Karun Nair is likely to be one of the names that could have multiple teams bidding for him during the IPL 2024 auction.
The IPL 2024 auction is slated for December 19 in Dubai. Only 18 capped Indian players including Karun Nair have registered themselves for the IPL 2024 auction.
India’s only second Test triple centurion, Nair was released by the Rajasthan Royals. Nair has been with three different franchises in the past three seasons.
Once a key part of the Delhi franchise, Nair’s IPL career has gone downhill in recent years. Since 2019, Nair has featured in only 8 matches.
However, if there is one franchise where his IPL career can be revived, it’s the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). And CSK, too, can have multiple benefits from buying Karun Nair in the IPL 2024 Auction.
3 reasons why CSK should buy Karun Nair in IPL 2024 Auction:
CSK are looking for Ambati Rayudu’s replacement
Veteran batsman Ambati Rayudu retired from IPL after IPL 2023 final. Rayudu goes with 3 IPL titles with CSK and before that 3 with Mumbai Indians.
CSK will ideally want an Indian batsman to replace Rayudu in the middle-order; someone who could play majorly play the anchor role, and the aggressive role if needed. Nair fits that bill.
Nair is a good player of spin bowling
Karun got a terrific endorsement from senior off-spinner R Ashwin for his good batsmanship against spinners.
“I have a feeling that they (CSK) will invest it on Karun Nair. He is somebody who can play spin well, who could sweep and reverse sweep. MS Dhoni loves it when there is a batter who can play between the top order and the middle order in the No. 4 slot, especially in Chennai.”
“I feel Karun Nair is perfect for that,” Ashwin added while also pointing out that Karun’s Test triple century also came on a spin-friendly track in Chennai.
Nair’s form has peaked on the right time
During the recent T20 tournament, the Maharaja KSCA T20 Trophy, Nair scored a brilliant century in the semi-final and did the bat drop celebration to announce that he’s back in T20 cricket. He finished that tournament with 512 runs in only 12 innings, scoring those runs at a terrific strike rate of 162.
Looking at his game against spin, his experience of batting in the middle-order as well as top of the order, and his recent good form, CSK should go after Karun Nair in IPL 2024 auction.
