Aakash Chopra names six capped Indian players who will be most expensive picks in IPL mega auction

The IPL 2022 mega auction is likely to take place towards the end of December 2021 or in the initial phase of January 2022 where teams will be walking with clear-cut strategies to make the event big. With only a limited number of retentions allowed, teams had to let go of many star players from their artillery and this will create a bidding war in upcoming days. In the same sequence of events, former cricketer Aakash Chopra named six Indian capped players who will be a huge target (costliest buys) in the mega auction.

Chopra stated six picks in the order starting from India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya followed by purple cap winner of IPL 2021 Harshal Patel. Chopra’s third and fourth picks were brothers Rahul and Deepak Chahar. The former cricketer concluded his list by adding the likes of Ravi Ashwin and ace batter Shikhar Dhawan.

“Hardik Pandya will be an expensive buy. Don’t look at his current form, injuries as no other all-rounder can match his skillset. He can bat no. 5, 6, and 7, can bowl a few overs as well, plus he is a gun fielder. So, I think he will be a very expensive buy,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.

Harshal Patel is a proven commodity: Aakash Chopra

Talking further, Chopra added that Patel is a proven star and his performance in IPL 2021 wasn’t just a one-time wonder. He performed in IPL and carried the momentum while playing for India too. Talking of Dhawan, the 44-year-old called him the bank of 500-600 runs and assumed that fans might see David Warner and Dhawan reunion in the new Ahmedabad franchise.

“Harshal Patel was not retained (by RCB). He is a proven commodity. He is not one season wonder as he recently played for India and did well. It’s not like that he has performed on a few grounds. He has bowled well everywhere he has played, and has got plenty of variations up his sleeves,” Chopra added.

“Shikhar Dhawan is a bank of 500-600 runs. He scores run in India and overseas. He gives a rocket start in T20s. A lot of teams will be interested in him. We might see a David-Dhawan (David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan) reunion. Ahmedabad might buy both of them,” Chopra concluded.