Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has batted for Deepak Chahar to be the most expensive Indian bowler in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction.
IPL 2022 auction is just a few days away from now. The event will take place in Bangalore on February 12 and 13. With a total of 1,214 players registering themselves for the event, all the 10 franchises will be almost ready with their auction strategies.
Among all, it is expected that the fast bowlers, especially Indian pacers, will fetch a whopping amount at the auction because it is one area that almost every team will look to strengthen and form a core group for the coming years.
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Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra while highlighting there will be the fight for the Indian names in the IPL 2022 auction, backed Deepak Chahar to be the most expensive. He pointed out that there will be many teams who will put money on him as he’s a three-over powerplay bank.
"There are a lot of names who are going to be available. There will be some fight for the Indian names. But I still believe that Deepak Chahar will be the most expensive; it's just a gut feel. There will be a lot of teams who will put money on him because he is a three-over powerplay bank,” Aakash Chopra said.
Chopra said that with Chahar being a wicket-taker and his ability to bat, he’s putting his case forward again and again. He batted for the pacer to be the most expensive Indian bowler in the auction as he bowls difficult overs in the powerplay and is maturing as a player.
"He is a wicket-taker. Even if he is expensive, he will pick up wickets. He is batting alright, and is putting his case forward again and again. Deepak Chahar bowls difficult overs in the powerplay; he is maturing as a player. So I am going with Deepak Chahar as the most expensive Indian bowler in the auction," he said.
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Aakash Chopra further said that like Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur's ability to score runs with the bat will work in his favour but him being a middle-overs bowler will keep him behind the former.
"Can Shardul Thakur be the one? He can be, but will he be the most expensive? I am not a 100%, honestly, because he is a middle-overs bowler. There is one thing common between him and Deepak - that both can bat. That is another string to their bow, which is outstanding," he said.
Notably, both Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur were standout performers for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2021. While the former took 14 wickets in the seasons, the latter was the leading wicket-taker for the team with 21 wickets to his name. They were not retained by their side as they went for MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali.
