IPL Auction 2017: 5 Foreign players who caused a bidding war

When you have high-profile players fighting for few spots, there is always going to a tough fight to secure the player’s signature. Especially when that is a foreign player, of whom there can only be four players in any side, getting the player you want will be difficult as an IPL side.

So it was no surprise that IPL Auction 2017 threw up plenty of big names, who went for not just a lot of money but also drew a furious bidding war between teams. Several players were sought after by teams who were looking for someone with a particular skill set.

England stars, who were expected to go big didn’t disappoint. Even if a couple didn’t fetch as many of some thought they might and went unsold. Here are 5 foreign players who caused a bidding war:

Tymal Mills (Base Price – INR 50 lakh)

Capable of bowling fast and being accurate with his yorkers and slower balls, Tymal Mills was always going to be an expensive signing. But few could have foreseen the bidding war that ensued before RCB signed him for INR 12 crore after he came into the auction with a base price of just INR 50 lakh.

It all began when Mumbai Indians, who already had the likes of Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan, Lasith Malinga and Jasprit, went for him early on with Kings XI Punjab before RCB and KKR took the bidding war to another level.

Both RCB and KKR needed a death bowler and were going all out for the signature of Tymal Mills, with the Bangalore franchise only coming to the party with the price already at INR 7.5 crore. After an intense bidding war between two sides who desperately wanted the 24-year-old, it was Royal Challengers Bangalore who got their man for INR 12 crore.

Trent Boult (Base Price – INR 1.5 crore)

KKR knew that they need a quality international fast bowler, having released four foreign pacers and with Andre Russell’s one-year ban and that is why they went all out for New Zealand pacer Trent Boult. Even though they had to pay INR 5 crore to secure his signature and ward off an intense bidding war against Mumbai Indians.

After not even bothering to submit a bid for Kagiso Rabada, when Trent Boult’s name came out, their eyes lit up. Before too long, they were engaged in a furious bidding war with MI, who surprisingly, despite having Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan, Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah as death bowlers, wanted Boult.

Whether they wanted to complete a trifecta of Kiwi fast bowlers by signing him or whether they just wanted to raise the praise, MI seemed insistent on buying Boult and that made for an intense bidding war. Eventually, when the price reached 5 crore, they pulled out and that meant KKR had the pace spearhead they were looking for.

Rashid Khan (Base Price – INR 50 lakh)

Despite winning the Indian Premier League in 2016, there was one piece that was missing in the Sunrisers Hyderabad puzzle. And it was a quality spinner to complement their bowling attack, which is why they went for Rashid Khan, who from a base price of INR 50 lakh, quickly escalated to INR 4 crore after their bidding war with Mumbai Indians before they eventually got him for INR 4 crore.

Both Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad didn’t have a quality leg spinner going into the auction and after passing up on Imran Tahir, both teams had set their sights on Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. And both went at it fast and furiously.

Before you could bat an eyelid, from 50 lakh it quickly went to INR 2 crore as Mumbai and Sunrisers desperately wanted him. Mumbai still went at it, despite their low purse and SRH didn’t relent as well but when it reached 4 crore MI pulled out. And SRH had their man after a ferocious bidding war.

Kagiso Rabada (Base Price – INR 1 crore)

Despite boasting of two of the best Indian fast bowlers in the last decade, Delhi Daredevils were still in the market for an international fast bowler as Zaheer Khan and Mohammed Shami couldn’t be counted on to be a regular fixture in the side as a result of their fitness concerns. That is why DD went all out for Kagiso Rabada, even if it did cost them INR 5 crore.

Punjab too, were in need of a quality fast bowler and that’s why they went hard for him as well. So it was no surprise that DD and KXIP went all out to secure the signature of the current and future of South Africa’s fast bowling sensation.

Even though the base price itself was INR 1 crore, the pair took no time in doubling that and before too long Rabada was on course to becoming one of the biggest buys in the auction. And a rapid-quick auction ended with Delhi Daredevils eventually getting their man for a whopping INR 5 crore, for someone who had never played in the IPL before.

Ben Stokes (Base Price – INR 2 crore)

Before the start of the auction, everyone knew that Ben Stokes was always going to be the biggest draw in the auction. But few could have predicted the four-team battle that ensued as a result of teams going all out to secure his signature. He eventually went to Rising Pune Supergiants for INR 14.5 crore.

Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, both sides who already had a quality international all-rounder amidst their ranks that went for the England all-rounder. And before too long, Mumbai Indians were priced out of the race and RCB thought they got there man before Sunrisers Hyderabad gazumped them at INR 13.5 crore.

And just when it looked as though the reigning champions was going to have the last laugh, it was Rising Pune Supergiants who came out of nowhere, surprised everyone and in the end, walked away with his signature. Although it all but ensured they didn’t get anyone else, but with the most sought-after all-rounder in their kitty, they won't be complaining.