With a stupendous performance in the domestic season, followed by a last over heroics in the last match of the three-match T20 series against Australia, all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is sure to attract the attention of the bidders as the Indian Premier League gets ready for another players’ auction in Bangalore on Saturday.
Making a comeback into the T20 Indian side after some scintillating performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Punjab, Yuvraj did not get an opportunity to prove his mettle with the bat in the first two games against Australia. However, when he did get a chance in the third and final match, he did not let the opportunity go and played a cameo, hitting a four and a six off the first two balls off Andrew Tye in the last over that paved India’s win against Australia and India won the match and the series 3-0.
He was also quite good with the balls in the first two matches in which he claimed the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell both times. The all-rounder also took one sharp catch at extra cover, which gave glimpses of Yuvraj at his best. “Yuvraj, 34, was offloaded by Daredevils who had worked out a whopping Rs 16 crore for him. Maybe getting an India recall, and the fact that he looks like featuring at the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 at home in March, will lure franchises towards him further,” says a report in the Times Of India.
A total of 351 players are set to go under the hammer, including 230 Indian players and 121 from overseas. But what makes this auction different is the presence of two new franchises --- Pune and Rajkot --- eager to get their squads together.
According to a report in the HT, this time, every IPL franchise apart from Pune and Rajkot has retained at least 13 players. “IPL franchises can have a maximum of 27 players, including nine overseas recruits. And if all franchises look to fill their quota that would mean 116 players --- including up to 36 overseas players --- would be bought at this auction. The calculation means Pune and Rajkot would have to be on their toes as with only five players in their squads so far, onus is on them to give shape to their team as soon as possible,” says the report.
Marquee Players
PLAYER |
TYPE |
BASE PRICE |
Ishant Sharma |
Bowler |
₹2,00,00,000 |
Shane Watson |
All-Rounder |
₹2,00,00,000 |
Kevin Pietersen |
Batsman |
₹2,00,00,000 |
Yuvraj Singh |
All-Rounder |
₹2,00,00,000 |
Dale Steyn |
Bowler |
₹1,50,00,000 |
Aaron Finch |
Batsman |
₹1,00,00,000 |
Martin Guptill |
Batsman |
₹50,00,000 |
Dwayne Smith |
All-Rounder |
₹50,00,000 |