IPL 2019: Top 5 bargain buys at the auction

The auction got concluded in Jaipur, and all the teams walked out pretty satisfied with what they bought in the six-odd hours. Every team had their eyes set on their short-listed players. At the end of the auction, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals returned with 25 players each. Mumbai and Bangalore took home 24 players.

Kings XI Punjab and the Sunrisers Hyderabad returned with 23 players each, while KKR yet again had to settle for the smallest squad, for the second time in 2 years, with just 21 players in the roster.

The title of being the highest buy at the auction was shared by 2 players this time, unlike the previous editions, with Jaydev Unadkat and Varun Chakaravarthy both going for Rs. 8.4 Cr, to Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab respectively.

Though the pockets were not very deep for most teams, the bidding wars had the same intensity nonetheless. There were a couple of things that would have surprised every fan who followed the auction. One of these being the big guns failing to find a home.

While there were those who were expected to score big at the auction, there were others who should have gone unsold but somehow managed to attract a bid. Among those who were sold, there were some good players who got a buyer but could have got a lot more than they did. These were real bargains, as most fans and experts would agree.

Here is a look at the top 5 bargain deals from the auction.

#5 Wriddhiman Saha

Saha has returned to Sunrisers Hyderabad, for just Rs. 1.2 Cr, his base price was Rs. 1 Cr. It is a very good bargain, especially considering the fact that teams like Mumbai, Bangalore and Punjab were all on the hunt for a backup keeper.

Wriddhiman Saha was with the Hyderabad side for the 2018 season too. In that season he played 11 innings and made 122 runs at an average of over 23 runs. It was a decent season, but his contribution with the gloves is something that SRH must have considered heavily, and thus they went after him.

Saha holds the record of being the first batsman to score a century in an IPL final, when he scored a hundred for KXIP in 2014, against the KKR. He is a good wicket-keeper and can play both as an opener and a middle order batsman. He could have gone for a lot more than his current price tag. Hyderabad would definitely be feeling lucky to have got his services at this low a price.

#4 Moises Henriques

The Australian all-rounder has had a decently large stint in the IPL. He made his debut in 2009 and played till 2012. He went unsold in 2012 and 2013 before making a comeback in 2014. However, his best season with the bat was in 2017 when he scored 277 runs at a superb average of 46.16. However, he went unsold in 2018.

He has been in and out of the Australian team as well. But no can deny that on his day, he can be a fierce player and can hit the bowlers at will. And, owing to those qualities, he could have got a lot more than his base price of 1 Cr that Punjab paid for his services.

Henriques will return to IPL after missing out the previous season

Now, if Henriques is able to fire at all cylinders and have a great season of IPL, he might prove to be a very profitable buy for the Kings. By bringing him in, Kings have brought a like for like replacement for Marcus Stoinis, whom they traded for Mandeep Singh with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

#3 Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow, the English wicket-keeper batsman, was bought by the 'Orange Army' for Rs 2.2 Cr. Bairstow, much like Saha can be tried both as an opener and in the middle order.

He has given some amazing starts to England in the shortest format. His calm approach on field is what makes him all the more valuable. He is a very good bet as a keeper too with his safe pair of hands.

He is one of those rare commodities who can hold the innings together, in times of need and can play a quick blitz as well. Buying Bairstow for just Rs.2.2 Cr is a big bargain after starting at 1.5 Cr.

For whatever game time SRH decides to give to this player, they can be sure that he will perform more often than not. Whether SRH play Saha or go for Bairstow is a question now. Till then this is a terrific buy for the Orange Army and we might see Bairstow being in the orange outfit for more than just one season.

#2 Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen is an explosive wicket-keeper batsman from South Africa. He proved his hitting abilities to the world earlier this year, against India in the three T20 internationals played. Though he was not picked in the auction that just followed that series, he was brought in by Rajasthan as a replacement for the banned Steve Smith in IPL 2018.

In the four outings he had throughout the season, he scored a total of 57 runs. The 27-year-old is a decent wicketkeeper and will help as a back-up for Parthiv Patel when he joins the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Klaasen will be representing the RCB in IPL 2019

Klaasen can very-well be used as a floater in the batting order, as he has the firepower to go big at any stage in the innings. Once he gets going, he can be a very difficult wicket for any bowler on any pitch, as proved from his performance in the shortest format of the game. Bangalore picked Klaasen up for his base price of 50 Lakhs.

This could be one of the best buys of the auctions. Due to this low price tag, Klaasen won't be carrying the pressure of performing well and proving himself. However, a decent season is a must for the South-African to make it to the next season of the most prestigious T20 league of the World.

#1 Oshane Thomas

Oshane Thomas is a 21-year-old right-arm fast bowler, who made his debut in the shortest format for the West Indies, in the recently concluded series against India. He bagged 3 wickets in 3 games for the Windies.

However, his scary fast speeds of above 150 and the ability to reach that mark very comfortably and consistently is what could have made him a hot pick for the franchises.

However, he was picked by the Rajasthan Royals at the auction at a comparatively low price of Rs. 1.1 Cr. His stocks were quite high in the lists of the experts before the auction, who predicted him to be among the top 5 players who will get the highest sum this time around at the auction.

Oshane Thomas was one of the best buys at the auction

Contrary to that prediction, going up to Rs. 1.1 Cr, after a base price of Rs. 50 Lakhs could be called a very good bargain for the Royals. Thomas was picked in the auction majorly because of his exceptional performance in the Caribbean Premier League, having 18 scalps in just 10 matches.