Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has picked a list of finishers who will fetch a high price tag in the upcoming mega-auction for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Finishers are extremely crucial for any franchise as they set up the game nicely with their power-hitting at the later stages of an innings.
Chopra reckoned that the finishers might not be in the race for the Orange Cap but will come in as match-winners for IPL franchises. Notably, the likes of MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard are some standout names who have proven their dexterity as the finishers for their respective sides.
However, these giants of the game have already been bought or retained ahead of the forthcoming auction. But still, there are few names on whom every franchise will be eying in the players’ bidding process, and Chopra has picked such stars who will be on the target of every team.
The cricketer-turned-commentator started the proceedings by naming Shahrukh Khan as his first choice. Chopra opined that Shahrukh would end up as the most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL 2022 auctions.
“In my opinion, the finisher’s job is the most difficult because you get 10-15 deliveries. This is a very short list, and I feel, Shahrukh Khan will be the most expensive uncapped Indian at the IPL 2022 Auction. He is the only Indian left whom you can expect to play the finisher’s role well. Whether he does that or not, we don’t know, but the expectation is that he will be able to do that, so he will be sold very expensive,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
Chopra then went with South African David Miller, stating the explosive left-handed batter will also find takers at the auction.
“That is why David Miller is bought every time – he is not getting bought very expensive because his performances have not been very good in the recent past. I feel he will be bought this year as well,” added Chopra.
Chopra also picked Indian all-rounder Deepak Hooda and England’s star Liam Livingstone as finishers who will be in demand.
“Deepak Hooda- his name has come in the team, the attempt is being made to prepare him as a finisher. He could be sold expensive if he has a good ODI series. You can get Liam Livingstone to do that job, he does something close to that for England,” explained the 44-year-old.
Chopra further selected a few other players such as Dinesh Karthik, Mitchell Marsh, Dwayne Bravo and Sam Billings for the role of finishers who will gain attraction from the franchises.
“There are very few cricketers like that in world cricket. You repeatedly go towards Dinesh Karthik because of that. Mitchell Marsh – he is extraordinary, but there is also an injury issue. Then Dwayne Bravo, Sam Billings – he is good, but it is sometimes difficult to hit in Indian conditions,” Chopra concluded.
