IPL Auction 2022: 5 teams that should sign Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane will be one of the key Indian players to go under the hammer during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction in Bengaluru.
Building a strong domestic core is critical to a team’s success in the league and Rahane can be an asset for any team that picks him.
After a couple of uneventful seasons with the Delhi Capitals, the 33-year-old will be eager to turn his IPL career around.
Rahane, who has a base price of Rs 1 crore, brings several qualities to the table for a number of squads. Let us explore five such teams in this article.
Who should target Ajinkya Rahane in the IPL auction?
1. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad will be eyeing a total squad revamp in the auction and will have to address concerns that have hampered their progress in recent times.
Despite a terrific international core, Hyderabad has been very light on the domestic batting front in the last couple of years. None of their Indian batters stood up to take responsibility in the preceding seasons.
Rahane thrives on added responsibility and will be a perfect partner for Kane Williamson at the top. Once settled in the opening position, the former Rajasthan Royals skipper can very well deliver a 400+ runs season that can help turn the Sunrisers’ fortunes around.
Rahane is a reliable figure to have in your ranks, especially at the top of the order. He can take on pacers with ease in the powerplay overs and has the potential to convert good starts into big scores.
These are traits that Hyderabad lacked sorely and could possibly address them for a reasonable amount by roping in Rahane in the upcoming auction.
Ajinkya Rahane will be a fantastic acquisition at the IPL Auction. Quite a few teams needs a Captain and he can go at 120-130 SR as an Opening Batsman too. No Brainer. @IPL #IPLAuction2022 #AjinkyaRahane
2. Punjab Kings
With KL Rahul’s departure, Punjab Kings are staring at a gaping hole at the top of the batting order. Moreover, they haven’t explicitly declared their captaincy pick yet and Ajinkya Rahane tends to fulfill both these criteria.
Punjab haven’t been a stable franchise over the years and require a personality that can steady their ship during the long season.
With his calm demeanor and terrific leadership credentials, Rahane offers just that. He has been at the helm of some of India’s most iconic Test victories since 2017. Further, he is definitely someone who can be trusted to take up the mantle for a team that is desperate to get things back on track.
Rahane would also be an ideal opening partner for Mayank Agarwal. The Karnataka-based opener acts as an enforcer and can take the opposition’s bowling apart right from the onset. Rahane can bide his time and look to capitalize on his good starts and also play the anchor for the side in the long run.