IPL Auction 2019: 5 Indian players with low base price who fetched big money

The auction for the 2019 IPL season, that took place on December 18 at Jaipur, turned out to be quite an eventful one. As expected the auctions saw plenty of money being splurged all over by the teams.

While a lot of things happened in line with the regular tradition, there were a number of trends which stood broken too. The 2019 auctions witnessed some players with the low price tag receiving big bucks. On the flipside, there were many well known Indian and international names, who failed to attract any buyers and remained unsold.

The availability factor due to the World Cup 2019 was evident during the process and all the franchises were very sceptical when it came down to releasing money for many overseas players as they were slightly wary about their availability throughout the league.

The 2019 auction also underlined the changing perception of the teams. It showed that the teams are now willing to loosen purse strings for talent and not just the names.

In this article, we have a look at one of the most remarkable bits about the auction: the way in which some of the Indian players with a low base price ended up getting a lucrative contract.

#5 Prayas Ray Barman

Prayas Ray Barman was brought by RCB for ₹1.5 Crores

Bae Price - ₹ 20 lakhs

Purchased for - ₹1.5 Crores

It was a day for teenagers at the IPL 2019 auctions, when well-established names like Dale Steyn, Luke Ronchi, Jason Holder etc. failed to find a buyer. Prayas Ray Barman surprised everyone by attracting astonishing bids during at the auction table by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab.

The 16-year-old made his debut for the Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018. The leg-break bowler is just nine List-A game old, but was very impressive during the tournament, picking 11 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.45. While his best performance came on his debut game against Jammu and Kashmir when he bagged four for 20 to lead his team's convincing win.

#4 Akshdeep Nath

Akshdeep Nath was brought by RCB for ₹3.6 Crores

Base Price - ₹ 20 lakhs

Purchased for - ₹3.60 Crores

Akshdeep Nath represents Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit and was bagged by Royal Challengers Bangalore after a tough bid war with Chennai Super Kings. The Lucknow lad was the vice-captain of the Indian team that lifted the Under-19 World Cup in 2012 in Australia.

Akshdeep has been UP's success story in the Ranji Trophy 2018 and has been among consistent performers in the domestic cricket. Nath is the leading run-getters for his state, with 488 runs in six matches at an average of 69.71. The Uttar Pradesh captain played a key role in Ranji fixture against Goa and led his team the front to stroke his highest first-class score of 194.

This won't be his first stint in Indian Premier League, as he has previously represented Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab but. He didn't get many chances in the star-studded lineups.

#3 Prabhsimran Singh

Prabhsimran Singh was brought by RCB for ₹4.8 Crores

Base Price - ₹ 20 lakhs

Purchased for - ₹4.8 Crores

Prabhsimran Singh stole the limelight, when he was bought for ₹4.8 crore by Kings XI Punjab after a long bidding war that involved Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.

The Patiala lad has played only four List A matches and was part of the Indian team which finished a runner-up at the recent ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. The attacking batsman recently impressed everyone with a cracking 298 against Amritsar in an Under-23 District Cricket Tournament.

Meanwhile, n the last season of the Cooch Behar trophy, the Wicketkeeper-batsman scored 547 runs for Punjab, comprising three centuries.

Prabhsimran was recently named in the list of the top five Under-19 wicketkeepers in India, and was trained by Kiran More during the National Cricket Academy's wicketkeeping camp in Bangalore.

#2 Shivam Dube

Shivam Dubey was brought by RCB for ₹5.0 Crores

Base Price - ₹ 20 lakhs

Purchased for - ₹ 5.0 Crores

Shivam Dube was one of the noteworthy buys in IPL auction. The all-rounder was purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore after massive bidding rounds involving Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians.

Shivam represents Mumbai in Ranji Trophy. The all-rounder has been one of most consistent performers in domestic circuit and is among leading run-getters for Mumbai, 489 runs in five matches at an average of 64.59. While he also posses a good bowling record picking up 22 wickets in 6 first class outings.

The batsman is known for having hit five sixes in an over against Pravin Tambe in the Mumbai T20 league and managed to recreate the same just before the auctions, against Baroda's Swapnil Singh in a Ranji game, which was enough to create a buzz among the franchises.

#1 Varun Chakravarthy

Varun was brought by KXIP for whooping ₹8.4 Crores

Base Price - ₹ 20 lakhs

Purchased for - ₹ 8.40 Crores

Varun Chakravarthy was the surprise package of IPL 2019 auctions and was purchased by Kings XI Punjab after an intense bidding war with Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders.

Varun currently represents Tamil Nadu in Vijay Hazare Trophy. The mystery spinner did wonders in the tournament and finished his season as the second highest wicket-taker, with 22 wickets in nine outings at an economy rate of 4.23.

He is a kind of bowler who posses a lot of variations in his kitty, which makes it tough for the batsman to pick him. Due to his mystery bowling, he was used in net sessions by CSK and KKR in 2018 season to provide quality practice to their batters.

Most recently, he spun Siechem Madurai Panthers to their maiden TNPL title picking up 11 wickets at an economy of 4.70. He was never an easy hit for the batsman and played a key role in restricting the scoring rate, as was obvious by the fact that, out of 40 overs he bowled, 125 balls were dots.