The IPC 2024 auction started with a buzz. The reason? Rovman Powell. The West Indian power hitter set the stage alight at the auction. Starting at the base price of Rs. 1 crore, there was a spirited duel between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). RR were persistent and acquired Rovman Powell at a whooping Rs.7.4 crores.
Rovman Powell is yet to flourish in the IPL. His stats do little justice to his explosive potential. His stint with KKR in IPL 2022 and DC in IPL 2023 do not reflect his capabilities. He has scored 257 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 146.
Rovman Powell will give a balance to RR as he is an all-rounder- Parthiv Patel
Rovman Powell will strengthen the middle order of RR, who would like to see him as a finisher. He is a handy fast-medium bowler who can create a balance for RR in the playing XI, which every team strives for in a T20 match.
Parthiv Patel also spoke about the change in the mindset of franchisees in an auction. The teams are unwilling to wait or seek an alternate player if the bidding value increases. If a player fits into their plans, they are not shy about splurging money and will go all-out to acquire that player.
This approach may sometimes see players being bought for a price that may seem high, but there is a method to such acquisitions. A major factor that decides the bid amount also depends on when the name comes up during the auction, as seen in the case of Rovman Powell.
It was not a surprise to see Rachin Ravindra fetch Rs.1.8 crores. All the teams had picked their opening batsmen until his name was up. It will be interesting to see his role in the CSK line-up.
“Powell’s was the first name at the auction. So, we got to see something different. You don’t get to see such excitement at the start itself. But with Powell, that happened. Timing plays a crucial role. Franchises are not wanting to wait and watch,” said Parthiv Patel in a discussion on Jio Cinema.