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Rajasthan Royals (RR) deviated from the trend of high-profile overseas purchases in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction and focused on an emerging talent, Shubham Dubey. The inaugural champions engaged in a bidding war for the relatively unknown player, ultimately securing his services for a notable sum of INR 5.80 crore.
Bidding war for Shubham Dubey: Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals
Dubey, with a modest base price of ₹20 lakhs, attracted interest from two franchises – the Royals and Delhi Capitals (DC). The bidding war ensued, with both teams driving the price beyond INR 5 crores. The Capitals last bid reached INR 5.60 crore before Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious with a winning bid of INR 5.80 crore.
Impressive performance in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023
Dubey has carved a niche for himself in the domestic cricket arena, particularly through his stellar performances in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2023. Batting in the lower-middle order for Vidarbha, the 29-year-old showcased his powerful hitting ability, amassing 221 runs in seven games at an impressive average of 73.66 and a striking strike rate of 187.29 in the prestigious T20 tournament.
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Limited first-class experience
Despite his impactful T20 performances, Dubey is yet to make his first-class debut. With no experience in professional red-ball cricket, the 29-year-old has played eight List-A and 20 T20 games in his career.
Impressive T20 stats
In the T20 format, Dubey has played 20 games, accumulating 485 runs in 19 innings. His career strike rate stands at 145.20, coupled with an impressive average of 37.30. The IPL 2024 auction marked his entry into the cash-rich league, with the Royals being his first IPL team.
