Mumbai: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) emptied their coffer to Australian all-rounder Shane Watson in the IPL 2016 auction held on Saturday. What made them do so? They already have star players like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
However, had they used their pocket better, they could have bought an entire team instead – with genuine opening batsmen, strike bowlers and all-rounders.
Let’s have a look.
Aaron Finch (sold to Gujarat Lions for Rs 1 crore): The Australia T20 skipper is one of the best in the shortest formats and any team would grab him.
Aaron Finch (Photo: AFP)
Dwayne Smith (sold to Gujarat Lions for Rs 2.3 crore): He was dangerous upfront for Chennai Super Kings. Along with Brendon McCullum, he snatched the game from opponents in the first 10 overs in many instances.
Dwayne Smith (Photo: BCCI)
Sam Billings (sold to Delhi Daredevils for Rs 30 lakh): He is a decent batsman who can also keep wickets with a strike rate of 156.6 in T20.
Sam Billings (Photo: AP)
Armaan Jaffer (sold to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 10 lakh): The right-handed batsman, who happens to India veteran Wasim Jaffer’s nephew, created ripples in U-19 and school cricket. He is young and can also bowl right-arm offbreak.
Armaan Jaffer during his school cricket days (Photo: Facebook)
Colin Munro (sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 30 lakh): He is New Zealand’s T20 specialist these days. A medium pace bowler with hard hitting capabilities.
Colin Munro (Photo: AP)
Baba Aparajith (sold to Rising Pune Supergiants for Rs 10 lakh): He was always a part of Chennai Super Kings team but is yet to make his debut in IPL. But he can turn out to be an utility player, both with the bat and ball.
Baba Aparajith (Photo: AP)
Rajat Bhatia (sold to Rising Pune Supergiants for Rs 60 lakh): Once a member of the victorious Kolkata Knight Riders team, Bhatia’s medium pace is best suited for the death. Well, he can bat too.
Rajat Bhatia (Photo: BCCI)
Irfan Pathan (sold to Rising Pune Supergiants for Rs 1 crore): One of the all-rounders to watch out for. He is one cricketer who can both open the bowling as well as batting.
Irfan Pathan (Photo: AP)
Krunal Pandya (sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs 2 crore): The elder brother of India cricketer Hardik Pandya is also a big hitter and bowls slow left-arm.
Krunal Pandya (Photo: Facebook)
Joel Paris (sold to Delhi Daredevils for Rs 30 lakh): The 23-year-old Australian rookie pacer could open the bowling with Pathan.
Joel Paris (Photo: BCCI)
Pravin Tambe (sold to Gujarat Lions for Rs 20 lakh): Tambe adds to that one specialist spinner list, he has been one of the successful bowlers for Rajasthan Royals.
Pravin Tambe (Photo: BCCI)
