These 8 players from 8 franchises prove variety was the flavour of IPL 2020 auction

The auction for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season held in Kolkata on December 19 saw some interesting pickings. While Australia’s pace spearhead Pat Cummins was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders for a record ₹15.5 crore, another Aussie, the big-hitting Glenn Maxwell went to his former franchise Kings XI Punjab for ₹10.75 crore. Veteran South African all-rounder Chris Morris was the third-most-expensive player at the auction, picked up for ₹10 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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Among Indians, old warhorse Piyush Chawla was bought by Chennai Super Kings for ₹6.75 crore while young Yashasvi Jaiswal was sold to Rajasthan Royals for an impressive ₹2.4 crore. It was a good auction for West Indian players as well with pacer Sheldon Cottrell being purchased by KXIP for a massive ₹8.50 crore while Shimron Hetmyer went to Delhi Capitals ₹7.75 crore.

A total of 62 players, 29 overseas and 33 Indians, were sold at the auction. The bidding war saw cricketers with varied skills sets and experience getting picked by the franchises. Here's a closer look at eight buys variety was a key factor in the decision-making.

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#8. Chennai Super Kings: Sam Curran (All-round wonder)

Sam Curran

Talented England all-rounder Sam Curran was purchased by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 5.5 crore. Curran is a versatile cricketer who can deliver crucial performances with both bat and ball. .

Curran’s ability to deliver when the chips are down was very much evident in the Test series at home against India in 2018 when he came up with a number of significant counter-attacking knocks, and picked up big wickets to play the major role in England’s series win.

The impressive showing landed him a hefty Rs 7.2 crore contract with Kings XI Punjab for 2019. He was, however, released by the franchise after he scoring 95 runs from nine games at a strike rate of 172.72, and claiming 10 wickets with the ball.

#7. Delhi Capitals: Shimron Hetmyer (Bold strokemaker)

Shimron Hetmyer

West Indies' lavish batting talent Shimron Hetmyer has been purchased by Delhi Capitals for Rs. 7.75 crore. The aggressive Hetmyer’s impressive performance in India during West Indies’ recent limited-overs visit must have gone a long way in him bagging a handsome IPL contract. Hetmyer blasted 139 from 106 balls as West Indies chased down 288 at Chennai in the first ODI with ease.

Although Hetmyer was released by Royal Challengers Bangalore after managing just 90 runs in five games in the 2019 season, he did show glimpses of brilliance when he smashed 75 from 47, with six sixes, against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru.

#6. Kings XI Punjab: Chris Jordan (Yorker specialist)

Chris Jordan

England’s T20 specialist Chris Jordan has had a rather underwhelming IPL career so far. He has played only 11 matches for 12 wickets at a strike rate of 16.50, and has a very high economy rate of 9.03.

Playing for RCB in 2016, he finished with impressive figures of 4 for 11. However, that game is remember for sensational hundreds from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Released by RCB, he represented Sunrisers Hyderabad in the next two seasons, but played only one match each.

Kings XI Punjab would want to utilise the full potential of Jordan, who is renowned for his yorker, can come up with useful big hits at the end of an innings, and is also a livewire on the field.

#5. Kolkata Knight Riders: Tom Banton (Incredible strokemaker)

Tom Banton

England’s 21-year-old breathtaking strokemaker Tom Banton was expected to be hot property at the IPL auction. It was an anti-climax of sorts that he ended up being sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for his base price of ₹1 crore.

Days prior to the auction, Banton blasted a 41-ball 121 in Queensland’s Grade cricket. Currently turning out for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League, Banton made his mark with 64 from 36 against Melbourne Stars, but couldn’t overpower opposition skipper Glenn Maxwell’s 83 from 39.

Banton has managed only 56 runs in his three T20Is. However, in his overall T20 career he has 727 runs in 22 games at a strike rate of 158.04. The youngster amassed 549 in the Vitality Blast, which included a knock of 100 from 52 balls against Kent.

He was in form in the Abu Dhabi T10 League as well, with two fifties, including a smashing 80 off 28 for Qalandars against Karnataka Tuskers. KKR will have high hopes from Banton in IPL 2020.

#4. Mumbai Indians: Nathan Coulter-Nile (Experienced performer)

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile, who scored a record 92 from 60 balls in the World Cup 2019 game against West Indies, was picked up by Mumbai Indians for a whopping ₹8 crore. While many expressed surprise at the defending champion’s decision, Mumbai know very well what Nathan Coulter-Nile can deliver.

Coulter-Nile was purchased by Mumbai in 2013, but played only one match. He, however, had a highly impressive season for Delhi in 2015 with 15 matches in 11 games at a strike rate of 17. In 2017, he again claimed 15 wickets, this time for Kolkata Knight Riders at a strike rate of 11.33.

Coulter-Nile was a part of the original RCB squads for 2018 and 2019 season, but missed both editions due to injury. His IPL record of 36 wickets in 26 games at a strike rate of 15.63 clearly proves he is wicket-taking bowler.

#3. Rajasthan Royals: Andrew Tye (Once an IPL star)

Andrew Tye

Australia’s T20 specialist, Andrew Tye, who has seen both ups and downs of IPL, was purchased by Rajasthan Royals for ₹1 crore. The pace bowler is known for his many variations, especially the knuckle ball.

Tye made a stunning IPL debut with 5 for 17 for Gujarat Lions against Rajasthan Royals, a performance which included a hat-trick -- a first for a debutant. Tye went to claim three T20 hat-tricks in the same year.

After injury restricted his debut season to six matches, Tye won the purple cap in 2018, picking 24 wickets while turning out for Punjab after being purchased at the auction for ₹7.2 crore. The Aussie was also the leading wicket-taker in T20Is in 2018 with 31 scalps.

Although Tye had an underwhelming IPL 2019, claiming only three wickets in six games, he can prove to be a threat in the tournament with his vast experience.

#2. Royal Challengers Bangalore: Aaron Finch (The shuffling pro)

Aaron Finch

Since making his IPL debut in 2010, Australia’s limited-overs captain and member of the 2015 World Cup-winning squad, Aaron Finch, has played for seven different franchises. RCB, who purchased him for Rs 4.40 crore at this year’s auction, will be Finch’s eighth IPL team.

Despite being one of the most dangerous hitters of the cricket ball in the format, Finch has not been able to reach the heights expected of him in the IPL. Mind you, he has a decent record with 1,737 runs in 75 games at a strike rate of 130. But, those who have seen him blaze away in international cricket know how much more he could achieve.

Of course, the fact that he has been constantly shifting franchises has also not allowed him to settle in totally. RCB though should be pleased to have his services as they have been highly reliant on skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to win them games with the bat.

Finch had a poor season for Punjab in 2018, managing only 134 runs in 10 games at an average of 16.75. He pulled out of 2019 edition to focus on the World Cup, and would now be keen to get his IPL career back on track.

#1. Sunrisers Hyderabad: Priyam Garg (Young and raring to go)

Priyam Garg

This is a tricky one, but Sunrisers Hyderabad mostly went for rookies at the auction, and hence the choice. Among the young guns picked by SRH was India’s U-19 captain for the World Cup to be played in South Africa next year, Priyam Garg. He was snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹1.9 crore. Along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Singh (also picked by SRH for ₹1.9 crore), Garg is among the most promising young talents in the country.

Garg scored a century on Ranji Trophy debut for Uttar Pradesh against Goa, and ended up amassing 800-plus runs in his maiden first-class season. In December 2018, he notched up his maiden double hundred, slamming 206 against Tripura.

Garg has already build up impressive numbers in his List A and T20 career with 707 runs in 19 games (average 47.13), and 227 runs in 11 matches (strike rate 132.74) respectively.

Sunrisers would be looking forward to some zestful knocks from him in IPL 2020.