IPL 2021 Auction: “It Will Hurt A Lot”, Says Michael Clarke On Aaron Finch Going Unsold

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke said that going unsold in the recent IPL 2021 auction is going to sting the current white-ball Australia captain Aaron Finch a lot. Finch, who was released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the auction, didn’t find any buyers in IPL 2021 auction.

Finch had put his base price at Rs 2 crores, however, no one of the eight franchises showed any interest in the opening batsman. Finch has played for several franchises in the Indian Premier League like Delhi Daredevils, Gujarat Lions, Kings XI Punjab, Pune Warriors India, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

I Cannot Believe Finchy (Aaron Finch) Hasn’t Been Picked Up- Michael Clarke

Finch had struggled a lot for the RCB in the IPL 2020 in the UAE, making 268 runs in 12 matches, making just one half-century with a strike rate of 111.20. Overall, in 87 matches, Finch has 2005 runs with 14 fifties to his name and a strike rate of 127.10.

Meanwhile, Clarke mentioned that he was stunned that none of the IPL franchises went for Finch in the auction, given his ability in the T20 format.

“I cannot believe Finchy hasn’t been picked up. Even for Finchy, that’s got to hurt as the Australian T20 captain. I think he’s still, definitely at the top of the order, one of the best in the world. Are the Australian selectors wrong in Aaron Finch being our Twenty20 captain, or is every IPL franchise wrong? I can’t believe this,” Clarke said on Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast.

Is the Australia T20 captain not good enough to be picked in IPL- asks Michael Clarke

Aaron Finch has a terrific record in international T20 for Australia and T20 format overall. He has 2149 runs in 88 T20I matches for Australia with 2 centuries at a strike rate of 154.05. His two centuries are 156 and 172, and he is the only batsman in international T20s to make two scores of over 150.

His 172 against Zimbabwe is also the highest T20I individual score by a batsman and second highest in all T20s, behind Chris Gayle’s 175*. Therefore, Michael Clarke questioned that despite such a good record, why any of the 8 franchises didn’t pick Aaron Finch in the IPL 2021 auction.

“The Australian Twenty20 captain has not been bought. Someone is wrong. In no sport on the planet can you captain Australia and miss out on a tournament with a truckload of teams. Don’t tell me Aaron Finch is not good enough to be a part of one of those IPL teams,” Clarke added.

Currently, Aaron Finch is in Australia for the five T20I matches against New Zealand.

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