Tom Banton
Tom Banton (Credits: Twitter)

England’s new batting sensation Tom Banton can be the next English batting sensation who can make his bow in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The highly-rated batsman has already been tipped to be a big attraction in the upcoming auction of the IPL. The much-awaited auction will take place on December 19 in Kolkata.

Given the way, Tom Banton has performed in recent times, it would not be surprising at all if he lands a lucrative IPL deal next month. All of just 20, he was the second leading run-scorer in this season’s T20 Blast in England. Tom Banton scored 549 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 161.47. He made four half-centuries and a blistering 51-ball century against Kent. Tom Banton was prolific in 50-over cricket too, smashing 454 during Somerset’s successful Royal London Cup campaign.

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He was recently picked by England for the five-match T20I series in England and played three games. While the right-hander failed to score big in any of them, he did show promise. Last month, he was also named Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) Players’ Young player of the year.

Tom Banton reveals his preference:

The right-handed batsman has already started garnering attention from all over. He will be playing for Brisbane Heat in the upcoming season of the Big Bash League and recently turned up for Qalandars in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. And Banton is now looking set to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots likes Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and play in IPL.

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Tom Banton
Tom Banton (Credits: Twitter)

Recently, English news outlet Daily Mail reported that IPL heavyweights Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are interested in Banton. And the England starlet has now himself revealed the team he wants to play for. Snubbing Chennai Super Kings, Banton said that he would love to play for Mumbai Indians.

“Playing in the IPL has been a dream from a very young age. You see the big crowds and the attention it has. I am in the IPL auction this year (December 19), so fingers crossed somebody picks me,” Banton told ESPNCricinfo.

“As a kid, I have always loved watching Mumbai Indians. Then I had the good fortune of playing at the Wankhede for the England U-19 team. There was tremendous support at the ground then, even though we lost 5-0,” he added.

Mumbai Indians do need an opener after releasing their West Indian recruit Evin Lewis. With Banton interested in joining them, they can go all the way to sign him up in the forthcoming auction.

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