IPL Auction 2024

Aakash Chopra feels Bangalore will not be able to afford star allrounder in upcoming Indian T20 league mini-auction

Former Indian opener Akash Chopra feels that the Bangalore franchise will not bid nor will be able to afford Sam Curran at the upcoming Indian T20 League 2023 auction.

The franchise has retained 18 players ahead of the mini-auction to be held in Kochi on December 23. They have a remaining purse of ₹8.75 crores, with which they can buy a maximum of seven players.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Bangalore will not look to acquire Curran even though they might be interested in left-arm seamers.

“There will be matches in Chinnaswamy as well this time, the simple meaning of that is – make your bowling side slightly more heavy, buy someone who you can get cheap. They might want to go towards left-armers. They will not even think about Sam Curran, nor will they be able to afford him,” said Chopra.

The former Indian opener suggested Reece Topley, Dilshan Madushanka and Joshua Little as left-arm seam-bowling options and added that the franchise might need a backup for Josh Hazlewood.

“It can be Reece Topley, Madushanka or Joshua Little. They might need a backup for Josh Hazlewood as well because this is the Ashes year. Some people might run away in between this year. It can be Paul van Meekeren as well. This team might look towards associate nations,” he added.

Bangalore already have a foreign left-arm seamer in the form of David Willey. However, they will certainly want to beef up their overseas seam-bowling resources.

I will go towards Zampa: Aakash Chopra

Chopra also said that Bangalore might want to acquire either Adam Zampa or Adil Rashid as a backup for Wanindu Hasaranga.

“If you talk about their spin department, you can see Adam Zampa or Adil Rashid as a backup for Wanindu Hasaranga. I will go towards Zampa, they can go whichever way they want. I rate Zampa a little higher,” Chopra further said.

The reputed commentator also opined that the three-time finalists can look to strengthen their lower-middle order.

“Daryl Mitchell is available. They tend to have problems in the lower-middle order because they have to get the job done by Shahbaz Ahmed and Dinesh Karthik, so you feel you can get one or two more guys. I don’t see Wanindu Hasaranga as an all-rounder but a bowler, because he has not contributed much with the bat in the Indian T20 League,” the 45-year-old concluded.