An eventful day 1 of the Indian T20 League 2022 mega auction saw all ten teams going big for their targets. Opening batter Shikhar Dhawan opened the proceedings, joining Team Punjab for INR 8.25 crore before Shreyas Iyer became the first player to breach the INR 10-crore mark.
Among the bowlers, a certain Deepak Chahar attracted the highest bid with a price of INR 14 crore while Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga was among the top all-rounder with an INR 10.75 crore bid.
The highlight of the day, however, was the intense bidding war for Ishan Kishan, who ended up as the most expensive buy of day 1.
On that note, let’s look at five players who attracted the highest bids on Day 1 of the Indian T20 League 2022 mega auction.
Ishan Kishan to Team Mumbai - INR 15.25 crore
Starting off with a base price of INR 2 crore, it took little to no time for suitors to breach the INR 8 crore mark for Ishan Kishan. By that time, it was evident that Mumbai wasn't going to go down that easily. Until 8 crore, Mumbai managed to ward off interest from Punjab before Gujarat entered the fray to take the bid above INR 10 crore.
By the 12 crore mark, Hyderabad decided to trouble the five-time Indian T20 League winners before Mumbai won the bid at INR 15.25 crore. This made Ishan Kishan the most expensive buy of Day 1 and also made him the second most expensive Indian player at the Indian T20 League auction after Yuvraj Singh's 16 crore.
Deepak Chahar to Team Chennai - INR 14 crore
What started off as rather unhurried bidding ended up with Deepak Chahar pocketing a whopping INR 14 crore from Team Chennai. Team Delhi and Team Hyderabad started the war from his base price of INR 2 crore. The two teams were matching every bid until INR 12 crore before Chennai made a late entry.
Rajasthan joined the defending champions at INR 13.75 crore but Chennai were always a step ahead. By the end, Chennai had their man, albeit at a price of INR 14 crore.
Shreyas Iyer to Team Kolkata - INR 12.25 crore
Former Delhi captain Shreyas Iyer was one of the winners from the marquee set of players, attracting a bid of INR 12.25 crore from Team Kolkata. Iyer was always tipped to attract big bids in the auction hence it does not really come as any surprise that a team went over the 12 crore mark for the batter.
The two-time Indian T20 League winners entered the bidding war after Team Delhi and Team Gujarat had stretched the bid to over INR 6 crore. Kolkata’s idea behind Iyer’s acquisition is a part of their ‘long term thinking’ and the fact that they might as well make him the captain isn't really touched.
“That's a decision the coach and the think tank will take," Venky Mysore, Team Kolkata CEO, said on the official broadcast during a break in proceedings. "I think we need to just digest the activity of today and tomorrow and take stock. Between Cummins and Shreyas, we have got solid options. But the think tank will take the decision."
Shardul Thakur to Team Delhi - INR 10.75 crore
Another top pick among bowlers was Shardul Thakur. The pacer bowler won the bid of INR 10.75 crore as Delhi managed to ward off interest from Team Punjab and Team Gujarat.
The three teams were on the neck of each other from the very beginning. After Punjab and Gujarat had started off the proceedings, Chennai joined the foray at INR 6 crore. The Yellow Army, however, dropped off after the 10 crore mark, leaving Delhi and Punjab the only competitors.
Delhi eventually got his signature for INR 10.75 crore.
Harshal Patel to Team Bangalore - INR 10.75 crore
Last season’s highest wicket-taker, Harshal Patel was rightly expected to attract heavy interest and the suitor did not disappoint. Team Hyderabad seemed adamant about acquiring his services but Bangalore were always a step ahead.
The pace bowler, who went for a mere INR 20 lakh last season, got a 5375 per cent hike this year as Bangalore managed to retain his services at INR 10.75 crore. By that time, he was the first bowler to cross the 10 crore mark on day 1 of the Indian T20 League 2022 mega auction.
Quite interestingly, as many as four players went for exactly INR 10.75 crore. Apart from Shardul Thakur and Harshal Patel, the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Wanindu Hasaranga were snapped up at the same price by Hyderabad and Bangalore respectively.
Featured photo: AFP / Prakash Singh
