South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris and uncapped Indian cricketer Krishnappa Gowtham were the record purchases in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction held in Chennai on Thursday. While Morris was purchased by Rajasthan Royals for INR 14.25 crores, Gautam was snapped up by Chennai Super Kings for a price of INR 9.25 crores.
Morris, who has not played any form of cricket since his injury in the previous edition of IPL cricket tournament held in late 2020 in the United Arab Emirates, broke the record of Yuvraj Singh who was bought by Delhi Capitals for a huge sum of INR 16 crores in the IPL 2015 auction. Morris was released by his former side Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the auction this year.
Former Rajasthan Royals captain Steve Smith, who was released by his franchisee ahead of the auction, was roped in by Delhi capital for a price of Rs.2.20 crores.
New Zealand all-rounder Kyle Jamieson, who has had a terrific debut in international cricket, was snapped up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a huge price of INR 15 crores from a base price of INR 75 lakhs.
The IPL auction kept to the script of throwing up massive surprises for which they are known for. The veteran Australian all-rounder in Glenn Maxwell, who was also released by his franchise Kings XI Punjab—renamed to Punjab Kings from IPL 2021 onwards—was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a huge price of INR 14.25 crores. Maxwell was also released following disappointing performances over the last few seasons with both bat and the ball.
Punjab Kings, however, did extremely well to get the world number one T20 international batsman, England’s Dawid Malan for his base price of INR 1.50 crores. They also did very well to bid hard and long for the budding Australia fast bowler in Jhye Richardson, who had a terrific season in the recent Big Bash League tournament with both bat and the ball for the Perth Scorchers.
Then what also came as a surprise, Punjab Kings worked hard to buy Australia fast bowler in Riley Meredith, purchasing him for a high price of INR 8 crore from a base price of INR 40 lakhs.
Among the other players went for higher prices were New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne, who was taken by Mumbai Indians for a price of INR 3.20 crores from a base price of INR 50 lakhs whereas Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dubey was sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 4.40 crores from a base price of INR 50 lakhs.