In the IPL 2024 mini-auction, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) engaged in a spirited bidding war for West Indies batter Rovman Powell, listed at a base price of 1 crore in the capped batters' segment. KKR initially led the charge, prompting RR's participation. Eventually, KKR secured Powell for a substantial Rs 7.4 crore in the opening round. Surprisingly, Rajasthan later clinched Powell for the same amount, utilizing a significant chunk of their available funds.
Travis Head, the Australian batsman celebrated for his ICC Men's ODI World Cup final heroics, entered the auction at Rs 2 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad triumphed in a bidding battle against Chennai Super Kings, signing Head for 6.80 crore. Meanwhile, England's Harry Brook, valued at Rs 2 crore, found a new team in Delhi Capitals for 4 crore.
Despite the intense bids, players like Rilee Rossouw, Karun Nair, Manish Pandey, and Steve Smith remained unsold in this phase, setting the stage for further excitement in the upcoming IPL season.
Key Points:
1. The IPL 2024 mini-auction commenced with a fierce bidding clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for West Indies batter Rovman Powell, ultimately won by KKR.
2. Powell, the West Indies T20I skipper, had a base price of 1 crore in the capped batters' section, initiating a competitive bidding tussle between KKR and RR.
3. KKR secured Powell's services for Rs 7.4 crore after an intense bidding exchange, utilizing a significant portion of their available auction funds.
4. Rajasthan Royals later managed to acquire Powell for the same amount, spending a considerable portion of their remaining purse out of 14.50 crores.
5. Australian batter Travis Head, renowned for his heroic performance in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup final, entered the auction at a base price of Rs 2 crore and was eventually purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 6.80 crore following a heated contest with Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
6. Notably, Head has previously been part of Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
7. Another English batsman, Harry Brook, started with a base price of Rs 2 crore and was successfully acquired by Delhi Capitals for 4 crore.
8. South African Rilee Rossouw, India's Karun Nair and Manish Pandey, along with former Australian captain Steve Smith, remained unsold in the initial bidding round.
9. Powell, also the captain of Barbados Royals in the CPL, drew substantial attention in the auction owing to his T20 expertise and leadership skills.
10. The intense bidding for various players showcased the competitive nature of the auction, with franchises strategically utilizing their available funds to secure key players for the upcoming IPL season.
(With Agency Inputs)
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