Shahrukh Khan hasn’t done too well in the Indian Premier League (IPL), despite his strong local performances.
In the lucrative league, he has participated in 33 games thus far and amassed 426 runs with a strike average of 134.81. The all-rounder was released by Punjab Kings, who had supported him for three seasons, to raise money for the impending mini-auction in Dubai on December 19.
Prior to that, seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin thinks the all-round player can start a bidding war again, with the Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings both keen to recruit him. Notably, Gujarat transferred Hardik Pandya to the Mumbai Indians, while Chennai released Ben Stokes; as a result, both teams now want an all-rounder with quick bowling. Shahrukh meets all the requirements; therefore, Ashwin anticipates a high price for his sale.
“I firmly believe that Shahrukh Khan would lead CSK and Gujarat to war. Gujarat released Hardik Pandya because they feel they need a power player—someone who can bat through the innings. Shahrukh was paid Rs 9 crore at Kings, and I felt he did a good job showcasing his abilities. Is this a good release? Due to my belief that he could ultimately go for Rs 12–13 crore once more,” Ravichandran Ashwin posted on his YouTube channel.
In order to acquire Shahrukh, CSK may even risk losing out on Mitchell Starc: Ashwin
According to a number of internet rumors, the five-time champions would chase Mitchell Starc, who is scheduled to return to the IPL. In general, CSK has a keen eye for Australian quicks, so having Starc will significantly strengthen their bowling attack. Ashwin, though, thinks the MS Dhoni-led team may compromise having Starc in order to pursue Shahrukh.
With no local player or presence, CSK may even risk losing out on Mitchell Starc in order to acquire Shahrukh Khan. I’m assuming that’s because they bid on Shahrukh Khan at the major auction,” Ashwin continued.
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