During the Indian Premier League auction earlier this year there were quite a few surprises with team owners going all guns blazing with their budget. Ben Stokes emerged as the most expensive player, followed by Jaydev Unadkat but both have failed to justify the big money spent on them.
Along with Stokes and Unadkat, many have failed to live up to their reputation. Meanwhile, others have done well enough to justify the faith shown by their owners,
Here’s a look at the 10 most expensive players and how they have fared in IPL 2018:
1. Ben Stokes (Rs 12.5 Crore)
Ben Stokes was picked up by Rajasthan Royals at a staggering Rs 12.5 crore but has failed to live up to the billing. In the 13 matches he has played for the Royals this season, Stokes has managed to score only 196 runs at a strike rate of 121.73. With the bowl too, he has failed to impress, taking only eight wickets. Stokes, along with his England teammates left before the last match in the group stage. The Royals eventually qualified for the play-offs but lost out to Kolkata Knight Riders in the eliminator. If Rajasthan want to better their performance next season then it is imperative that Ben Stokes starts justifying his price.
2. Jaydev Unadkat (Rs 11.5 Crore)
After a successful campaign in 2017, where he claimed 24 wickets from 12 matches for the Rising Pune Supergiant, Rajasthan Royals again broke the bank for Jaydev Unadkat, taking the bowler home for Rs 11.5 crore. With only 11 wickets in 15 matches, Unadkat hasn’t done enough to justify his price tag. Not only wickets, Unadkat has also given runs at the rate of 9.65 runs per over.
3. KL Rahul (Rs 11 Crore)
Kings XI Punjab lapped up the Karnataka batsman on the Day 1 of the auction at a steep price of Rs. 11 crore and Rahul has done well both for himself and the team to prove all the pennies’ worth. Playing is all the matches, Rahul along with Gayle has ensured that the Punjab outfit get off to a great start. Kings XI’s great run this season can be attributed to Rahul’s personal form. In 14 matches Rahul has scored 659 runs at a strike rate of 158.41. This season he also scored the fastest IPL half-century against Delhi Daredevils.
4. Manish Pandey (Rs 11 Crore)
One of the most impressive young batsmen in the IPL since its inception, Manish Pandey is yet to hit his mark this season. Picked up by Sunrisers for Rs. 11 crore, Manish has struck only 284 runs in the 15 matches he has played at a poor strike rate of 115.44. Manish, the first Indian centurion in the IPL, will look need improve his form if he desires to start for the Sunrisers next season.
5. Chris Lynn (Rs 9.6 Crore)
After decimating bowlers in the 2017 IPL season, it wasn’t a secret that Lynn would be one of the sought-after batsmen during the auction. KKR went all the way and spent Rs 9.6 crores using the Right To Match card to draft him back into the side. He was the franchise’s costliest buy in the 2018 IPL Auction. One of the most feared openers in this format, Lynn along with Narine has been instrumental in getting KKR off to flier. After an injury scare ahead of the tournament, Lynn came strongly to score 491 runs at a strike rate of 130.23 in 16 matches. Most importantly Lynn has been consistent in this edition of the IPL.
6. Mitchell Starc (Rs 9.4 Crore)
Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the 2018 Indian Premier League due to a right leg injury after he was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for a Rs 9.4 crore at the auction. Later, Kolkata Knight Riders picked English all-rounder Tom Curran as the replacement for Starc for Rs. 1.62 crore from the Registered and Available Player Pool list.
7. Glenn Maxwell (Rs 9 Crore)
Glenn Maxwell was picked up by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 9 crores after out bidding Sunrisers and Rajasthan Royals in a fierce battle. Unfortunately, Maxwell has been able to maximise the trust shown in him by his team owner. Expected to be the main hold of the Delhi batting, Maxwell has failed to convert his starts. Except a good outing against Kolkata Knight Riders where he scored 47, Maxwell has been a failure this season. He has scored only 169 runs from 12 innings but at a mediocre strike rate of 140.83. With his part time off-spins he has also taken only 5 wickets in 12 outings.
8. Rashid Khan (Rs 9 Crore)
World number one T20 bowler, Rashid Khan, as expected was one of the hottest properties of the auction this year. Sunrisers took the much sought-after Afghani spinner home for a massive Rs 9 crore. Rashid may not be showing the form of his debut year, but he still has been effective, taking 21 wickets in 17 matches at an exceptional economy of 6.83. In the second qualifier against Kolkata Knight Riders not only did he manage to take 3/19 but also scored an unbeaten 34 off 10 balls to take his side to a decent total. In the same match he took two catches and aided a crucial run out.
9. Krunal Pandya (Rs 8.8 Crore)
Mumbai Indians have got their every penny worth with Krunal Pandya, whom they had bagged for Rs 8.8 crore during the auction. Krunal Pandya has also done little wrong this season to justify the faith shown in him by the Mumbai management. Successful both with the bat and ball, Krunal has been the only shining light, apart from the young spinner Mayank Markande, in an otherwise dismal show by the Mumbai outfit this season. With the bat, Krunal has scroed 228 runs in 14 matches at a healthy strike rate of 145.22. He has also been a crucial cog in the bowling line-up of his team, giving them crucial breakthroughs. Krunal has bagged 12 wickets in 14 matches, leaking only 7.07 runs every over.
10. Sanju Samson (Rs 8 Crore)
The pocket-size dynamite from Kerala returned to Rajasthan Royals after a gap of two years when they bid Rs 8 crore for him during the auction. Sanju started this season with a bang when he went on to score an unbeaten 92 off 45 balls, which included 10 sixes, against Royal Challengers Bangalore to see his side home. Sanju, known for his hard hitting, has scored 441 runs in his 15 matches at a decent strike rate of 137.81.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)