The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 has been a fascinating ride. There were several players who were brought for relatively cheaper sums in the IPL 2019 Auction. And a few of them went on to do well in the opportunities presented to them.
Earlier, the IPL 2019 Auction was a one-day affair after teams had retained most of their players besides releasing a few of them. Having said that, we had some mega deals in the auction taking place for some big players. There were mixed performances in the group stage from these players.
On the other hand, the lesser sums paid to get some of the uncapped players in particular caught the eye in the end. This highlights that bigger sums paid in the auction often doesn’t guarantee success. Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals in particular will relate to that fact. Here we look at some of the valuable players that turned out to produce substance in IPL 2019.
Riyan Parag (Rs 20 lac)
The teenager was bought by Rajasthan Royals and it turned out to be a masterstroke. RR, who were criticized for going overboard with flops Ben Stokes and Jaydev Unadkat, got this right at least. The 17-year-old Parag defined his prowess in the middle for RR. He showed bundles of energy and nerves and looked like someone comfortable in the big stage. In seven matches, he scored 160 runs that included a fifty. He could go on to be a prime force in RR’s line-up next season.
Harry Gurney (Rs 75 lac)
The left-arm pacer was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders and he turned out to be a decent pick. He overshadowed Lockie Ferguson and went on to be a regular for KKR. Gurney was lucky to have featured for KKR after Anrich Nortje was ruled out of the tourney. And the player didn’t disappoint. In eight matches, Gurney took seven scalps at a rate of 8.81. He has variety in bowling and produces those slower balls to perfection. It was his debut season in IPL and the experience gained will be massive.
Keemo Paul (Rs 50 lac)
The West Indian all-rounder was bought by the Delhi Capitals, who went on to reach the IPL 2019 playoffs. They will feel happy about seeing this piece of business done right. Keemo turned out to be extremely valuable with his exploits. He bowled well and picked up six wickets in six matches for DC. His economy-rate stood out in particular (7.73). The 21-year-old has a great future ahead of him and could be a prominent figure in this DC side for years to come.
Murugan Ashwin (Rs 20 lac)
The leg-spinner was bought by Kings XI Punjab in the auction for just Rs 20 lac and he did a decent job for the side. Ashwin went on to feature in 10 matches for KXIP and was entrusted by the management. He picked up only five wickets, but what he did well was to contain the batsmen in middle overs. His economy-rate of 7.50 highlighted his importance. Murugan played the second fiddle to skipper R Ashwin and did an able job for the team.