IPL 2021: Ashish Nehra Predicts The Most Expensive Pick in The Auction

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra feels that Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan can emerge as the most expensive player in IPL 2021 mini-auction which is to be held in Chennai on Thursday.

Nehra feels Shakib will be a valuable addition to any of the eight IPL franchises as he can provide balance to the teams by contributing both with the bat and ball.

“Again, one more IPL auction and plenty of big names, but one name, which according to me is right on top – can be the most expensive player of this IPL auction – is Bangladesh all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan (former captain). He can give balance to any IPL team in any T20,” Nehra said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected – Auction Special.

Notably, Hasan wasn’t a part of last year’s auction as he was banned from the sport for a year by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The 33-year-old, after his year-long ban, has returned to play international cricket recently in the home series against West Indies. And he returned with a bang – picking up 4 wickets and bagging the Man of the Match award in his first game back for his country and then the Man of the Series award as well.

Shakib Al Hasan played 63 matches scoring 746 runs at an average of 21.31 with two 50s and a high score of unbeaten 66 and taken 59 wickets averaging 28. He was released by KKR and was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 season after representing Kolkata Knight Riders from 2011 to 2017.

Only 292 players have been shortlisted for the IPL 2021 auction after 1,114 players registered for it. A total of 164 Indian players, 125 overseas players and 3 players from Associate Nations will be up for grabs as the 8 franchises – Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) look to strengthen their squads.