IPL 2021: 5 best performing batsmen from Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy who could get a bid in auction

The IPL 2021 auction will take place on February 18 in Chennai.

The recently concluded 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy saw Tamil Nadu winning their second title after a gap of 14 years, under the captaincy of Dinesh Karthik. They defeated Baroda in the finals of the tournament on 31^st January 2021 in Motera, Ahmedabad.

There were many other batsmen who performed extremely well for their respective teams. These performances came from almost every team and were extremely important given that the IPL 2021 auction will take place on February 18 and this was like an audition for that event.

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Multiple batsmen scored centuries or played important cameos with impressive strike-rates and can expect to find interest from IPL franchises, who are looking to fill in important slots for the IPL 2021, which is expected to be played in India itself.

Here are 5 such batsmen from Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy who performed excellently well and could get a bid in the IPL 2021 auction.

AVI BAROT (SAURASHTRA)

Avi Barot opened the innings for Saurashtra in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and performed extremely well. He played in all 5 matches and managed to score 283 runs at an average of 56.60 and an astonishing strike-rate of 184.96.

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He managed one fifty and a stupendous century as well which came against Goa. Barot hit 11 fours and 7 sixes as he made 122 in 53 balls at an eye-watering strike-rate of 230.19. This is enough to grab the eyeballs of franchises who are looking for Indian batting talent and Barot has done well to probably get a bid in the upcoming auction.

M SHAH RUKH KHAN (TAMIL NADU)

Tamil Nadu won their second Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy title and apart from excellent captaincy by Dinesh Karthik, 25-year-old M Shah Rukh Khan also impressed with his ability to hit the ball a long way. He played 8 matches, 4 innings and made 88 runs with the best of 40* at a strike rate of 220.00, and hit 7 sixes and 8 fours.

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His best knock and highest score came against Himachal as he slammed 40* in 19 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes, taking the team to win, while others except Baba Aparajith failed to get going. The franchises are always on the lookout for excellent finishers and M Shah Rukh Khan is an excellent potential.

VISHNU SOLANKI (BARODA)

Baroda’s Vishnu Solanki provided the Indian cricket fans the moment of Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy 2020-21, as he slammed two sixes in the last over of the 3^rd quarter-final against Haryana. Especially the last six came off the last ball of 20^th over, as Baroda chased 149 to make it into the semi-finals.

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The last over was bowled by Sumit Kumar and Baroda needed 18 runs to win. Solanki was well-set on 54* and decided to take on Sumit. The last three balls from Sumit went for 6,4, and 6 when five runs were needed to win off the last ball.

Solanki ended the tournament with 267 runs in 8 matches with 2 fifties and the best score of 71*. He averaged 53.40 and had a strike rate of 128.36, but he was the pillar of Baroda batting who lost Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya due to various reasons.

MOHAMMED AZHARUDDEEN (KERALA)

Young Mohammad Azharuddeen of Kerala can be potentially called the find of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy 2020-21 given that he was the standout performer from his team.

Though Kerala couldn’t go into the knockout round, Azharuddeen did enough to impress potential scouts of IPL franchises for the upcoming IPL 2021 auction. He made 214 runs in 5 matches with the highest score of 137* which came against Mumbai.

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Kerala was chasing 197 runs to win, and Azharuddeen slammed 137* in just 54 balls with 9 fours and 11 maximums, putting him in record books as well. This was the second-fastest century in the tournament history as he reached his century in 37 balls, five short of Rishabh Pant’s record of 32 balls.

SHELDON JACKSON (PUDUCHERRY)

Sheldon Jackson had moved from Saurashtra to Puducherry before the tournament began and made an immediate impact on the team. He made 242 runs in 5 matches, at a strike-rate of 155.12 with one century, and averaged 80.66.

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His century came in a brilliant chase as Puducherry was set 227 to win against Andhra. Sheldon remained unbeaten on 106 in 50 balls with 7 fours and 8 sixes at a strike rate of 212. He helped Puducherry win the match with 4 balls to spare and 4 wickets in hand.

Sheldon has played IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in the past and with this performance of his, he has made the franchises take notice of his extreme talent before the IPL 2021 auction.