IPL auction 2018: Law of diminishing returns strikes Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh

Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh were not hot choices in the IPL auction 2018. Chris Gayle went unsold in the first round.

Seasoned stalwarts were left mixed feeling in the Indian Premier League 2018 auction in Bangalore on Saturday after the ‘boss’ of Twenty20 cricket, Chris Gayle, went unsold. (LIVE UPDATES | HIGHLIGHTS)

The explosive Jamaican batsman realised that at 38, and with his dodgy fitness, the days of his entertaining T20 fans around the world is slowly drawing to an end. Chris Gayle, whose stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2017 was blighted with injury as the team ended last.

Gautam Gambhir, the 36-year-old who had led Kolkata Knight Riders to two titles in his seven-year stay but not retained this time, was bought by Delhi Daredevils.

The homecoming, to a team he left in 2010, though was at a modest Rs 2.8 crore. “I am back” tweeted Gambhir, not expressing his thoughts on the apparent KKR snub.

However, the India opener could be in the reckoning for the captaincy of a team that has habitually struggled in the IPL.

Yuvraj Singh fell from grace in terms of money as he was bought by Kings XI Punjab at his base price of Rs 2 crore in the IPL auction 2018. (Getty Images)

Yuvraj Singh, whose Rs 16 crore by Delhi Daredevils in 2014 is the highest bid in the IPL auction, was bought by his ‘home’ team, Kings XI Punjab, but for his base price of Rs 2 crore.

The hard-hitting batsman too has seen his career taper off. His poor fitness was on display during India’s 2017 ICC Champions Trophy campaign in London and he has struggled to clear the Yo-Yo test, a must for India selection.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, 37, is also limited his playing, and champions Mumbai Indians didn’t bid for him. But Chennai Super Kings acquired the miserly T20 bowler for his base price of Rs 2 crore, having let fellow off-spinner R Ashwin go.

With IPL owners finding new highs in their tactical planning every auction, sentiment has played little role in the last couple of years when it comes to players being bought.