Ajit Agarkar is surprised by some of the overseas players released by KXIP.
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) let go of an underperforming Glenn Maxwell, who had pocketed a salary of INR 10 crores for the IPL 2020 season. Before IPL 2021 auction, KXIP has also released other foreign players like Jimmy Neesham, Hardus Viljoen, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Sheldon Cottrell.
While Maxwell was easily the most underperforming player in IPL 2020 with no sixes or half-centuries in the entire tournament. However, former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar believes that the Australian batting all-rounder might fetch another INR 10 crore-deal with a different franchise.
Ajit Agarkar told Star Sports, “Who knows, someone else might buy him for 10 crores. It seems to be the case with Glenn Maxwell. You can understand that kind of ability but I think a lot of teams will be wiser now.”
However, he is surprised with the fact that they let go of New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham.
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“A little bit surprised with some of the other overseas names they have let go, Jimmy Neesham perhaps didn't have the greatest tournament,” he added.
KXIP has the strongest purse available for the upcoming IPL 2021 auction but they also have to target their share of foreigners and pick them up well.
Agarkar concluded by saying, “The one thing is, in the auction it is perhaps a lot easier to find good quality overseas players because you only need five or six good ones in your squad. It is a little bit easier to replace, Indian players obviously a lot harder, especially if it is not a big auction.
So you understand that and 50-odd crores now, so if there is one or two really big names that come up, they will certainly be in the box seat to try and push for them”.