Ignored by the selectors for the ongoing ICC World Cup, Yuvraj Singh was a big draw at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in Bengaluru on Monday.
Ignored by the selectors for the ongoing ICC World Cup, Yuvraj Singh was a big draw at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in Bengaluru on Monday.
The flamboyant Indian batsman fetched a whopping Rs 16 crore by GMR's Delhi Daredevils, breaking his own previous record of Rs 14 crore last year paid by Vijay Mallya's Royal Challengers.
While this price may baffle many, considering Yuvraj is not playing for India anymore, both cricket experts and brand consultants agree that investing in the flamboyant batsman makes sense.
In the national team or our of it, Yuvraj is a destroyer of the cricket ball and it helped that he has scored three hundreds and a half century for Punjab in the current Ranji season. Delhi Daredevils coach Praveen Amre agreed.
"Definitely he comes with the value as a genuine all-rounder and a match- winner," said Amre. "Since he comes from Punjab, which is close to Delhi, he will be almost at home. He will also add value because he is the most experience player," he added.
Apart from cricket, the brand value of players makes a difference in IPL.
Marketing guru and business consultant Sunil Alagh said, "Yuvraj's image is of a match-winner like Virender Sehwag, Adam Gilchrist etc. Everyone looks to have one such match-winner who can change the game."
"Image matters in IPL. Yuvraj is a combination of image and performance. The way he overcame cancer and then played, he is an idol, a hero for kids. Every mother wants her child to be like him — someone who has a fighting spirit," he added.
Alagh felt that Yuvraj's presence could pull the crowd to the stadium. "It will help in ticket sales for the team just how Tendulkar would pull the crowd. Yuvraj is beyond cricket."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}