IPL 2020: 5 costliest buys at the auction and how they'll improve their respective franchises

#5 Nathan Coulter-Nile

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Definitely a surprise inclusion in this list, Nathan Coulter-Nile was the fifth most-expensive purchase at the auction and was sold to the Mumbai Indians for ₹8 crores. With a base price of ₹1 crore, Coulter-Nile immediately attracted the interest of last season’s finalists, the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings.

Both the franchises went all guns blazing in their pursuit of the 32-year-old, and after a lot of deliberation, Chennai backed out and Mumbai got their man for a whopping amount of ₹8 crores.

Although substantially more expensive than what they might have liked, Coulter-Nile’s inclusion in the squad gives Mumbai a lot of options.

His all-round ability can allow Mumbai to go into games with as many as four all-rounders, namely Kieron Pollard, Hardik and Krunal Pandya, and Coulter-Nile himself, and he’s an extremely good option when entrusted to bowl as well (although he tends to be a bit too expensive at times).

Additionally, Coulter-Nile’s athleticism in the field is an added bonus as well. Although, most of the scepticism regarding this purchase has come because of the Australian’s worrying injury record.

Coulter-Nile was a part of RCB’s squad last season but had to return home without playing a single game for the franchise due to a stiff back. If he manages to keep himself fit, he can prove to be an extremely shrewd purchase. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen though.