IPL’s latest million dollar man

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The official price Chennai Super Kings paid to procure the services of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was $2million.

Much before the auction started it was only obvious the Saurashtra youngster was going to be the most sought after player in the bidding.

But what made the owners of CSK push the bill to a reported $6 million (in the secret bidding) to add Jadeja to a side that is already one of the strongest in the league?

It is not without reason that the India Cements owned franchise is the most successful team in the IPL. There has been a lot of thought that has gone into selection of players and, more importantly, team composition. Jadeja as an all-rounder, covers more bases than any other Indian cricketer in this format at the moment.

The closest one can think of in the CSK stable is vice-captain Suresh Raina who with his belligerent batting, razor sharp fielding and tidy off-spin falls into the high value category but an Indian all-rounder was the only thing missing in the line up.

In the past MS Dhoni has been forced to play an overseas all-rounder to lend balance to the side. The selection of Jadeja has solved that issue and CSK can look at playing a specialist overseas professional.

As a fielding unit, the defending champions are good at best and the prowess of Jadeja in the inner cordon will definitely add muscle to a side that does not have too many weaknesses anyway.

The only other side that can come close to CSK’s enviable home record is Rajasthan Royals. Dhoni & Co. have made the MA Chidambaram Stadium their impregnable fortress.

The slow nature of the Chepauk wicket demands quality slow bowlers to succeed and Jadeja’s sharper lower trajectory along with the guile of R. Ashwin will definitely pose more trouble for visitors in the ensuing season.

For 23-year-old Jadeja, the IPL has been a bittersweet experience.

From being a part of the winning side in the inaugural (2008) season to being handed a ban for negotiating a deal with Mumbai Indians in 2010, Jadeja has seen it all. While the franchise walked free for trying to lure the player, Jadeja was forced to sit the year out.

Jadeja’s T20 record is extremely good for a player who at most times is made to do a tough job with both bat and ball. His value cannot be truly measured by numbers but by the impact he has in critical junctures of the game.

The street smart cricketer has often proved in the past on how he can change the ebb and flow of a game with a few measly overs, a few big hits or a even a small piece of brilliance in the field.

Indian cricket’s latest million dollar man is a product of the T20 era and understands the nuances of the shortest format.

At face value, it looks like CSK have made an outstanding addition to their side but the dent on the coffers is pretty high and it will be interesting to see whether Jadeja justifies the high billing.