Fast bowlers made merry during the recently-concluded IPL 2021 auction, which was held in Chennai. The likes of inexperienced overseas speedsters such as Kyle Jamieson, Jhye Richardson and fast-bowling all-rounder Chris Morris returned as millionaires post the conclusion of the IPL 14 auction in Chennai.
While the overseas speedsters made heads turn with their hefty paychecks, experienced Indian pacer Umesh Yadav was sold to the Delhi Capitals (DC), however, for only 1 crore. Thus, the likes of former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir and ex-India pacer Ashish Nehra remained shocked and baffled by Umesh’s price tag in IPL 2021 auction.
Gambhir told Star Sports, “Umesh Yadav, I was absolutely shocked when he went for ₹1 crore, there are not many fast bowlers who can bowl 135-140. Yes, he can be a little hot and cold, but when he is hot he can be very hot, but then not many teams went for him.”
On the other hand, former India fast bowler Nehra agreed with Gambhir and opined, “No offence here, but when you talk about Jhye Richardson, Kyle Jamieson – he has done well for New Zealand in Test cricket. Jhye Richardson has done well for Perth, but somebody like Umesh Yadav, when you talk about Indian fast bowlers, going for 1 crore and these foreigner guys, unproven guys.”
“Like earlier, I said Mitchell Starc, Lasith Malinga when you see these guys are doing well for the leagues around the world, but over here you are talking about new guys, and Umesh Yadav an experienced guy going only for 1 crore, I can’t understand that,” Nehra signed off.
Umesh has joined forces with the Shreyas Iyer-led DC line-up, comprising stars such as Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Steve Smith, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma, Axar Patel.
