Tweets of the Week: The IPL Auction

Cricket365 13 Feb 2014

With the Indian Premier League auction dominating Twitter on Wednesday, the players who were bought, and some who were not given a big pay day, took to social media to express their delight and frustration.

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen was the main attraction, and woke up to the news he’d been sold to Delhi, his former team, for #1.5 million: “Morning – so happy to be back with the Delhi family! Lovely start to the day…”

Australia opener Aaron Finch was one of the hot tickets, securing a job with the Sunrisers and Yorkshire on the same day: “I’m very excited to be joining @SunRisers and @Yorkshireccc for the upcoming seasons! Thanks for all your support everyone”

Jacques Kallis went for $916,000 and was pleased about it: “And back to my home in India it is. Kolkata in a few months time for IPL. Glad to be going back to KKR. @KKRiders”

Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor was initially convinced he’d not been sold, Tweeting: “Thanks for your wishes for the #IPL,unfortunately not to be again. But hey life goes on! Keep pressing on! Keep smiling! Congrats to all.”

But then he was told he had been sold to the Sunrisers, and quickly wrote: “Thanks peeps! When I see my brother I’m going to slap him, he told me bad luck I missed out #confused

“Wow! Thanks everyone! I’m feeling extremely honoured to be apart of the @SunRisers family. Amazing feeling! A very special thanks has to go to @TomMoodyCricket for believing in me and making it possible. Thanks Moods!”

England batsman Luke Wright was on Twitter early on, and had a premonition he wouldn’t get sold, writing: “Some very good players going unsold in round 1. So difficult to get picked up. Think I will be wearing a bobble hat in Hove come April”

And when he wasn’t sold, he was light-hearted, adding: “Just asked my mum to knit me a bobble hat! Haha. Night all.”

New Zealand’s James Neesham was exhausted by the process, but pleased with the result: “That was a pretty stressful experience, but couldn’t be happier to be joining @DelhiDaredevils this season! Can’t wait!”

New Delhi Daredevils coach Gary Kirsten enjoyed the experience: “My first IPL auction. A real interesting process to see all the different strategies of each IPL team”

He purchased South Africa prodigy Quinton de Kock for around $500,000, and the youngster was well chuffed: “Can’t wait to be joining @DelhiDaredevils for the 2014 season!!! Very excited”

Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris was active online, and tried to explain how Dinesh Karthik was sold for more than $2 million, even more than KP: “‘@MikeThorpeTVNZ: @scottbstyris can you explain the Dinesh Kartik bid? #IPLAuction’ big time Indians are very valuable”

India’s Murali Kartik was not impressed with going unsold, Tweeting: “This World is a very very selfish place,have lost faith in people”

New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan was a bit more sedate: “Bit gutted to not get a shot but really really proud of all the @BLACKCAPS lads who will be heading over to the IPL after winning the T20WC”

Kings XI Punjab owner Priety Zinta tweeted after the action: “Thank you all 4all Ur suggestions for the #IPL Auction ! Still another day to go but still Hope the #KXIP fans are Happy cuz I am 🙂 Ting !”

On day two, Umesh Yadav was pleased to find himself sold to Kolkata: “It’s good to be part of @KKRiders this IPL. Looking forward to it.:) All the best to my previous team @DelhiDaredevils for the coming season”