The mega auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will take place on February 12 and February 13, in Bengaluru. In a situation like this, many former cricketers, experts and cricket commentators have started making predictions regarding the mega auction 2022 and probable bids for several players.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh also has made a prediction as he feels that Indian wicketkeeper batsman Ishan Kishan can “smash 70-80 runs off 30 balls” and “he should be given the responsibility of leadership.”
Harbhajan speaks
“Ishan Kishan is someone I am a fan of. On his own capability, on any given day, he can smash 70-80 runs off 30 balls and win the match for his team. He will become a very big player in the time to come. If a player like him goes to any team, he should be given the responsibility of leadership,” said Harbhajan on his YouTube channel.
While talking about the Ishan’s leadership qualities, Harbhajan talked about Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and their probable selection for the new skipper's position after their former captain Virat Kohli had stepped down from the role. Harbhajan feels that, “RCB would definitely target Ishan Kishan in the auction.”
“The way he gets older, with responsibilities he will become even bigger. He already captains Jharkhand. RCB would definitely target Ishan Kishan in the auction. It will be tough because many teams would go after him at the auction,” the 41-year-old former World Cup-winning spinner added.
Released by Mumbai Indians
Ahead of the 2022 mega auction, Ishan was released by his former side Mumbai Indians and the 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman had listed his base price as Rs 2 crore. Mumbai Indians had previously opted to retain, Rohit Sharma, Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav and West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard.
Ishan had scored 1452 runs in 61 matches in IPL so far. His highest score has been 99. The Bihar-born wicketkeeper-batsman notched nine half centuries in IPL so far.
In the ongoing three-match ODI series between India and West Indies, Ishan played the first match in Ahmedabad. He had opened the innings along with India skipper Rohit Sharma. In the first ODI, the southpaw had scored 28 runs off 36 deliveries.