IPL: 5 players who defied their low auction price

If IPL is ever framed in a layout of a few words, it would be fitting to call it "a vague approximation of talent in terms of cheques". Vague because if IPL editions have seen players like MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma performing at par with their monetary measure, there have been players too who were bought at hefty prices but disappointed their team-owners big time. Much less talked about instances are of players who were light on their owners' pockets but, rose above their price tags to capture the fancies of the IPL fraternity.

Despite being overshadowed at the outset by expensive players playing together with them these underdogs turned fortunes in their favor by adroit shows of their abilities. From being their team's highest wicket-taker to the tournament's leading run scorer these players managed to carve a space of their own.

Here's a look at five such players who defied expectations and put their stamp on the league in different editions

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#5 Jaydev Unadkat

Jaydev Unadkat took 24 wickets in IPL 2017.

Unadkat has been a part of the IPL since its third edition. But no significant good did ever happen to him before the 10th edition of the IPL. Although he did show some signs of improvement in 2014 as a part of the RCB setup, his next IPL outing with the Delhi Daredevils posed questions again. As a result, the subsequent auctions saw his price dropping to as low as ₹30 lakhs in 2017.

He made things better for himself in 2017. Playing as the strike-bowler for the Rising Pune Supergiants he took 24 wickets in just 12 matches, and that too with a meager economy of 7.02. Surely this was worth more than ₹30 lakhs. Although his team didn't fare well in the league Unadkat reaped huge benefits afterward, the most significant being a call-up to the Indian team.

#4 Pravin Tambe

Pravin Tambe made himself one of the central talking points of IPL 2014.

Tambe has altogether a different story to tell us all. He made his debut, his first high-profile match, in IPL 2013 for Rajasthan Royals. Price, you ask- well, he wasn't even in the auctions! It was only later that he was roped in by the franchise on a phone call. From a club cricketer to being picked up at an undisclosed amount to play the grand league, Tambe's has been quite a journey. Given that he hadn't played any first-class match before, it's only fair to say that he was bought at a lower price.

Though he played only three games in his debut season, he made his owners happy in the Champions League T20 that followed later that year as he became the highest wicket-taker of the tournament. He seemed unstoppable even in the next edition of the IPL as he became the most successful bowler of his team scalping 15 wickets at an economy of around 7. Tambe- remember the name.

#3 Andre Russell

Andre Russell has performed rising above his price tag in the IPL.

If he were to be up for grabs now, it'll be no wonder to see owners fighting for him and coughing up crores in order to have him on their team. Such has been the impact of Russell on the stakeholders of the IPL- fans and owners alike. But do you know he was signed up for only ₹60 lakh back in 2014 by the KKR? Yes, you are seeing it right.

Although he got to play only two games in his debut stint with KKR he showed the fire in him in the subsequent editions. He performed every job he was assigned- be it bowling down the death overs, opening the innings or coming at the back to give impetus to the innings or chase a target- in a supreme manner. His strike-rate has been above 160 in the editions following the 7th edition. He was among the runs. He was among the wickets. He was awesome. No wonder KKR retained him this year.

#2 Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal startled one and all in his ascend to the top.

Ignored by his previous franchises, Chahal came into his grooves when RCB acquired him at the 2014 IPL auctions. He proved to be nothing short of magical. He finished the tournament with a total tally of 12 wickets in 14 matches at a frugal economy of 7.01. But how good the bargain he was came to the fore in subsequent editions, where he stood third and second, in that order, in the wickets' count, and has since been the linchpin of the RCB attack.

His exceptional show in the IPL also earned him a national call-up. Well, this and all that no one would have had thought when he was bought at his base price back in 2014. Yuzvendra Chahal proved to be much more than what ₹10 lakhs could've asked for.

#1 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh was the brightest star of the very first IPL edition.

Shaun Marsh is IPL's poster-boy when it comes to underdogs soaring above people's expectations, and making it big in the league. He did that in the very first edition of the league. Playing for Kings XI Punjab, Marsh played throughout the tournament with startling consistency. Having collected 616 runs over the tournament at a strike-rate of around 140 he ended it with the proud ownership of the orange cap. He thus played an instrumental role in his team reaching the semifinals.

He again performed in odd proportions to his price in the third and the fourth editions of the league for his team. Well, traded at ₹12 lakhs initially his display of cricketing skills proved for the first time to the IPL family how the money will always fail to weigh talent.