Today morning there was the first ever IPL draft. IPL the Twenty20, corporate version of cricket. There was a lot of bidding going on the final results of which you can view here.
On the overall process: All players were divided into categories. These categories were created depending on the base price for every player. The players were bought in an auction style when the appropriate category was introduced. Nowhere will you see players being traded like vegetables. However, the players are making a lot of money so i dont think they would mind being tossed around like that.
Onwards to the good stuff, the teams.
Team Jaipur. Owned by: Emerging Media
World class spinner in Shane Warne: $450k. A player who has played only 20-20 game, Yusuf Pathan: $475k and Mohd. Kaif for $675k, stupid. Other players you selected are not too great, nothing that sizzles. They screwed up and underspent, BCCI required them to spend atleast 3.3million and they spent only 2.9million. Pink bungling idiots.
Current Count: 4 Batsmen, 2 Bowlers, 1 Allrounder, 1 Wicketkeeper.
5 International, 3 Locals
Money Spent: 2.925 Million
Team Chennai aka Chennai Super Kings. Owned by: India Cements.
They paid 1.5 million for MS Dhoni which is a serious commitment making him the most expensive player in the IPL. However Matthew Hayden an awesome top order player who can turn the tide of game in the opening overs went for a paltry $375k, a lucky steal! Comparitively, Glenn McGrath the last player sold went for for $375k. Chennai got a really good deal and it is reflected on the size of their roster. They managed to get Muralitharan and Mike Hussey who went surprisingly late. The other players are quite good as they are 20-20 specialists and have fared well in T20 games.
Current Count: 4 Batsmen, 2 Bowlers, 3 Allrounders 2 Wicketkeepers.
7 International, 4 Locals
Money Spent: 5.95 Million
Team Mumbai. Owned by: Reliance Industries
Mumbai played the IPL draft quite differently. They didn’t get too many players, instead they spent a lot of money on few players. Sachin, Jayasuriya, Harbhajan, Uthappa all went over 800k. They have a total of 8 players like Jaipur but have spent 1 million dollars more. This includes the 1.125 Million they have to pay to Sachin for being their icon player. I am not sure what Mumbai’s logic was in this draft.
Current Count: 3 Batsmen, 3 Bowlers, 2 Allrounders, no wicketkeepers
5 International, 3 Local
Money Spent: 3.85 Million
Team Bangalore aka Royal Challengers owned by: Kingfisher
The name for Bangalore’s team is “Royal Challengers” – named after the whisky “Royal Challenge”, sucky name.
They seemed the more stingy bunch of the IPL which is surprising considering they are owned by Vijay Mallya. Their most expensive player was Kallis (who didn’t play the T20 world cup) at $975k. The next most expensive player was Anil Kumble and Australian spinner Cameron White at 500k. Both players are big “ifs” in the T20 format. Anil Kumble hasn’t played well in ODIs and he hasn’t played a T20 at all. However they have some good bowlers in Zaheer Khan, Dale Steyn and Nathan Bracken.
Current Count: 3 Batsmen, 5 Bowlers, 1 Allrounder, 1 Wicketkeeper
6 International, 4 Local
Money Spent: 4.99 Million
Team Hyderabad owned by: Deccan Chronicle
Their key player VVS Laxman gave up his Icon status for the “sake of the team” and forfeited extra money. Icon players 15% more than the top player and Laxman gave up that. Currently he gets $375k, if he was the icon player he would have gotten 15% more than Andrew Symonds’ 1.35 million. Stupid move VVS. The IPL is a money making franchise not your state Ranji team.
Laxman giving up the icon status means Hyderabad sports an awesome team. They have Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Herschelle Gibbs, Shahid Afridi (T20 Man of the Series) and Scott Styris who are all T20 experts and master blasters. They also managed to sneak in India’s best T20 bowler – RP Singh.
Current Count: 4 Batsmen, 3 Bowlers, 3 Allrounders 1 Wicketkeeper
8 International, 3 Local
Money Spent: 5.89 Million
Team Mohali owned by: Preity Zinta and Wadia Group
They were one of they teams that have two players from the same city. Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Yuvraj was the icon player for Mohali. They sprung for a lot of bowlers and have an excellent bowling lineup. Brett Lee, Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan – all excellent in the T20 format. The other choices are not bad. Mohali has also confirmed that Tom Moody will be their coach
Current Count: 4 Batsmen, 4 Bowlers, 1 Allrounder, 1 Wicketkeeper
5 International, 5 Local
Money Spent: 5.68 Million
Team Kolkata owned by: Shah Rukh Khan led Red Chillies Entertainment
This is a very interesting team for several reasons. The icon player is recently dumped Sourav Ganguly who has a massive impact on Kolkata crowds. If he plays well people are going to shout again for his inclusion in the ODI team. Second, his rival captain Ricky Ponting is in the team as well. Third, Ponting’s arch nemesis of late Ishant Sharma (the second most expensive Indian player) has also been roped in. Fourth and the icing on the cake is the ex-Aussie coach John Buchanan. The net sessions and the dressing room is going to have a lot of friction.
The team itself is a very well balanced team although they are a little heavy on the batting side. They managed to grab David Hussey who has been the star of the Australian regional T20s. Umar Gul was an excellent bowler in the T20 world cup and is a steal at $150k. Shoaib Akhtar will be making a comeback after his recent debacles and Tatenda Taibu the lone Zimbabwean and the cheapest player is in the team as well.
Current Count: 3 Batsmen, 5 Bowlers, 1 Allrounder, 2 Wicketkeepers
8 International, 3 Local
Money Spent: 6.07 Million
Team Delhi aka Delhi Daredevils owned by GMR Holdings
This is a mixed bag team. They have two Delhi local players in Sehwag and Gambhir which should bring the crowds. They managed to grab Glenn McGrath as the last player at $375k which is not bad. Paying 675k for Maoj Tiwary, wtf. Dinesh Karthik went for $525k which should give him some motivation to show the board what he can do. They have a lot of all-rounders/batsmen who can bowl; Sehwag, Vettori, Shoaib Malik, Farveez Maharoof, Dilshan. Delhi has already annouced their coach: Victoria’s Greg Shipperd. The third aussie coach in IPL.
Current Count: 5 Batsmen, 3 Bowlers, 2 Allrounders, 1 Wicketkeeper
7 International, 4 Local
Money Spent: 5.68 Million
That’s been one intensive day with its ups(Chennai/Hyderabad) and downs(Jaipur). The draft has surprised quite a few people with some low key players going for a lot of money and other famed players going for nothing. Can’t wait to see the other local players that these IPL teams signup.
Rushi's Ramblings 
I find blogging one of the good ways to spend time.
Indian cricket is the best !
A lot of usefull informations in the article.
Thank you for the informations !
money making is really needed if you want to have some financial security for your own life `~”