Brendon McCullum tips Rehan Ahmed for IPL opportunity after latter's remarkable Test debut

England's Test head coach Brendon McCullum has tipped Rehan Ahmed to earn a deal at the upcoming Indian Premier League 2023 auction after the youngster made headlines on his international debut. The spin all-rounder took five wickets on day three of the third Test match against Pakistan, to become the youngest-ever cricketer to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut.

The 18-year-old leg-spinner took seven wickets in the third Test and has garnered plenty of eyeballs. Rehan will now go under the hammer at the upcoming IPL 2023 mini-auction on December 23 in Kochi at a base price of INR 40 lakh.

McCullum, the former head coach for Kolkata Knight Riders, believes that playing in the IPL will be a great experience for Rehan and the England management should encourage the idea.

"It would be great. It would be awesome if he did. I've been involved with the IPL a couple of times so sometimes it works out for guys and sometimes it doesn't. Why not? Why not get an opportunity to go and play under different coaches and different captains and rub shoulders with different players and pick up those experiences?

What 18-year-old kid anywhere else in world cricket is going to get those chances? I think we should encourage it," McCullum told BBC Test Match Special. 

I'll encourage him to play as much franchise cricket as he can: Brendon McCullum

Rehan enjoyed a successful T20 Blast 2022 season with Leicestershire as he took 19 wickets in 14 innings at an economy rate of 7.34. He has also earned a contract with Gulf Giants to play in the inaugural ILT20 in UAE in January and February 2023.

Legspinners are always in high demand in franchise cricket and IPL will be an excellent platform for Rehan and McCullum stated that he will encourage the youngster to play as much franchise cricket as possible.

"He won't be in every squad and I'll encourage him to play as much franchise cricket as he can, and get as many experiences around the globe and play with different players, under different coaches and in different conditions," McCullum added.