Ramnaresh Sarwan’s IPL sojourn seems to have come to an end following a lack of interest in him from any of the eight IPL teams during the 2009 auction. It must be a crushing blow to the batsman’s ego as even at a lowly base price of US$100,000 Sarwan got no interest whatsoever.

Instead Kings Punjab XI (the team he was attached to for the inaugural year) cut him loose and picked up English all rounder Ravi Bopara (US$450,000) in his place. Sarwan failed to impress in the few games he played and regularly found himself on the bench as Punjab opted to play the Sri Lankan star pair of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene along with the impressive opener Shaun Marsh and fast bowler Brett Lee as their quota of four international players per game.

Punjab also bought Jamaican pacer Jerome Taylor for US$150,000 who could fill in for Lee who is currently out of international cricket with an injury.

Dwayne Smith (US$100,000) will move from Mumbai Indians (where he played a few games after replacing Dwayne Bravo) to Deccan Chargers where he will join fellow Barbadian Fidel Edwards (US$150,000).

Daren Powell, Kieron Pollard and Kemar Roach all went unsold.

Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul remain with Kolkata Knight Riders and Bangalore Royal Challengers respectively. Bravo was contracted by Mumbai Indians for seven games last year but his status is uncertain owing to him recovery from an ankle surgery.

Posted in Ramnaresh Sarwan, Team selection, Hirings and Firings |