Updated On: 15 February, 2021 11:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Rohan Koli
mid-day.com examines the Top-5 buys at the last auction and concludes the performances did not exactly justify the huge spending by the franchises

Pat Cummins. Pic: BCCI/IPL
Ahead of the February 18 Indian Premier League-14 auction in Chennai, mid-day.com looks at how last season’s Top-5 buys performed during the IPL-13 held in the United Arab Emirates.
Pat Cummins ₹15.5
Kolkata Knight Riders (retained)
Matches: 14, Runs conceded: 409, Wickets: 12, Best: 4-34, Economy: 7.86
Pat Cummins, who had played for Delhi Daredevils in 2017, made his IPL-13 return in style by becoming the most expensive foreign player in the cash-rich T20 league history. However, the Aussie pacer couldn’t live up to expectations. Despite poor form, Kolkata Knight Riders kept their faith in him as he eventually went on to play all 14 matches for the franchise. As they say, you save best for the last, but his match-winning 4-34 in the final league match against Rajasthan Royals was too late for the World No. 1 bowler to come back to form as the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned team failed to make it to the playoffs. He however had a good run with the bat, scoring 146 at an average of 20.85.