Jeddah (Saudi Arabia): The IPL Auction on Sunday witnessed a series of exciting moments, with several uncapped players hitting the jackpot, joining the league of crorepatis alongside stars like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Venkatesh Iyer.
As the auction unfolded, players with base prices as low as Rs 30 lakh soared into crorepati territory, signaling the growing value of uncapped talent in the IPL.
The first major surprise of the night came when Suyash Sharma, previously with Kolkata Knight Riders, was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a massive Rs 2.60 crore. This was the result of a fierce bidding battle with Mumbai Indians (MI), who backed out after the price exceeded Rs 2.5 crore.
Next, uncapped pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar caused a stir as Punjab Kings outbid Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad, securing him for a staggering Rs 1.80 crore, far surpassing his base price of Rs 30 lakh. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Mayank Markande found a new home at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 30 lakh, while veteran Piyush Chawla was left unsold.
Among the all-rounders, Ashutosh Sharma's price went through the roof as Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings fought fiercely for his services. Ultimately, DC triumphed, signing the 22-year-old for a whopping Rs 3.80 crore, well above his starting price.
The biggest shock of the evening came when uncapped wicketkeeper Naman Dhir was sold to Mumbai Indians for an eye-popping Rs 5.25 crore. Initially starting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, Dhir’s price surged after a fierce bidding war with Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals.
Meanwhile, uncapped pacer Rasikh Dar caused a stir when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured him for Rs 6 crore after a long bidding battle with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC).
The auctions also saw big-money deals for players like Mahipal Lomror (Rs 1.70 crore to Gujarat Titans), Vijay Shankar (Rs 1.20 crore to Chennai Super Kings), and Abdul Samad, who fetched Rs 4.20 crore, heading to Lucknow Super Giants.
The trend of uncapped players earning big bucks at the IPL Auction is a testament to the league’s growing recognition of fresh talent, paving the way for new heroes to emerge on the cricketing scene.
With several uncapped players bagging huge amounts, the IPL continues to be a platform where opportunities abound for young, promising talent to make their mark.
