IPL Auction 2020: 5 best bargains buys

Ahead of the 2020 IPL season the players have gone under the hammer again, with an awful lot of money spent on cricketers from all round the world.

The big winner from the auction was Australian seamer Pat Cummins, who is currently ranked as the number one Test bowler in the world. He was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 15.5 crore (US $2.1m), making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history - overtaking the record previously owned by Ben Stokes.

There were two other Australians joining Cummins as the most expensive players at the auction. The Kings XI Punjab won the auction for Glenn Maxwell, paying INR 10.75 crore (US $1.5m) for his services, while Chris Morris was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 10 crore (US $1.4m).

Elsewhere, there was a hefty paycheck for IPL debutant Sheldon Cottrell, who was bought by the Kings XI Punjab for INR 8.5 crore (US $1.2m). There was also big money spent on his international teammate Shimron Hetmyer, who was picked up by the Delhi Capitals for a fee of INR 7.75 crore (US $1.1m).

As for Indian players, 17-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal, who recently became the youngest player to score a List A double ton, struck gold as the Sunrisers Hyderabad shelled out INR 2.4 crore (US $338,000) on the batsman.

However, not everyone was picked up at huge prices, and some players could prove to be very good value for money. Here are the five best bargain buys of the IPL 2020 auction.

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#1 Deepak Hooda to Kings XI Punjab

Hooda was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad last season

Despite not having the best record in the IPL in recent years, Deepak Hooda was one of the most talented Indian players going up in the auction. Therefore, with the Kings XI Punjab picking him up for just INR 50 lakh (US $70,000), he could prove to be an excellent buy.

At 24, Hooda is still an improving player, and is really awaiting that breakthrough season in the IPL. If he can hit form with the Kings XI, he could be a real asset - especially given that he can have an impact in the game with both bat and ball.

#2 Jason Roy to Delhi Capitals

Roy was in stunning form for England at the World Cup

In the last few years we have seen more and more English players head over to the IPL, and that trend has continued this year. The likes of Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler, who are all with the Rajasthan Royals, have been joined at the tournament by players such as Tom Banton and Eoin Morgan.

They will also be joined by Jason Roy, who was picked up by the Delhi Capitals for INR 1.5 crore (US $210,000).

For a player who has shown his power and ability to score quickly at the top of the order consistently in recent years, this seems like a pretty low price. At the auction, Australian opener Aaron Finch went for nearly three times the price of Roy, and in terms of their recent records, there isn’t too much of a difference between the pair.

Bringing some experience to what is quite a young batting order, Roy could be a superb buy for the Delhi Capitals.

#3 David Miller to the Rajasthan Royals

Despite his poor recent form, Miller remains a quality middle order batsman

There is no doubt that David Miller has struggled a bit for form in recent years. At the World Cup, he was one of many under-performing South African players who found himself out of the side.

However, Miller has proved countless times that he is a player who can turn it on and change any game. The finest example of this came at the IPL in 2013, where he smashed a stunning 37-ball hundred to take the Kings XI Punjab to an unlikely victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

At just INR 75 lakh (US $105,000), Miller could be an absolute steal for the Royals. He is 30 years of age now, so has a wealth of white-ball and IPL experience to add to the Royals squad.

With a host of overseas players in the Rajasthan squad already, Miller may not get too many opportunities, but he is someone who can seamlessly come into the team if needed.

#4 Jimmy Neesham to Kings XI Punjab

Neesham was the only New Zealand player picked up at the auction

Despite their impressive white-ball record in recent years, which includes reaching the last two World Cup finals, very few New Zealand players have been picked up for the IPL.

The likes of Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner and Kane Williamson are already there, but Tim Southee, Martin Guptill and Colin de Grandhomme all surprisingly went unsold at the auction. Jimmy Neesham was the only New Zealander picked up yesterday.

As a batsman, Neesham adds important depth to the Kings XI squad; that coupled with his bowling could make him a vital player in their squad.

Given some of the inflated prices of other all-rounders, Neesham’s cost of INR 50 lakh (US $70,000) could be a real bargain. He has experience in white-ball cricket around the world and has proved his skills in multiple competitions, so he will be looking to take that record to the IPL.

#5 Chris Woakes to Delhi Capitals

Woakes is an important part of England's one-day side

When you look at some of the fees paid in the auction, you get an idea of how much of a bargain Chris Woakes is to the Delhi Capitals at INR 1.5 crore (US $211,000).

Chris Morris cost the Royal Challengers Bangalore INR 10 crore (US $1.4m), while Mumbai Indians paid INR 8 crore (US $1.1 m) for Nathan Coulter-Nile. Both are similar players to Woakes, but neither is significantly better, and it could be argued that the Englishman is the most talented out of the three.

The 30-year-old was a key part of the England side that won the World Cup, while neither Coulter-Nile nor Morris were in their respective side’s first XI. Woakes has been a consistent performer for England with both bat and ball, playing 139 games for his country and taking 241 wickets in that time.

By picking him up, the Capitals have pulled off one of the steals of the auction.