IPL auction 2018: Rashid Khan retained by SRH for whopping Rs 9 crore

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Jan 27 (ANI): Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has been retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping Rs 9 crore at the Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction at the ITC Gardenia on Saturday.

The 19-year-old young player entered the auction at a base price of Rs 2 crores and a hectic bidding ensued between Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Mumbai Indians (MI) before Rashid was eventually sold.

It should be noted that Rashid was bought for a sum of Rs 4 crore by SRH in the IPL 2017 auction, but the first day of the this season's auction saw his price surged upward by another Rs 5 crores on the bidding table.

Rashid has maintained an impressive economy rate of 5.86 since making his debut in 2016. He ended as Sunrisers Hyderabad's second-highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps from 14 matches.

The Afghanistan spinner is currently featuring for Adelaide Strikers in Australia's Big Bash League (BBL).

Meanwhile, the Indian spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav also attracted expensive bids in the auction for the upcoming 11th edition of the tournament.

While Chahal, who is the country's first choice spinner in the shortest format of the game, has been retained for gigantic Rs 6 crore, Kuldeep has been bought back by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 5.8 crore.

18-year-old bowling sensation Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who is currently participating in ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup, was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 3.2 Crores on the opening day of the player's auction.

Nagarkoti recently grabbed the spotlight after he clocked a massive 146 kmph speed during the ongoing World Cup in New Zealand.

Indian U-19 skipper Prithvi Shaw was snapped for Rs 1.2 crore by Delhi Daredevils, who also bought pacer Mohammed Shami for Rs 3 crore.

Shaw, who had entered at a maximum base price of Rs 20 lakh only, saw Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians engage in a bidding war before ultimately Daredevils securing his signature.

Australia's Pat Cummins was sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs 5.4 crore, much more than the fast bowler's base price of Rs 2 crore.

While Umesh Yadav was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 4.2 crore, Amit Mishra would continue to stay with Delhi Daredevils after being sold for Rs 4 crore.

On the other hand, Australian spinner Adam Zampa West Indies Samuel Badree New Zealand's Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee, Sri Lanka legend Lasith Malinga , India's Ishant Sharma, Australia's Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood all went unsold.

Earlier in the day, players from the marquee list went for bidding where England's Ben Stokes was sold for a whopping Rs 12.5 crore to the Rajasthan Royals (RR), while Glenn Maxwell was taken by the Delhi Daredevils (DD) for Rs 9 crore.

Up to 578 players, out of the 1,122 players, have been kept for the final two-day auction, which includes 244 capped players (62 from India), 332 uncapped players (34 from overseas), and two players from Associate countries.

The 2018 edition of the T20 lucrative tournament is slated to be held from April 7 to May 27.(ANI)