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VVS Laxman, SunRisers Hyderabad mentor said the addition of Kedar Jadhav will strengthen their middle-order in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

SunRisers Hyderabad went into the Indian Premier League 2021 auctions with a set mindset as they wanted to pick specific players to provide balance to the squad.

VVS Laxman: Kedar Jadhav’s Experience Will Strengthen SunRisers Hyderabad’s Middle Order

SRH decided to add a third Afghanistan spinner into their team as they picked up Mujeeb Ur Rahman for his ₹2 crore base price. According to VVS Laxman, SRH also wanted to bolster their middle-order and so they bought Kedar Jadhav for INR 2 Crores. SRH already has the likes of Shahbaz Nadeem, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi in their squad, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s addition will provide them further options in their team selection.

VVS Laxman said the addition of Kedar Jadhav will strengthen their batting besides the fact that he can bowl a handful of overs. In the players’ auction held on Thursday, Hyderabad acquired Kedar Jadhav, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Jagadeesha Suchith to their ranks. The side had bowed out of IPL 2020 in Qualifier 2 last year after suffering a loss against Delhi Capitals.

“Mujeeb is an experienced IPL bowler and there is a mystery to his bowling style. The other option for us was an overseas fast bowler, we felt with our fast bowling options available and the Indian talent available, we thought it would be better for us if we have a mystery spinner in our squad as it strengths our spin bowling department,” said VVS Laxman while replying to ANI query during a virtual press conference on Thursday.

“We know that the IPL is meant to be in Mumbai, if we know there is wear and tear in the wicket, it gives us more flexibility. as far as Kedar Jadhav is concerned, just his experience will strengthen our middle order, we have exciting middle-order batters, in the last few years, we missed the experience in this department. Kedar is also a useful bowler, he is an international experience. I am happy that he is with us,” VVS Laxman added.

Kedar Jadhav had scored only 62 runs in 8 games for Chennai Super Kings at a modest average of 20.66 and a strike rate of 93.93 which is poor by T20 standards and he was released by CSK. Despite playing only 87 IPL games, he has an average of only 22.82 and has only 4 fifties. He hasn’t bowled in IPL.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has played 18 IPL games and picked 17 scalps averaging 33.11. He failed to pick a wicket in IPL 2020 despite featuring in 2 games and was released by Punjab Kings.

Chris Morris Becomes Most Expensive Foreign Player In The History Of The IPL

South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris has become the most expensive foreign player in the history of the IPL as he was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for ₹16.25 crore. RCB bought Kiwi all-rounder Kyle Jamieson for ₹15 crores. Arjun Tendulkar was picked up by Mumbai Indians for his base price of ₹20 lakh.

Chris Morris of RCB. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on Thursday was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing IPL mini-auction for ₹3.2 crores. Steven Smith was sold to Delhi Capitals for INR 2.2 Crores while Moeen Ali was sold to CSK for 7 Crores.

Nathan Coulter-Nile went to defending champions Mumbai Indians for Rs 5 crore, who also picked up Piyush Chawla for Rs 2.40 crore. Glenn Maxwell was sold to Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 14.25 Crore.

Umesh Yadav was picked by Delhi Capitals for his base price of Rs 1 crore. Shivam Dube was sold at INR 4.4 Crore to Rajasthan while Punjab Kings bought Dawid Malan for a base price of INR 1.5 Crore.

The IPL “mini-auction” this year has 291 players going under the hammer as England pacer Mark Wood withdrew from the auction at the end moment. All these cricketers have been shortlisted by the eight franchises. A total of 164 Indian players, 125 overseas players, and 3 players from associate nations are up for grabs in the mini-auction.