We Will Look For Next Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma In IPL Says Brad Hodge

Brad Hodge is all set to continue his association with Indian Premier League (IPL) for a period of three more years after he was appointed as the Head Coach of franchise Kings XI Punjab. The Aussie cricketer, who is yet to retire from T20I cricket, will report to the Chief mentor Virender Sehwag, who also wears the hat of the chief of Cricket operations and strategy.

(Read Here: Brad Hodge appointed as the Head Coach of Kings XI Punjab)

Hodge, who will join former Indian domestic cricketers, Mithun Manhas and J Arun Kumar in the ranks, has said that he would look to find players who can become next Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma,

“We haven’t got any huge Indian names as such – no Virat (Kohli), no Rohit (Sharma),” he said. But that’s something we want to try to attract. We’re not going to get those players but we’re probably looking for the next Virat or Rohit, and if we can find them, we’re looking at not just a short-term plan but a five-year plan as well,” he told Cricket.com.au

After the meeting of IPL Governing Council, it was decided that a franchise can retain a total of five players by retaining three of them ahead of the auction and rest two on the auction day by using the Right to Match (RTM) card.

Though any franchise is yet to announce the players whom they have retained by it officially can be safely assumed that Kohli and Rohit will not be going into the auction as they are a no-brainer retentions; no matter the price a franchise has to pay.

(Read Here: Rohit Sharma dedicates his third double century to his wife)

A franchise like Kings XI Punjab, who does not have someone like Kohli or Rohit to be retained, has to rely upon a new player on whom they can work on to prepare him like them (Kohli and Rohit).

Hodge, the Head Coach, will have a crucial say in the decision-making process of the franchise. He has earlier worked in IPL as a player and as a coach as well.

He was the coach of the Gujarat Lions franchise that played in IPL 9 and 10. Under him, Gujarat qualified for the qualifiers in the first season while could just win four out of 14 games in the second season.

(Read Here: CAB not to ask for the release of international players for Ranji Trophy semifinal)

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