South African all-rounder Chris Morris is 33, last featured in an international game in 2019, is outside the top 20 in the ICC ratings for all-rounders. He is no longer wanted in the Big Bash League; played nine games in the previous edition of the Indian Premier League, wherein he scored just 34 runs and snaffled 11 wickets. His recent numbers and injury history suggested a man stuttering towards the back end of his career. Yet, he set afire a bidding war and emerged the most expensive player in the league’s history, when Rajasthan Royals doled out Rs 16.25 crore to acquire his services. If that sounds logic-defying, Royal Challengers Bangalore expended Rs 15 crore to purchase the untested New Zealand all-rounder Kyle Jamieson, before they staved off fierce pursuit from Chennai Super Kings for Australia’s inconsistent all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who they swooped for Rs 14.25 crore. Likewise, Mumbai Indians were willing to dispense Rs 5 crore for Nathan Coulter-Nile, Delhi Capitals Rs 5.25 crore for Tom Curran and Punjab Kings Rs 4.20 crore for Moises Henriques. None of them are cricketing immortals. At the same time, the No. 1-ranked T20I batsman in the world, England’s Dawid Malan, went for his base price of Rs 1.5 crore, and Australian stalwart Steve Smith fetched just Rs 2.20 crore without any raised eyebrows. Some big-hitting batsmen like Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Aaron Finch (third-best batsman in T20I rankings) and Kusal Perera had no takers at all. Punjab Kings head coach Anil Kumble spoke about how an auction “is not a true indicator” in terms of a player’s worth. As for Smith, a part of the modern-day batting Beatles, Delhi Capitals assistant coach Mohammad Kaif said: “We were expecting to spend more money on him. We got him quite cheap.” Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal said: “It was just incredible to get Steve Smith. We are shocked about how he went only for Rs 2.2 crore, but to get a player of the calibre of Steve Smith, it’s going to add a lot to our squad, a lot to our balance.” The pattern does not induce surprise, for this is how IPL auctions worked, where demand and supply, and not always pedigree, dictate the way franchises spend. Overseas fast-bowling all-rounders are the most in-demand stock, and conversely, the rarest breed in the game. So even if they are over-the-hill, injury-prone or untested, franchises are inclined to spend exorbitant sums to gobble them up. Morris would be short of match fitness when he comes to the IPL; Jamieson has never played an international game outside his country; Maxwell is notoriously moody. But it barely seems to matter. “He (Morris) is a quality bowler through all phases of the game, and can win us games with the bat too,” Royals CEO Jake Lush McRum said. Predominantly, they would be looking at his death-over expertise.