket ball. He has played 63 T20 games so far in his career scoring runs at a strike-rate of more than 140. His ability to keep wickets will give a lot of flexibility to the any team.

Klaasen would love to break the RCB jinx and help them to win their maiden IPL title.

#6 Wriddhiman Saha - Wicket-keeper

Bought by SRH for Rs. 1.2 Cr.

SRH bought back Saha for a cheaper price in the IPL auction

SRH bought Saha for a whopping price of Rs 5 crore in the last auction. However, Saha did not justify his price tag as he scored only 122 runs from his 11 games. Rightly, so he was released by the franchise.

The 2016 champions made a smart move by buying back Saha for a cheaper price of Rs 1.2 crore thus making a profit of 3.8 crore INR with his transaction in two years. Saha will act as a backup keeper to Jonny Bairstow in the upcoming IPL season for the 2016 champions.

He has scored a century for Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 finals against KKR. The Bengal wicket-keeper has the ability to play at any slot and can provide flexibility to SRH batting line-up.

#7 Moises Henriques - All-rounder

Bought by KXIP for Rs. 1.00 Cr.

Kings XI Punjab bought the Australian all-rounder for a price of one crore INR

Moises Henriques is one of the most experienced all-rounders in the world of T20s. The Australian has played 176 T20s scoring 3219 runs at a decent average of 26.82. He will be useful batsman towards the end of the innings to score quick runs. He has taken more than 100 wickets in his T20 career.

The all-rounder has had a brilliant 2017 IPL season with SRH as he scored 277 runs at a batting average close to 50. He would love to replicate his success with Kings XI Punjab in the upcoming season.

#8 Jalaj Saxena - All-rounder

Bought by DC for Rs. 20 lakhs

Jalaj Saxena is one of the most under-rated cricketers in India

Saxena is an all-rounder who plays for the Kerala domestic team. He is one of the best all-rounders India has produced in the past two decades. The 32-year-old cricketer is also one of the most unlucky cricketers of this generation as he hardly got any chance to prove his worth in the International circuit.

The all-rounder has scored more than 10000 runs and also has taken 291 wickets in his first-class career. He is not just a 5-day format player as his T20 stats are equally good. He has taken 41 T20 wickets from his 40 innings. He has conceded just 7.04 runs per over.

Saxena's experience will help Delhi Capitals who has bought him for his base price of Rs 20 lakh in the auction.

#9 Murugan Ashwin - Spin bowler

Bought by KXIP for Rs. 20 lakhs

Ashwin was bought by Kings XI Punjab for his base price of 20 Lakh INR

Murugan Ashwin was bought by RCB last season. The Tamil Nadu leg-spinner got just seven overs to bowl in the entire season. The talented leg-spinner took three wickets from those seven overs too. Without making use of his potential, RCB released him in the transfer window.

Kings XI Punjab bought the leg-spinner for his base price of Rs 20 lakh. Ravichandran Ashwin, who is the captain of KXIP, knows well about the leg-spinners' potential as they both played in the TNPL tournament.

Ashwin, so far, has taken 10 wickets from his 35 overs in the IPL.

#10 Ishant Sharma - Fast bowler

Bought by DC for Rs. 1.1 Cr.

Delhi Capitals bought Ishant Sharma for a price of 1.1 core INR

The tall Indian fast bowler is in the form of his life in the International cricket. He is the leader of the Indian fast bowling Test unit, and has played big role in India winning three overseas Tests this year. His current form was probably the reason DC bought him for a price of Rs 1.1 crore in the auction.

The lanky fast bowler has played 76 games taking 58 wickets. Ishant is just 30 years old and can contribute to the game for another three to four years.

#11 Oshane Thomas - Fast bowler

Bought by RR for Rs. 1.1 Cr.

RR has made one of the best buys of the auction by buying Oshane Thomas for just Rs 1.1 crore

Oshane Thomas is one of the rising stars of the Windies Cricket Team. His sheer pace can trouble any batsman, even on a flat wicket. Rajasthan Royals franchise has made a smart move by going for the Windies fast bowler. They have bought him for a cheaper Price of Rs 1.1 crore.

The fast bowler also made his International debut against India last month impressing everyone with his quick-fire bowling. The fast bowler has played 18 T20 games so far taking 27 wickets at an impressive strike-rate of 14.6. He is just 21 years old and has the potential to become one of the best fast bowlers in the world.