Chris Gayle was one of the accomplished Twenty20 players who went unsold on day one of the IPL 2018 Auction. Having set his base price at Rs 2 crore, the hard-hitting West Indian southpaw was the first marquee player from the first two sets to go unsold. Although his going unsold wasn't totally unexpected, Gayle had enjoyed a productive Bangladesh Premier League season recently with Rangpur Riders, which he led to the title with a 146 not out (off just 69 balls) in the final.
Despite being a bowler on the wane, Lasith Malinga remains IPL's leading wicket-taker with 154 wickets, 20 more than next-highest (Amit Mishra, 134). Mumbai Indians had released him ahead of the auction, after this Sri Lankan pacer had been part of its three IPL title wins, and Malinga's stock had gone down considerably. But having set his base price at only Rs 1 crore, the general consensus was that the Sri Lankan would have a taker. Staggeringly, he had none; he was one of a slew of high-profile overseas fast bowlers who went unsold on Day One of the auction.
The diminutive wicket-keeper had an average season with Mumbai Indians last year, having scored 395 runs in 16 matches, with two fifties. Having led Gujarat to its maiden Ranji Trophy title last year, Parthiv has gained stints with the national Test team on and off.
The deliverer of thunderbolts took seven wickets in the five matches he played for Mumbai Indians last season. Currently in the middle of a Big Bash League season, Johnson, playing for Perth Scorchers, has taken seven wickets in nine matches.
Joe Root, the England Test captain, is eager to enter what will be his first IPL season, but hasn't found a taker so far.
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