THE IPL 2018 Player Auction threw a lot of shocks and surprises as the think tanks of the eight franchises vied to assemble the strongest possible unit around their respective retained players.
While England all-rounder Ben Stokes emerged as the costliest player for the second year running, promising seamer Jaydev Unadkat stunned one and all by becoming the highest paid Indian player, in the bidding. There were also some massive exclusions in Lasith Malinga, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Hashim Amla and Martin Guptill. The two-day event saw the franchises spend a total of Rs 4,31,70,00,000 to acquire a bunch of 169 players, which comprised 56 overseas players.
The outcome of the auction will truly be tested when the season 11 gets underway on April 7. Ahead of the much-awaited edition, TFG takes a look at how the eight franchises could line-up ahead of their first game.