Who fared the best - Delhi Capitals

Historically, the Knight Riders always pick a small team and try to optimise the resources they have to sail the boat through. However, as Venky Mysore admitted in the press conference, the logistical challenges of hiring a replacement mid-way through the IPL are daunting at the moment, thus they decided to fill in the entire squad. But it is baffling that even in such a year, they failed to address one of their most glaring weaknesses last season. Shubman Gill needed an attacking opener to accompany him but it seemed like KKR have a way to confidence in Rahul Tripathi. Having Shakib-Al-Hasan in the side once again doesn’t really make sense if you look at the overall team composition, thus one could really argue if that can make any tides tick. Ben Cutting is a sure back-up for Russell, but he is past his prime and any addition will be a bonus. Overall, KKR have made their bowling really strong but left a lot of gaping holes, especially when they had an option to fill them.

Kedar Jadhav was snapped up by the Sunrisers in the eleventh hour of the auction for his base price, but so good was the purchase that it has a genuine claim to not just be a steal, but one of the best buys in the auction. Despite having potential in abundance, Sunrisers, with the young middle-order of theirs, yearned for a level-headed, experienced Indian campaigner and in the form of Jadhav, they have just that. The lack of a ‘banker’ in the lower middle-order plagued them last season, but what Jadhav’s signing does is give the likes of Warner, Bairstow, and Pandey even more freedom, for they can bat knowing very well that there will be an experienced campaigner down the order to steady the ship should things go south, something that was not the case last season. His strike-rate will, of course, make him a villain in the eyes of a plethora of fans, but, if used effectively, Jadhav can be an asset to any T20 side in the world. 

Overpriced Signing of the Auction - Glenn Maxwell

Best overseas signing - Chris Morris (Rajasthan Royals)

Let’s face it - Chris Morris is not going to get a lot of ‘good’ messages coming his way in the next day or so. Overrated and overpriced are two terms that will be used extensively to describe him. He got sold for a whopping 16.25 crore - the most expensive signing in IPL history - and for someone who hasn’t played any professional cricket since the last IPL, those are figures that are mind-numbing. But if we indeed manage to curb the myopic viewpoint, RR’s purchase of Morris is genuinely good. Their Achilles heel last season was all pacers not named Jofra Archer but now, in the form of Morris, they have a world-class, IPL-experienced seamer who can double-up with the Englishman and maybe even make the RR pace-attack formidable. Last season, Morris was statistically the best bowler at the death, and even ignoring the firepower he brings down the order, the South African has the potential to drastically improve the Rajasthan side by leaps and bounds - which is precisely why he bags our ‘Best overseas signing’ award. Perhaps we’d have given it to Jameison or Richardson had they had the CV to back-up their pay-day, but Morris is a truly world-class customer who is bound to undoubtedly elevate the RR side.  

Lukman Meriwala has the kind of numbers which make you go, “What? How has he never been picked all these years?”. It has been a long wait, but the veteran from Baroda finally got his deserved IPL contract this time around. And at a mere 20 lakh, you just can’t help but feel it is the biggest steal of the IPL 2021 auction. Meriwala was earmarked by many as the ‘name to watch out for’ and you could understand why: he is a left-arm seamer who bowls fast, he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker of SMAT 2021 and he has a career economy of 6.72. All this combined with the fact that he is Indian - Good Indian fast bowlers are the most precious commodity in the IPL, mind you - makes him perhaps ‘the most extremely attractive prospect’, so to snap him up for 20 lakh is outrageous. Add further context to Meriwala’s signing - he serves as the complimentary left-arm seamer for Rabada, Nortje, and Ishant Sharma - and it is truly absurd how Delhi managed to pull the coup off with no one even opposing them. The undisputed steal of the IPL 2021 auction. 

Best uncapped Signing of the Auction - Shahrukh Khan

Best player who was not bought - Alex Hales

KKR needed him, but one doesn’t need any magic power to understand why they didn’t go for him - the Morgan factor, of course. But if you tell me, Hales couldn’t be of any use to any other team, I am sorry, you’re probably watching the wrong sport. An absolute beast of an opener and a batsman whose reputation as a power-hitter grew multifold in the last year is unsold. Let that sink in first. For example, Chennai Super Kings, whose back-up openers read Robin Uthappa and Narayan Jagadeesan, could have really added him to the squad instead of going bonkers for Moeen Ali. To be fair, Moeen is a good addition but Krishnappa Gowtham does the job in a way. Delhi lack a spunky opener and Hales could have added a lot to a side that have way too many anchors now.