Who’ll buy Yuvi, and other Big Questions

Jaipur, December 17

Yuvraj Singh faces the risk of going unsold at tomorrow’s auction for IPL 2019, with the teams factoring in the availability of foreign players in a World Cup year. Yuvraj, sold for a record Rs 16 crore in his prime, was bought by Kings XI Punjab at his base price of Rs 2 crore at the auction in January this year. While Chris Gayle repaid the faith KXIP had in him with a fruitful season, Yuvraj could make only 65 runs in eight matches, and the team released him.

The 37-year-old has put himself in the Rs 1 crore base price bracket this time, alongside Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel. No Indian figures in the highest base price of Rs 2 crore in a pool of 346 cricketers set to go under the hammer. 

The nine players in the Rs 2 crore bracket are Brendon McCullum, Chris Woakes, Lasith Malinga, Shaun Marsh, Sam Curran, Colin Ingram, Corey Anderson, Angelo Mathews and D’Arcy Short. Teams are likely to chase experienced overseas players such as Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales, who have put themselves in the Rs 1.5 crore category. Indian all-rounder Jaydev Unadkat, who was bought for Rs 11.5 crore by Rajasthan Royals, will feature in the same bracket.

A total of 70 players can be bought at the auction, with 20 slots available for the foreign players. India Test regulars like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma have also thrown their hat into the ring with base prices of Rs 50 and Rs 75 lakh, respectively.

A host of uncapped Indian players will be up for grabs, some of them expected to turn millionaires overnight. Keeping the hectic schedule in mind leading up to the World Cup in England. — PTI