The 2018 and 2019 editions of the Indian Premier League have come and gone. Certain players are paid per match, while others hold seasonal contracts. Some South Africans have offered franchises better value for money than others, as this two-year analysis reveals.

Super Kings’ cash

• Batsman Faf du Plessis and leg-spinner Imran Tahir were bought by the Chennai Super Kings for approximately R2.9- and R1.9-million respectively, in 2018. Du Plessis has since delivered 558 runs in 18 innings at an average of 34.9 – and enjoyed a substantially stronger 2019 than his 2018 campaign. Tahir was the top wicket-taker in this season’s IPL, with 26 in 17 matches – and last year took seven in 13 for a total of 33 in 20.

Bangalore’s bang for buck

• The Royal Challengers Bangalore secured the services of batsman AB de Villiers for about R20-million in 2018. They have since relished 922 runs in two dozen innings at an average of 48.5 from the former South African captain. Their 2019 acquisition of batsman Heinrich Klaasen for R1-million has only yielded nine runs in three matches.

Mumbai’s money

• Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was purchased by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for approximately R5.2-million last year, but transferred to the Mumbai Indians in 2019. His new franchise was repaid with 529 runs in 16 innings at an average of 35.3 – and 19 dismissals. De Kock was Mumbai’s leading scorer in 2019 – and the tournament’s second most prolific wicketkeeper after the Delhi Capitals’ Rishabh Pant.

Punjab’s payout

• The Kings XI Punjab gained batsman David Miller for around R5.5-million in 2018 – and fast bowler Hardus Viljoen for R1.5-million this year. Miller improved on 2018’s 74 runs in three innings with 213 in 2010 in 2019, while Viljoen’s first IPL campaign brought seven wickets in six matches at an average over 30 and economy rate almost 10.

Delhi’s dosh

• • • All-rounder Chris Morris took just three wickets in four matches for the Delhi Daredevils in 2018, after being bought for almost R13-million. In 2019, he took 13 more – and was momentarily third only to teammate Kagiso Rabada and Tahir among this IPL season’s leading wicket-takers. The renamed Capitals, though, soon started preferring New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult or West Indian all-rounder Keemo Paul to Morris, whose contributions with the bat in 2019 were as fleeting as in 2018. Rabada, remember, was Delhi’s acquisition for approximately R7.7-million last year, but missed the tournament due to injury. A problematic back curtailed his 2019 IPL campaign, too, but not before 25 wickets were taken in a dozen matches at an average under 15 – and economy less than eight. Batsman Colin Ingram’s Delhi’s return for about R13-million, meanwhile, produced just 184 runs in 12 innings.

  Photo: SPORTZPICS for BCCI