Would Have Loved To Be There - Aaron Finch After Going Unsold In IPL 2022 Auction
Published - 17 Feb 2022, 06:23 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:04 AM
Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch has said that he would have loved to play in the Indian Premier League- IPL 2022, after not finding a bidder in the recent IPL auction in Bengaluru. In 85 IPL matches, while representing eight franchises, Finch scored 2005 runs at an average of 25.71, including 14 half-centuries.
Finch has played for the most franchises in Indian Premier League history, appearing for Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
His last outing came for the then Virat Kohli-led RCB team in IPL 2020 and was then released ahead of the IPL 2021 auction. After going unsold in the auction before IPL 2021, history repeated itself in 2022 when Finch, despite being a Men’s T20 World Cup-winning captain, wasn’t picked by any of the ten franchises in the mega auction.
I’ve Had 10 Great Years Over There, I’m Grateful For That: Aaron Finch On Going Unsold In IPL 2022 Auction
Speaking on not finding any bidder in the IPL 2022 auction, Aaron Finch said that the demand for batters at number five, six, and seven was something that led to him not signing up with any IPL side ahead 2022 season.
“I would have loved to be playing, no doubt. But the makeup of the Indian franchises, there’s so many top-order players over there that can do a really good job. Probably the hole that is missing in a lot of teams around the world, whether it be domestic or international, is that number five, six, seven, real power hitter (type of player),” said Finch on SEN’s Dwayne’s World show.
“I wasn’t surprised, I would have loved to be there but I’ve had 10 great years over there, so I can be grateful for that.
“They’re the guys that have been in demand a little more than probably what they have been in the past because teams are starting to understand the importance of having power and intimidation, just boundary hitting options towards the back end of the T20 innings,” he added.
However, Finch was not the only Australian not to find any buyers at the auction. Steve Smith, Adam Zampa, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Richardson, Ben McDermott, Andrew Tye, Ben Dwarshuis, Moises Henriques, and Ben Cutting also went unsold.