Did Not Expect Chris Morris To Go For That Much Money - Gautam Gambhir
Published - 19 Feb 2021, 01:49 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:41 AM
Former India batsman, Gautam Gambhir expresses his surprise over Chris Morris’ IPL 2021 Auction price of Rs 16.25 – which was not only the costliest player in this auction but in the entire IPL auction history – bought by Rajasthan Royals.
Gautam Gambhir asserts that Chris Morris hasn’t played for South Africa since July 2019; Gambhir finds it difficult to comprehend that someone who isn’t even in his national team anymore, was bought for such a heavy amount in the IPL.
The former KKR captain opines that Morris, who was released by RCB after buying him for 10 cr last season, may not be a first-choice player for Rajasthan and is brought in as a back-up for Ben Stokes. Gautam Gambhir says that there Morris will have the massive pressure of this hefty price tag.
“I didn’t expect him to go for that much money because he has not played international cricket, I can understand Maxwell, he played well against India during the Australia tour in the T20 format. Morris, I don’t know if he is anymore an X-factor, he does bowl, he does bat a little bit at No.7 or No. 8. He could be a back-up for someone like Ben Stokes. But 16.25 crore, now there will be a lot of pressure on him to deliver,” Gautam Gambhir told Star Sports.
Morris needs to play 14 games: Gautam Gambhir
The 39-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator asserts that since RR splurged out such an exorbitant amount on Morris, then the Protea all-rounder should be playing all the games.
Apart from his maiden IPL season in 2013 for CSK – where he played 16 matches – Morris hasn’t appeared in more than 10 matches any season – either due to injury or lack of form. In fact, in the last 4 seasons, he has played 9,4,9, and 9 matches each season respectively. The 33-year-old seamer also hasn’t participated in any professional game since the IPL last year.
“He needs to play 14 games. I am sure he would be working to play 14 games, at this price tag you would definitely want to play the entire tournament and he has not done that for any franchise, I reckon he has played for. But then Rs. 16.25 crore for someone who hasn’t played any competitive cricket. We have to see what kind of rhythm he comes in,” the two-time IPL winning skipper added.
