Ishant Sharma should've shed his ego and lowered base price: IPL team owner

Ishant Sharma has played in all the previous nine editions of the IPL, representing teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rising Pune Supergiants. The Indian pace spearhead will, however, watch from the sidelines this year after the Pune-based franchise, who had a disappointing debut season, released the 28-year-old from the squad earlier this year. The pacer, whose base price was Rs. 2 crore, found no takers at the auction which was held on Monday.

"Ishant Sharma shouldn't have kept his base price at Rs 2 crore. Firstly, he doesn't play for India in T20s and not considered a white ball bowler. He is only playing Test cricket. Ideally, he should have shed his ego and kept his base price in the range of Rs 30 lakh. Varun Aaron gained just because of that even though Ishant probably has more quality," an unnamed IPL team top boss was quoted as saying by PTI.

He should have shed his ego and kept his base price in the range of Rs 30 lakh.

IPL team owner

32-year-old Irfan Pathan, whose base price was Rs. 50 lakhs, also met similar fate. Pathan has also been a regular presence at the IPL since its inception. He has featured for teams like Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Chennai Super Kings. Earlier this year, he was also released by Pune.

Where Irfan and Ishant lost out, a relatively unknown name like T Natarajan gained. The Tamil Nadu pacer, who has made a name for himself as a death-bowling specialist in the TNPL, was bought at 30 times his base price by Kings XI Punjab.

"Natarajan's ability to bowl slowers and block-hole deliveries at the death clinched it for him. He was consistent in TNPL. IPL is a different ball game but with someone like Virender Sehwag guiding him and Murali Vijay for company, Natarajan can only improve. And don't forget, he is a regular in Tamil Nadu's Ranji team too," an IPL talent scout told PTI.