IPL 2023 Auction: “He Is Someone You Might Want To Leave, But....”– Harbhajan Singh When Asked Whether SRH Should Release Nicholas Pooran

Former India National Cricket Team off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has said that the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) might want to release West Indies National Cricket Team captain Nicholas Pooran, but they will be in trouble if they don’t get an explosive batter like him at the IPL 2023 mini-auction.

All 10 IPL teams have until 5 pm IST on Tuesday to submit the list of retained or transferred or released players. The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 player auction, which will be a mini-auction, will be held on December 23 in Kochi.

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During a discussion on the Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’, Harbhajan was asked whether the Hyderabad-based franchise should release Pooran. He responded that SRH will be in trouble if they retain the explosive batter and he fails to perform well in the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Harbhajan elaborated:

“The reputation with which he comes of playing the big shots, it will be a problem if you leave him and don’t get a player like him. The biggest problem is if you don’t leave him and he doesn’t perform. They will have to move away from names and slightly towards the deeds.

“He is someone you might want to leave, but you might feel that if you leave him you might not get a player like him. There is a hope that he can hit sixes, he can do Kieron Pollard’s job here. You will have to either motivate him so that he performs or ask him what his intention is.”

I don’t think they should release him. Nicholas Pooran is hot property – Irfan Pathan

Former India National Cricket Team all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that the Sunrisers Hyderabad should retain “hot property” Nicholas Pooran. He added that Pooran is a game-changer and he might attract huge bids at the IPL 2023 mini-auction if he is released.

“I don’t think they should release him. Nicholas Pooran is hot property. He is a left-handed batter who can change the game in the middle order. Definitely, his performance has not been that good but with the potential he has, anything can happen if you put him into the auction, he might go more expensive.

“You might not be able to get him back, so you don’t want to miss out. If you see last year, Markram scored runs in the middle order. Later Nicholas Pooran also batted well and scored runs. Only Kane Williamson was the one whose bat didn’t fire that much. If he is retained and his bat fires, this team will look much better.”

Pooran was bought by SRH for INR 10.75 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction. He played all 14 games for the franchise and scored 306 runs at an average of 38.25 and a strike rate of 144.33.

Also Read: IPL 2023 Auction: “Hope I Can Get Back There” – Australia Captain Pat Cummins Opts Out Of 16th Edition Of IPL