IPL Auction 2018: Vijay back in CSK fold

Chennai Super Kings’ quest for a specialist opener finally ended during the first accelerated process of the Indian Premier League Auction 2018, with the two-time champion acquiring the services of Murali Vijay and Englishman Sam Billings. They were bought for Rs 2 crore and Rs 1 crore respectively. 

Vijay will now have the opportunity to represent his home town franchise after having stints with Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils over the last four years. Local lad N Jagadeesan was obtained for Rs 20 lakh, his base price. The Dindigul Dragons opener caught the eyeballs during the inaugural edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League with his elegant shot-making.  

Former Rising Pune Supergiant quick bowler Shardul Thakur was CSK’s biggest buy of the day at Rs 2.6 crore. The right-arm fast bowler will reunite with head coach Stephen Fleming after playing under him last season. 

Deepak Chahar, who was also part of the RPS setup, was snapped up by the Chennai franchise for Rs 80 lakh. The side had to look for alternative options in the pace bowling unit as its moves for Jaydev Unadkat and Aussie Andrew Tye failed to materialise. 

Tye will now ply his trade with Kings XI Punjab, which came up trumps after involving in a bidding war with CSK. South African pacer Lungisani Ngidi was purchased for his base price of Rs 50 lakh. 

“Very excited for what is coming ahead all glory to god @ChennaiIPL,” he tweeted after receiving his maiden IPL call-up. 

Ngidi made his Test debut against India in the recently-concluded three-match series. CSK also added to its roster English international Mark Wood for Rs 1.5 crore as another fast bowling candidate. It further strengthened its spin bowling department by roping in Kiwi all-rounder Mitchell Santner, picking him at Rs 50 lakh.  

Rookie bowlers Monu Singh and Asif KM were acquired towards the business end of the two-day event at Rs 20 lakh and Rs 40 lakh respectively. Chennai also obtained four uncapped all-rounders in Dhruv Shorey, Kshitiz Sharma, Chaitanya Bishnoi and Kanishk Seth. 

All were bought at their base price of Rs 20 lakh. Having already bought eight players on the opening day, the returning franchise added another 14 players to its squad for the upcoming season. 

CSK was one of the four franchises, alongside Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, to have finished its maximum quota. Despite having a total of 25 players, it was left with a remaining purse amount of Rs 6.5 crore. 

SHARDUL THAKUR Base Price: 75 Lakh Sold Price: 2.6 Cr 

MARK WOOD Base Price: 1.5 Cr Sold Price: 1.5 Cr 

SAM BILLINGS Base Price: 1 Cr Sold Price: 1 Cr 

LUNGISANI NGIDI Base Price: 50 Lakh Sold Price: 50 Lakh 

MURALI VIJAY Base Price: 2 Cr Sold Price: 2 Cr 

DEEPAK CHAHAR Base Price: 20 Lakh Sold Price: 80 Lakh 

MITCHELL SANTNER Base Price: 50 Lakh Sold Price: 50 Lakh 

ASIF KM Base Price: 40 Lakh Sold Price: 20 Lakh 

N JAGADEESAN Base Price: 20 Lakh Sold Price: 20 Lakh 

KANISHK SETH Base Price: 20 Lakh Sold Price: 20 Lakh 

MONU SINGH Base Price: 20 Lakh Sold Price: 20 Lakh 

DHRUV SHOREY Base Price: 20 Lakh Sold Price: 20 Lakh 

KSHITIZ SHARMA Base Price: 20 Lakh Sold Price: 20 Lakh 

CHAITANYA BISHNOI Base Price: 20 Lakh Sold Price: 20 Lakh