The moment 20-year-old left-arm spin all-rounder Prashant Veer's name was announced, nobody anticipated that the base price of 3 million would escalate to a staggering 142 million within minutes. This broke the record as the most expensive uncapped player in the IPL auction.
Previously, Avesh Khan held the record, bought by Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 for 100 million. At just 20, Prashant Veer has surpassed this significantly. Fascinatingly, minutes later, uncapped Karthik Sharma also fetched 142 million, with both sharing the new record equally.
Initially, LSG and MI aggressively raised their paddles. Once MI stepped back, Chennai Super Kings took charge, quickly hiking the price to 42 million. The question arose - has CSK found the perfect replacement for Ravindra Jadeja?
The real battle then began. RR made an entry at 44 million, pushing the bid to 60 million. CSK wasn't backing down, raising to 66 million. When SRH entered, the stakes jumped straight from 68 million to a whopping 140 million. The atmosphere was electric, but CSK's strategy was clear - Prashant Veer was their target at all costs. Ultimately, Chennai sealed the deal with a decisive 142 million bid, securing this rising star.
Playing for Noida Super Kings in the UP T20 League, Prashant Veer impressed both selectors and franchises alike during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year. CSK had already assessed his potential in trials, as the franchise had been seeking a long-term replacement for Ravindra Jadeja.
The past few weeks have accelerated Prashant Veer's career. Shuttling between Mumbai and Kolkata, he played 6 matches in just 7 days, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Uttar Pradesh Under-23 tournaments. With a strike rate of 170, he scored 112 runs and claimed 9 wickets at an economical rate of 6.76. This performance clearly displayed his potential for the big stage.
The burning question remains - has CSK unearthed their future Jadeja?
