The IPL auction is a high-stakes gamble. Franchises often get ridiculed for splurging on unknown names, injury-prone veterans, or seemingly underwhelming picks. But every so often, those very decisions flip the script and create legends. Here are the top 5 IPL auction picks that initially sparked criticism, memes, or confusion, but later turned into pure gold for their teams.
5. Chris Gayle – ₹20 lakh to RCB (Mid-season 2011)
Gayle went UNSOLD at the main auction in 2011. Later picked as an injury replacement by RCB. At ₹20 lakh, it was the biggest afterthought in IPL history.
Performance:
- Debut: 102* off 55 balls vs KKR
- 2011 Season: 608 runs @ 183.13 SR, 2 centuries
- Held Orange Cap, led RCB to final
Impact:
1) Sparked a three-year dominance with RCB. Went on to hit the highest individual IPL score (175*) in 2013.
2) Became an IPL legend—all for the price of a backup pick.
4. Jasprit Bumrah – ₹10 lakh to Mumbai Indians (2013)
Jasprit Bumrah unknown face from Gujarat. Picked up in the auction for the base price by MI. Hardly any prior buzz, and critics questioned whether MI was wasting auction slots.
Debut:
Took 3 wickets against RCB in his first match, including Virat Kohli.
Long-term Impact:
- Multiple seasons as MI’s spearhead
- Over 150 wickets, economy under 7
- Integral to MI’s 2017, 2019, and 2020 title wins
- One of India’s greatest pace bowlers, and all started with a low-key IPL buy
3. Andre Russell – ₹60 lakh to KKR (IPL 2014)
Russell had an injury-plagued past and wasn’t seen as a major asset. KKR got him for just ₹60 lakh in 2014 — a low-profile deal that flew under the radar.
Performance Over the Years:
- 2015: 326 runs @ 192.89 SR, 14 wickets
- 2019: 510 runs @ 204.81 SR – one of the most destructive seasons ever
Impact:
Arguably the best all-rounder in IPL history. Helped KKR win the title in 2014 and reach playoffs in later seasons. A ₹60 lakh steal that redefined power-hitting.
2. Rahul Tewatia – ₹3 Cr to Rajasthan Royals (IPL 2020)
Bought for ₹3 Cr after a few forgettable stints with Delhi and Punjab. The cricketing world largely ignored this purchase. RR was criticized for relying on unproven domestic players.
Performance:
- Notable Innings: 53 (31) vs KXIP – turned the match with five sixes in one over off Sheldon Cottrell.
- Finished games consistently for RR.
Impact:
That one innings became iconic, leading to a cult following. Tewatia became a key middle-order finisher and a death overs spinner—eventually earning ₹9 Cr with Gujarat Titans in 2022.
1. Glenn Maxwell – ₹14.25 Cr to RCB (IPL 2021)
Glenn Maxwell had a disastrous IPL 2020 with Punjab Kings, scoring just 108 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 101.88, with zero sixes. His ₹14.25 Cr signing by RCB in 2021 was met with ridicule, with fans labeling it as “yet another big money flop waiting to happen.”
Performance:
- Runs (2021): 513
- Average: 42.75
- Strike Rate: 144.10
- 50s: 6
- Crucial middle-over enforcer, easing pressure off AB de Villiers.
Impact:
1) Helped RCB qualify for the playoffs and finally filled their long-standing No. 4 problem.
2) Silenced critics and retained ever since.
Conclusion
The IPL auction is a drama of calculated risk, intuition, and audacious vision—it’s not just about statistics and spreadsheets. Even though every club enters the room with data analysts, scouts, and simulations, their legacy is frequently altered by the unexpected selections that are written off as mistakes or gambles.
These five tales demonstrate that genuine worth frequently resides in uncut diamonds—players that required the proper stage, structure, and belief—in a league where worldwide stars fetch crores of dollars. Whether it was a struggling Maxwell, an injured Russell, or an unidentified Bumrah, moves that initially raised eyebrows evolved into pivotal moments that changed teams.
In the end, the IPL auction is less about finding the best player and more about finding the right one. And those who dare to look beyond the obvious, often reap the most unexpected rewards.
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