The 2021 IPL auction was a thrilling experience for all. A total of 57 players were sold on the auction day at Chennai, which includes 22 foreign players. We saw some players getting sold at costly prices, but meanwhile, they were a few star players who were bought for a very reasonable amount of money. Such buys are always a steal for the franchises.
Now, let us take a look at the three best steals in the 2021 IPL auction:
1. Dawid Malan
One of the biggest surprises in the IPL 2021 auction was Dawid Malan. It was expected to be a bidding war when his name came up in the auction. Surprisingly though, only Punjab Kings bid for Dawid Malan and he was sold for his base price of just 1.5 crores. He has shown us his batting masterclass on many occasions. He averages 53.4 in T20's with a hefty strike rate of 149.5, which is quite remarkable especially in such a competitive format. Nevertheless, David Malan will be happy to join Punjab Kings and he will be hoping to make an impact in his first-ever IPL season.
2. Steve Smith
Next on the list is Steve Smith, the ex-captain of Rajasthan Royals. RR released him after their poor 2020 season reaching last on the table. They have appointed the 26-year-old Sanju Samson from Kerala as the successor to lead RR this year. Smith was sold to Delhi Capitals for 2.2 crores, just above his base price which amazed many. We saw a big change in his price tag, from 12.5 crores for RR to 2.2 crores for DC in just a year. He is a very consistent performer and has shown his worth every season. Steve Smith has scored 300 plus runs in his last three IPL seasons and has the capability to hold together any batting team. Moreover, his captaincy skills and experience will come in handy for the young Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer. DD will surely be happy to have Steve Smith in their squad, especially for such a low price.
3. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan was bought back by KKR for a steal of 3.2 crores. During the IPL auction, we saw all the big bids going for the fast bowlers and the all-rounders. Sadly, Shakib did not seem to be one among them, even though he is a very consistent performer and is one of the best all-rounders in the game. He was even the ICC's number one all-rounder in all three formats of the game in 2015. Shakib Al Hasan has played 76 T20 matches and has scored more than 1500 runs. Along with this, he has taken 92 wickets under an economy of seven and with his best figures of 5 for 20. Kolkata Knight Riders will be delighted to have a player like Shakib, who can bat anywhere in their line-up and bowl in any given situation.
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