IPL 2023 Auction: “Joe Root Will Be Really Useful For Many Franchises” – Ravichandran Ashwin

Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has stated that the England star batter Joe Root, who is part of the modern-day fab-4 alongside Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, will be “really useful for many franchises” in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Former England captain Joe Root has put his name forward for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 mini-auction, which will be held on December 23 in Kochi. The modern-day batting great Root is the only player among the fab-4 who has not played a single game in the marquee Indian Premier League (IPL).

In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Ashwin said that Root wants to understand the Indian conditions ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be entirely held in India. He also opined that several franchises would be interested to have Root in their squad.

He elaborated: “Actually, it’s a professional world. In the recently concluded T20 World Cup, we will take a look at the England players. Most England players have had plenty of experience playing the Big Bash League in Australia.

“We always treat our guests really well. He is absolutely willing to come and play. We should only welcome him. He is a legendary cricketer already and is a part of Fab-Four as well. Williamson, Smith and Kohli have played in the IPL. Let Root also play.

“He can bowl decent off-spin as well. He will be really useful for many franchises with his T20 cricket. He himself has said that his experience will be really useful.”

Just when everyone was eager to see how Joe Root goes at the auctions, he came up with another statement – Ravichandran Ashwin

The veteran off-spinner further said that the former England captain would be looking to experience the buzz around the Indian Premier League.

He said: “Joe Root decides to put his name in the IPL auctions. His mind voice was like, ‘I wanna know what’s the hype around the IPL because everyone around me, say, Hales, Billings and even Buttler keep hyping up IPL like anything. So, I wanna try it out this year.’

“Just when everyone was eager to see how Joe Root goes at the auctions, he came up with another statement. ‘2023 World Cup is going to take place in India. So, I wanna be with the IPL teams and understand the conditions and win the World Cup next year.’”

The 31-year-old Root has never been picked up by an IPL franchise and has not entered the auction since going unsold in 2018.

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