Tamil Nadu’s young batsman Shahrukh Khan had created quite a buzz for himself ahead of the IPL 2021 Auction, thanks to his exploits in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
Though he has made just 88 runs in 8 matches, those runs came in crucial times and at a strike rate of 220 with him hitting 7 sixes and 8 sixes. The 25-year-old was in news for his amazing 19-ball 40* for Tamil Nadu in the quarterfinals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 against Himachal Pradesh.
His 40* in 19 balls helped TN reach the semis and eventually winning the tournament as well.
During the IPL 2021 auction, Shahrukh Khan’s name got huge interest with Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore engaging in a bidding war for the player whose base price was INR 20 lakhs.
The bidding ended with Punjab Kings putting up an INR 5.25 Cr bid and RCB backing down and Shahrukh Khan earning one of the biggest paydays for an uncapped Indian player.
Another uncapped Indian player who got a bidding war going was Karnataka’s K Gowtham. Gowtham was previously bought by Rajasthan Royals for INR 6.2 Cr in IPL 2018 auction, before being traded to Punjab Kings for IPL 2020.
Gowtham, who was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2021 auction, was bought by Chennai Super Kings. There was intense bidding for him as well with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings going at it before Chennai Super Kings swooped in to buy the all-rounder for INR 9.25 Cr.
