‘You outbid some, some outbid you’ – Gujarat coach Ashish Nehra explains team’s auction strategy

Gujarat head coach Ashish Nehra has said a successful team such as Chennai lost three back-to-back bids in the mega auction and that such things happen during mega auction. Nehra was speaking after the auction how the auction went for the team. The former left-arm pacer was explaining how teams have to be prepared for any eventuality in an ITL auction.

Chennai had bid for the players such as Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tripathi, and Rahul Tewatia. Khan was snapped by Punjab for INR 9 crore after battling with Chennai and Kolkata. Tripathi was nabbed by Hyderabad for INR 8.5 crore after battling with Chennai and his last year’s team Kolkata.

Tewatia was bought at INR 9 crore by Gujarat after battling with Chennai and Bangalore. Meanwhile, Nehra said that a team like Chennai lost back-to-back bids including one against his team.

“Look at a team like CSK, successful team, they lost three back-to-back bids for Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tripathi and the third against us,” Nehra said in a conversation with Cricbuzz.

The 2011 World Cup winner also spoke about Barbados cricketer Dominic Drakes, who was also bought by the franchise after battling with Bangalore at a price of INR 1.1 crore. Nehra said that he was surprised to get Drakes at such a low price but was pleased as the latter can bat well.

“I’ve seen him with the bat. The kind of price we got him for, I was surprised. Very very happy, very very pleased. When you talk about foreign guys who can be part of the IPL for long, he is one of them. Tomorrow what will happen, only time will tell but he definitely has the talent and the X-factor,” said Nehra in a conversation with Cricbuzz.