Kings XI Punjab finally swoop in to sign Ishant Sharma

The 28-year-old was released by Rising Pune Supergiant after average performances last season. Sharma played just four games last season and could only come away with three wickets at an economy of 9.86. Sharma was the only Indian player in the top bracket of Rs.2 crores and while players priced lower, eventually, walked away with more money, Sharma couldn't find a single suitor.

But it looks like Sharma's luck has finally taken a turn for the better after Kings XI Punjab chose him to replace former skipper Murali Vijay, who suffered wrist and shoulder injuries during the India-Australia Test series. The BCCI recently announced that the opener would need to undergo surgery on his right wrist that would effectively rule him out of the IPL.

But it won't be easy going for the 28-year-old as he joins a team where Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan, Anureet Singh, Varun Aaron, Mohit Sharma, and Matt Henry are already in line for a place in the first XI.