The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had made amendments in their calendar to ensure their players get a preference in the IPL and the results were obvious. One among the top English cricketers picked this time around was Chris Woakes.

The all-rounder played 13 matches for the KKR in last season and picked 17 wickets and was one of their key bowlers right through. That coupled with his batting exploits against Australia in the ODI series where he hit a couple of half-centuries boost his stake among the teams.

Chris was bought for ₹4 crore in 2017 by the KKR and this time around the best bid was ₹7.4 crore and with that, the RCB signed him to play for them. Woakes was with the English team when his name came up for the auction and he was over the moon when he was sold for £821,500.

Also read: RCB's buys in IPL 2018

Talking about the feeling to GiveMeSport, Woakes said, “There were a few things being shouted about on the flight. Jason Roy had been sold to Delhi, Stokesy went for a fortune, and we were just waiting for names to come through. It wasn’t until we got onto the bus that my name came through. I saw it come through on an app and I was over the moon. All the lads there and everyone talking about it was a great feeling.”

Chris Woakes finds it a life-changing experience

Chris termed it a life-changing moment and the price he got in the last IPL was put to use for his wedding. He said, “It’s crazy to think as a cricketer you could earn that sort of money for the amount of time you’re going to be playing. It’s mind-boggling really. I wasn’t even sure if I’d get picked up. This is comfortably life-changing. Last year I’d just got married and it certainly paid for the wedding, put it that way. It’s great to see English players getting the opportunity to play in it and earn that sort of money.”

Another English all-rounder, Moeen Ali who earned a contract worth ₹1.5 crore will accompany Woakes at RCB. While Ben Stokes once again got the biggest bid as RR proposed to pay him ₹12.5 crore. Jos Buttler was also signed by the same team for ₹4.4 crore, Jason Roy was bought by the Delhi Daredevils for ₹1.5 crore. There were also those who went unsold, the likes of Test skipper Joe Root, ODI captain Eoin Morgan and opening batsman Alex Hales.

Talking about the same, Woakes said, “Of course you have to be sensitive (to those who were unsold) but guys are old enough and wise enough to know that sometimes it is a bit of a lottery. You’re not going to go around gloating. We’re all mates and team-mates and we’ll keep that pretty low key.”