Colin Munro

Indian Premier League's eleventh edition auction made it quite evident that the wish-list of team owners had no space for nostalgia. While Lasith Malinga went unsold, Chris Gayle got third-time lucky when Kings XI Punjab snapped him up at his base price. Players like Ben Stokes, Jaydev Unadkat and Manish Pandey were buyers’ favourites whereas few big guns were grabbed at remarkably low prices. Let’s have a look at the big steals of 2018 IPL auctions: Faf Du Plessis South African Test captain Faf Du Plessis was retained by Chennai Super Kings, who used the Right to Match card on him. KXIP bought him for Rs 1.6 Cr but CSK trumped them by using their RTM card. Du Plessis had a good first season with the franchise and in 2012, was one of the most successful run-scorers for the team. Colin Munro The world’s No.1 ranked Twenty20 batsman will play for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League this season. The New Zealand player was bought by DD for 1.9 crore rupees at the annual auction on Saturday, it is definitely a steal deal for Delhi, given the form he has shown this summer. The opener has scored 947 runs in 38 matches at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 161. Chris Gayle Known for power hitting, Chris Gayle has lit many matches in every season of IPL with fireworks from his bat. He has scored 3636 runs in 101 matches, with the highest average of 41.2 among all batsmen in the IPL. He disappointed with his performance in 2017, due to which owners seemed reluctant empty their kitty. This year he went to Kings XI Punjab at his base price of Rs 2 crore. Quinton De Kock Quinton De Kock was priced at 2 crores at the beginning of the auction. The South African has scored 726 runs in 26 matches at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 133. To get him at such low price is indeed a great gain for RCB. Imran Tahir The number one ODI bowler South African leg-spinner went to CSK for his base price of Rs. 1 crore to Chennai Super Kings. The leggie started-off his career in 2014 with Delhi Daredevils. With 47 wickets in 32 IPL matches at an average of 24.46 and an economy of 8.21, Tahir has made his mark in his short IPL career.

Colin Munro

IPL Auction 2018: 5 Steal deals of the season