In a surprising turn of events during the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) retention day, the released players’ list featured some unexpected names, leaving fans and experts speculating on the upcoming auctions. Notable omissions included stars like Sam Curran and Harry Brook, who were not retained by their respective franchises.
Franchise release dynamics
A total of 89 players were released ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, with Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) leading the way in parting ways with players. In contrast, Punjab Kings (PBKS) opted for a minimalistic approach, retaining all players except five, among them being the promising batter Shahrukh Khan.
Shahrukh Khan’s rollercoaster ride
Shahrukh, a talented all-rounder, was acquired by PBKS for INR 9 crores in the IPL 2022 mega-auction. Despite high expectations, his on-field performance failed to match the anticipation. With modest scores of 117 and 156 runs in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively, Shahrukh struggled to make a significant impact, lacking a half-century to his name.
Ravichandran Ashwin provides his insight
Contrary to Shahrukh’s recent struggles, senior India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin predicts a fierce bidding war for the power-hitter in the upcoming auction. Ashwin identifies Gujarat Titans (GT) as a potential suitor for Shahrukh, given their recent release of Hardik Pandya, leaving a void in their lineup that Shahrukh could potentially fill.
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Ashwin anticipates a bidding showdown between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat, estimating Shahrukh’s value to reach INR 12-13 crores. He believes that CSK, having shown interest in Shahrukh during the mega-auction, may prioritize securing the local talent over other high-profile players.
“I can definitely see a war between CSK and Gujarat for Shahrukh Khan. Gujarat have let go of Hardik Pandya, Gujarat needs a player who can finish the innings, a sort of power player. And they need a power player. Shahrukh was at ₹9 crore At Kings, and I though he showed his skills pretty well. Is it a decent release? Because I think he might end up going for ₹12-13 crore again,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
CSK’s strategic move
Ashwin suggested that CSK’s previous interest in Shahrukh could lead them to make a strategic decision during the IPL 2024 auction. He speculated that CSK might be willing to forgo the chance of acquiring Mitchell Starc to secure the services of Shahrukh, recognizing the need for a local player and a strong Indian presence in their squad.
“CSK might even take a chance of missing out on Mitchell Starc to get Shahrukh Khan because they don’t have a local player or a presence. They went for Shahrukh Khan in the mega auction, and that’s why I’m guessing so,” added Ashwin.