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Most expensive pacers in IPL 2023: There is hardly a doubt that cricket is a batsman’s game. It is more so evident in the game’s shortest format. Bigger bats and smaller boundaries have left bowlers on a sticky wicket. The bowlers to their credit have managed to stay in the game despite the odds. It is imperative that they stay ahead of the curve.
The art of pace bowling in T20Is:
Pace bowlers are expected to deliver the goods both with the new ball and at the death. They no longer can just rely on pace to outsmart batsmen. Fast bowlers now have multiple variations to deceive the batters. Bowlers like Harshal Patel earned a national cap owing to his exploits in the IPL based purely on pace variations. There is no doubt that these quality pace bowlers are a select few. They are bound to earn big numbers.
We look at the 5 most expensive pacers in IPL 2023:
#5 Harshal Patel – 10.75 crores
He was the purple cap winner in IPL 2021 when he equalled Dwayne Bravo’s league record of 32 wickets. Harshal Patel had to wait for a long time to establish himself. He represented Delhi until 2020 when a pre-season trade-off to RCB changed his fortunes for the better.
Batters couldn’t read Patel one bit in IPL 2021. His stock ball was a slower ball that he used smartly across all phases. RCB bought back Harshal Patel for INR 10.75 crores in the mega auctions in 2022.
#4 Shardul Thakur – 10.75 crores
He was one of the underrated stars of CSK’s title-winning campaign in 2021. Shardul Thakur always had a knack for picking wickets. He might be someone who could be expensive but his ability to provide breakthroughs remain special. But the retention dynamics ahead of the mega auctions forced CSK to release Thakur.
They did try their best to buy him back but lost out to Delhi in the mega auction in 2022. Delhi had to shell out INR 10.75 crores for Thakur. They later released him to KKR for a pre-season trade.
#3 Jasprit Bumrah – 12.00 crores
He is the only pace bowler on the list who was retained ahead of the mega auction in 2022. The fact that Jasprit Bumrah was Mumbai Indian’s second retention among other stars speaks volumes about his ability. He is undoubtedly the numero uno seamer in the IPL.
Bumrah has been instrumental in MI’s multiple championship-winning campaigns. He could have easily gone on to fetch record numbers had he chosen the auction route but credit to him for sticking with MI. Bumrah’s IPL annual salary is INR 12 crores.
#2 Deepak Chahar – 14.00 crores
He has been a big part of CSK ever since he started representing the franchise in 2018. MS Dhoni entrusted Deepak Chahar to bowl with the new ball. Chahar is one of the finer exponents of swing bowling. His numbers are right up there with anyone when it comes to bowling in the powerplay.
Chahar is someone who could land lusty blows at the death. All these factors made it a no-brainer for CSK to buy Chahar back in the mega auction. CSK had to burn their pockets deep to acquire Chahar for INR 14 crores.
#1 Sam Curran – 18.50 crores
He has had an extraordinary last couple of months. Sam Curran was the main point of difference for England at the 2022 T20 World Cup. He was both the ‘POTM’ and the ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the World Cup. Curran picked wickets in different phases of the match. He was simply terrific in the end-overs bowling pinpoint yorkers.
Curran’s left-handed angle makes him unique. Batters can’t really get under the line of the ball easily owing to his low release. Punjab Kings brought the roof down paying INR 18.50 crores to Curran in the 2023 mini-auction.
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