Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal found no spot in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) retention list. The franchise decided to retain only three players ahead of the IPL 2022, which includes former captain Virat Kohli, Australia's Glenn Maxwell, and pacer Mohammed Siraj.
Chahal might be having a tough year, as he was earlier left out of India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad, but former India cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan still backs him to fetch a good amount in IPL 2022 mega-auction.
Sivaramakrishnan said RCB would want to buy the leg-spinner back in the mega auction and with other teams joining the bidding war, it could increase his price.
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"RCB would want to buy him back. The other teams would want Chahal in their side because of his exceptional record in the IPL. The people who have more money will have the luxury of going for Chahal. In the end, Chahal might end up getting more money for being in the auction than by being retained," he told NDTV.
The 55-year-old recalled the bidding battle between RCB and Chennai Super Kings for R Ashwin which could happen with Chahal this time. "I remember how RCB was raising the paddle seeing CSK going hard for Ashwin. If RCB want Chahal then the other teams might just bid to ensure he costs more to them. So, in the end, Chahal might end up being benefitted," he added.
Chahal was impactful for Bangalore in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 and he picked up 14 wickets in 8 games, as the franchise ended up in the top four.
A total of 27 players were retained by 8 franchises, and only eight out of them were overseas players. Sivaramakrishnan said it was a good sign for Indian cricket.
"The overseas players not being retained are a sign that the Indian players are good enough. And the Indian players is what we really need to look at. The foreign players might make a fortune but the Indian players will form the core," he said.
Sivaramakrishnan also said that the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer wouldn't be concerned about not being retained by IPL franchises, as their main focus would be Ashes for now.
"Playing for the country is first and foremost. Your ambition as a young cricketer is not to play in IPL but to play for the country. There was no IPL when Ben Stokes or Steve Smith started to play. So, their aim would always have been to play for England and Australia.
"There are two ways to look at IPL retention. Firstly, the players who have already been retained will feel a sense of security. The players who have not been retained also have the opportunity," he signed off.
The ex-India cricketer will be part of the commentary panel for Sony Sports Network during the upcoming Ashes series.
(With NDTV Inputs)
