IPL Auction 2018: MI uses RTM to retain Krunal Pandya, becomes most expensive uncapped player ever

The writing was always in the wall. Krunal Pandya who played a very key role in Mumbai Indians winning the IPL 10, has been retained by the franchise using the Right to Match (RTM) card. But what happened before that showed, in IPL universe, your international credentials or past performance doesn't really count. What matters is whether franchises feel a player fits the bill in their scheme of things. Hence Krunal Pandya, who is yet to break into international circuit saw frantic bidding between the IPL franchises. 

His base price was Rs 40 lakh and finally he was sold at Rs 8.8 crores, which is 22 times the base price. RCB and RR started the bidding war and the price started to escalate pretty quickly. RCB and RR continued the bidding war till Rs 6 crore when SRH chipped in. They offered Rs 6.2 crore for Krunal, starting another round of tough bidding. Finally RCB won the bid at Rs 8.8 crores. Mumbai Indians which was so far silent, then promptly decided to use the RTM card. The jubilation in MI camp implied that they were probably willing to shell out even greater amount for spinning all-rounder Krunal Pandya. 

Krunal in the process became the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history. He broke Pawan Negi's record, who won a surprise bid of Rs 8.5 crores from Delhi Daredevils in 2016. 

Pandya in 2016 played 12 matches for MI. He scored 237 at S.R of 191.2. He also got 6 wickets. In 2017, he played 13 match for the Mumbai side. He scored 243 runs at an average of 34. He also took 10 wickets in the tournament with the best of 3/17. But more than the runs and wickets taken, the timing of those made Krunal such a prized catch for IPL teams. He is an impact player and hence got this fat pay purse on Saturday's auction. Krunal wil be again playing side by side with his brother Hardik for MI, as they try to win IPL again. Hardik was retained by MI before auction for Rs 11 crores.