Indians who could set the stage on fire
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction is just around the corner. The IPL 2024 player auction will take place on 19 December in Dubai, with a total of 1,166 players having registered for the auction.
Over the years, the IPL has been about nurturing young Indian talents, with some of them who have gone onto play for the country on the big stage.
We now take a look at five Indian players who can set the stage on fire:
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Shah Rukh Khan
Some might feel that Punjab Kings (PBKS) may not have done enough justice by releasing Shah Rukh Khan ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, especially after the kind of talent he showcased by finishing games occasionally.
However, IPL 2023 did not go that well for Shah Rukh, who finished the season with just 156 runs from 14 matches, and PBKS as a result had to let go the batter. Shah Rukh, though, has shown signs in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) that he can still offer teams with massive returns should he get picked at the IPL auction.
In the TNPL that took place shortly after the IPL this year, Shah Rukh finished as the top wicket-taker with 17 scalps. Teams looking for an able finisher who also can swing the ball well could look at Shah Rukh as a viable option.
Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel had established himself as a vital cog of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bowling attack. He has been consistently delivering the goods for RCB and can destroy the opposition in the death overs.
However, IPL 2023 wasn’t the same for him, picking up just 14 wickets from 13 games. Harshal had been nursing a finger injury in IPL 2023 which affected his rhythm of bowling.
However, his recent form might help him get an IPL contract for the 2024 season. Harshal has collected 15 wickets from seven matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy so far, including a five-fer.
Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur was one of the big names released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. Thakur had not been at his lethal best in IPL 2023, scalping just seven wickets in 13 matches while scoring 113 runs. Shardul did not bowl this year like he used to in the previous seasons, although he had written off injury concerns during the IPL.
Shardul could still be a valuable asset for teams looking for a handy bowling all-rounder. Having said that, Shardul recently helped Mumbai to a five-wicket win over Saurashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scalping two wickets for 37 runs while scoring an unbeaten 39. With teams bound to look into a player’s recent form while acquiring him, Shardul would be keen to continue this run of form.
Chetan Sakariya
In 2021, Chetan Sakariya had taken the IPL by storm when he took 14 wickets from as many games while playing for Rajasthan Royals. So far, that has turned out to be his best season yet with the ball, having managed just three wickets in each of the previous two seasons. In IPL 2023, Sakariya was with Delhi Capitals but lack of game time meant that he was released by the franchise.
Sakariya would be a valuable asset for teams looking for left-arm seamers, with RCB, RR and GT are some of the teams looking for that kind of a bowler.