IPL Auction 2019: Expected not to be picked up in first round, says Yuvraj Singh

Speculations over Yuvraj Singh finding a franchise were rife before the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions, and after finding no buyers in the first round, the conjecture only grew.

However,  Yuvraj was not too perturbed when he went unsold in the first round of auctions.

File image of Yuvraj Singh. AFP

"There was no disappointment as such because I had an idea that I would not be picked in the first round," Yuvraj was quoted in an interview to Mumbai Mirror.

Yuvraj, who was twice the most expensive player in IPL’s history, was eventually snapped up by Mumbai Indians in the final round of auctions at his base price of Rs 1 Crore.

The 37-year-old left-handed batsman explained, "The reason is obvious, when you are putting together an IPL team, you will be looking at the youngsters. I am at that stage of my career where it could be presumed that I may be in the last stages of my career. I had hoped that there would be a buyer for me in the last round.”

Last season, the southpaw was picked at Rs 2 crore and represented Kings XI Punjab, but the player had an abysmal year, scoring a mere 65 runs in eight outings at a strike rate of 89.04.

Yuvraj, who holds the record of smashing six consecutive sixes in one over in T20I cricket, will be a part of Rohit Sharma-led outfit, his sixth, in the 12th edition of the IPL.

Yuvraj has earlier represented Kings XI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore and the now defunct, Pune Warriors India.