Umran Malik gets a meagre Rs 3.25 crore, CSK goes all out for T Natarajan at ‘mock’ IPL auction

204 slots are needed to be filled by the ten franchises at the mega auction in Jeddah.

Indian fast bowlers are going to be a hot commodity at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. You expect Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj to find new homes easily and earn some dough as frontline bowlers, but what about second and third-choice pacers? Those who can’t be the leader of the bowling pack and don’t often win you matches.

CSK gets Natarajan for Rs 10 crore

Ravichandran Ashwin has organised a ‘mock’ auction. While not real, it acts as a good simulation of what can happen in Jeddah. If you are in dire need of one Indian pacer, you’ll have to go hard. That’s exactly why, at Ashwin’s auction, T Natarajan got a whopping Rs 10 crore from the Chennai Super Kings. From 2018 onwards, the Natarajan has been on a Rs 4 crore salary. He got a 250% hike.

There are a few reasons for it, particularly because he’s a left-arm pacer. There is a shortage of good southpaw quicks worldwide, and one can’t forget that he was the fourth-highest wicket-taker last season. He’s one of those few who can bowl in the powerplay and at death. It won’t exactly be a shock if Natarajan gets Rs 10 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

No buzz for Umran Malik at Ashwin’s ‘mock’ IPL auction

Umran Malik was the talk of the town in IPL 2022. At just 22, the pacer from Kashmir gained fame for throwing absolute rockets at batters and was the fourth-highest wicket-taker two years back. Since then, he’s played just 9 matches and taken 5 wickets. All the while going over 11 runs an over. It’s been a mighty fall. He was still in conversations due to his rapid pace, but Mayank Yadav arrived on the IPL circuit last season and took over.

This was reflected at the mock IPL auction. The bidding for the speedster started at Rs 2 crore. Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings showed interest but both tapped out by Rs 3 crore, and then Delhi Capitals swopped in and bagged him for Rs 3.25 crore. This is exactly what’s expected to happen at the mega auction. In fact, he might not get one bid over Rs 2 crore.