IPL 2021 Auction: 3 Teams Which Can Cause A Bidding War For Alex Hales

While the IPL 2021 auction is not far away, the IPL franchises are keeping a keen eye on some consistent performers in the recent cricket matches, especially in T20 cricket. The 32-year-old English cricketer Alex Hales can be one of these special cricketers.

Though Hales hasn’t played an international match since March 2019, he is performing impressively in the many T20 leagues. Observing his latest performances in the ongoing BBL 2020/21, some IPL teams can target him to buy in the IPL 2021 auction.

Despite he was selected for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Alex Hales was later removed following a ban for recreational drug use. Since then, he hasn’t returned to the England cricket team yet. However, he is now utilising most of the chances, and recently he has impressed in the BBL 10, serving for Sydney Thunder.

Alex Hales is one of the most successful batsman in the BBL 2020/21. The English right-handed batsman has scored 535 runs in 14 matches of this tournament with an average of 41.15 and strike-rate of 163.60. At the end of the league stage of this tournament, Hales finished as the leading run-scorer, who hit one century and three half-centuries. In fact, since the beginning of the calendar year 2020, Hales is the most run-scorer in overall men’s T20 cricket.

Some IPL franchises will be very happy to see this superb batting form from Alex Hales as they are searching for some good opening or top-order batsmen. Also, he served for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2018, where he scored 148 runs in six matches, including his best score of 45 runs. So, if he is available during the IPL 2021 auction, he can get strong bids at least from some franchises.

IPL 2021 Auction: 3 teams which can cause a bidding war for Alex Hales

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Recently, Rajasthan Royals have released some of their big foreign players. They will look for some good top-order batsmen during the IPL 2021 auction and Alex Hales can be one of their most crucial names in this list.

Rajasthan Royals have already released Australian star Steven Smith. In the IPL 2020, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler majorly handled the opening batting duties for this team, along with Smith, Robin Uthappa and youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal in occasional cases. Though Stokes performed really well as an opener in that tournament, his presence in the middle-order will make stronger the Rajasthan Royals batting line-up. That’s why the franchise can put a strong bid for in-form Alex Hales.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

The three-time runners-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have recently released Australian opening batsman Aaron Finch and their former opening batsman Parthiv Patel (retired). So, in the IPL 2021 auction, they will definitely look for some good opening batsmen. While they can still add maximum three overseas cricketers, in-form Alex Hales can be one of their strong choice.

While RCB have their most dependable batsmen skipper Virat Kohli and vice-captain AB de Villiers, addition of Hales for the opening batting slot will make their batting stronger and dangerous.

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)

Well, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) have already some strong opening batting choices as skipper KL Rahul, Caribbean superstar Chris Gayle and Indian cricketer Mayank Agarwal. But while Alex Hales can be used for the top-order batting, for the no.3 batting position, KXIP can target to strengthen their batting line-up.

While KXIP can utilise over 50 crores in the IPL 2021 auction, they can add five overseas cricketers in the squad. So, if they want, they will surely have the best chance to add Hales.