IPL 2020: How the top 5 buys have performed post the auction

The auction for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season held in Kolkata saw some big names being picked for rather handsome prices. On the other hand, a few players who are not international superstars also ended up being given hefty pay packages.

Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins walked away with the biggest deal of all, being picked up Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping sum of Rs 15.5 crore. Another Aussie, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, was purchased by Kings XI Punjab for an impressive amount of Rs 10.75 crore.

Next on the list, veteran South African all-rounder Chris Morris went to Royal Challengers Bangalore for an impressive Rs 10 crore.

It was a good auction for bowlers as West Indies’ left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell went to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 8.5 crore while Australian all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile was purchased by Mumbai Indians for Rs 8 crore, completing the top five.

Here’s a look at how these players have performed post the auction.

#5 Nathan Coulter-Nile

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Australian pace bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile, who made news by smashing 92 in the 2019 World Cup clash against West Indies, has featured in the Big Bash League for Melbourne Stars post the IPL 2020 auction. He has had a reasonable run with seven wickets in eight matches at an average of 26.30 and a strike rate of 21.40.

Coulter-Nile’s best bowling figures of 2 for 14 so far came in the shortened match against Hobart Hurricanes. The Hurricanes were restricted to 69 for 5 in 11 overs, and the Stars reached 55 for 3 after 7.3 overs. They won by four runs on the D/L method.

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Coulter-Nile was named man of the match for his bowling efforts.

While Coulter-Nile has been in and out of the Australian national team despite some reasonably consistent performances, he remains in demand in T20 leagues - as evident from the high price defending champions Mumbai Indians paid for him at the auction.

#4 Sheldon Cottrell

Sheldon Cottrell

West Indian left-arm pacer Sheldon Cottrell, renowned for his salute celebration after claiming a wicket, was a somewhat surprise pick at Rs 8.5 crore by KXIP. Since the auction, he has featured in three ODIs and has picked up six wickets at an average of 27.33.

Playing his first match post his selection for KXIP, Cottrell went for 74 runs in his 10 overs against India at Cuttack as the hosts chased down 316. His other two ODIs were against Ireland, in which he claimed five scalps with a best of 3 for 51.

Cottrell has also featured in three T20I games against Ireland following the IPL 2020 auction. He picked up a total of four wickets in these games at an average of 20, with a best of 2 for 10.

KXIP will be monitoring his efforts against stronger sides in the lead up to IPL 2020.

#3 Chris Morris

Chris Morris

RCB will have high hopes from the versatile Chris Morris after picking him up for a hefty Rs 10 crore at the IPL auction. While the 32-year-old may no longer be a permanent fixture in South Africa’s limited overs squads, he continues to remain in demand for T20 leagues across the globe.

After his selection in the Virat Kohli-led IPL franchise, Morris has turned out in 10 BBL games for Sydney Thunder and has picked up an impressive 14 wickets at an average of 22.10 and a strike rate of 15.50. His economy rate of 8.54 is slightly on the higher side, but that has never been his forte.

His best of 2 for 12 came against Sydney Sixers in the match on January 18. Morris’ spell saw Sixers being bowled out for 76. Thunder were then 28 for 2 in 5.3 overs, and won the game by four runs on D/L method. Morris was named man of the match for his effort.

With the bat, Morris has scored 44 runs at a strike rate of 151.72.

#2 Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell

Despite his open admission of mental health issues, KXIP placed confidence in Australia’s big-hitting all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, and purchased him for Rs 10.75 crore. Maxwell has tasted amazing success with KXIP in the past, and the franchise will have high hopes from him again.

Maxwell is currently turning out for Melbourne Stars in the BBL, and has come up with some scintillating performances. A day after being picked up by KXIP, Maxwell celebrated the occasion by smashing 83 runs in 39 balls at an astonishing strike rate of 212.82 against Brisbane Heat, with 7 boundaries and 5 sixes. He was named man of the match as Stars emerged triumphant by 22 runs.

In 12 BBL games this season, Maxwell has notched up 353 runs at a strike rate of 159.73, with three fifties. He has also claimed six wickets with his off-spin.

KXIP will be glad with the form Maxwell has demonstrated in the BBL this year.

#1 Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins

Australia’s pace spearhead Pat Cummins created history by becoming the most expensive foreign buy at the IPL, after being sold to KKR at a whopping price of Rs 15.5 crore. With his searing pace, Kolkata will be hoping for Cummins to be the leader of their attack.

Post the auction, Cummins featured in two Tests against New Zealand, and claimed nine wickets at an average of 16.44. His best of 5 for 28 came in the Boxing Day Test, which the Aussies won by 247 runs.

The Aussie pace spearhead also featured in the three-match ODI series in India, but did not have a great run. Cummins picked up 2 for 44 in the victory at Mumbai, but went wicketless at Rajkot and Bengaluru, conceding 53 and 64 runs (7 overs) respectively.

KKR wouldn’t be too worried with Cummins’ mixed returns though as he is a proven performer.