IPL Auction: 'Ghari aala' - Quinton de Kock back at Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore

The IPL auction opened in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday with Australian all-rounder Cameron Green being sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore. The deal made Green the third-most expensive player in IPL history and the costliest overseas player in the league.

The bidding began between Rajasthan Royals and KKR, with Royals dropping out at around Rs 13 crore. Chennai Super Kings then joined the contest and pushed the price beyond Rs 20 crore. CSK bid Rs 25 crore before KKR sealed the deal with a final bid of Rs 25.20 crore.




The wicketkeepers’ set featured Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, Jamie Smith, Finn Allen and Ben Duckett. Only three players were sold, all at their base prices.

Quinton de Kock returned to Mumbai Indians after being picked up for Rs 1 crore. The South African recently came back from white-ball retirement and rejoined the national setup. De Kock has played 43 matches for Mumbai Indians, scoring 1,329 runs at an average of 34.08 and a strike rate of 131.32, including 10 half-centuries.

For South Africa, de Kock has scored 2,706 runs in 99 T20Is at an average of 30.40 and a strike rate above 139, with one century and 17 half-centuries. He is the country’s highest run-scorer in T20 internationals. In overall T20 cricket, he has 11,543 runs from 416 matches at an average of 30.94 and a strike rate above 138, with seven centuries and 76 fifties.

In the IPL, de Kock has scored 3,309 runs in 115 matches while representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders. He averages 30.63 with a strike rate above 134, including two centuries and 24 half-centuries. He scored 152 runs in eight matches for KKR last season at an average of 21.71, with a strike rate close to 130 and a highest score of 97 not out. De Kock has previously won an IPL title with Mumbai Indians.

Delhi Capitals signed England wicketkeeper-batter Ben Duckett for his base price of Rs 2 crore. Duckett has scored 527 runs in 20 T20Is for England at an average of 29.27 and a strike rate above 153, including three half-centuries. He has 5,397 runs in 216 T20 matches at an average of 30.49 and a strike rate of 140.18, with 34 fifties.

New Zealand batter Finn Allen was also sold for his base price of Rs 2 crore, with Kolkata Knight Riders picking him up. Allen has scored 1,285 runs in 52 T20Is at a strike rate of 163.27, including two centuries and five half-centuries. In overall T20 cricket, he has 4,431 runs in 162 matches at a strike rate of 173.90, with four centuries and 29 fifties.

England wicketkeepers Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Smith went unsold in the opening round. Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz and India’s KS Bharat also did not attract bids, but all four players could return during the accelerated round.