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SPORTS DECEMBER 30, 2022 | The Indian Eye 41

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Team owners, staff and other officials Mumbai Indians Owner Akash Ambani with team staff and other officials during
at the IPL 2023 Auction (ANI) the IPL 2023 Auction in Kochi on Friday (ANI)

top order and scored consistently in there was an anti-corruption meeting
2019 (332 runs), 2020 (424 runs) and [while the auction was on]. When it
2021 (441 runs). In 2022 season, he was my turn at the IPL auction, I was
took over the team’s captaincy from moving from one room to another,
KL Rahul. But his form faced a major and the internet got disconnected.
dip, with him being able to score only While it was connecting back again, I
196 runs in 13 matches at an average started getting a lot of messages from
of 16.33, with one fifty. After this sea- my friends, congratulating me. I said,
son, he was released. This was in stark ‘what, I cannot see it. Are you guys
contrast with his numbers in 2020 and playing a prank?’ They said check the
2021, in which he scored 424 and 441 auction. I said I am checking but I ha-
runs respectively for the team. ven’t even been up there.”
West Indies opener Chris Gay- “What happened was, by the time
le mentioned that he is thrilled to be I reconnected, I had gone already. So
back in India and is excited to see the basically, I did not see the bid. Maybe
surprises the IPL 2023 auction holds. that was a good thing actually. I reck-
“It’s going to be interesting when on it is a good thing. If I was watching,
the IPL auction comes about. Some I would have shouted in the meeting,”
surprises, big money will be spent, will concluded the all-rounder.
have to wait and watch. It’s good to be Rajasthan Royals Team owners, staff and other officials during the IPL 2023 Auction at the Raza has been in superb form
back in India,” expressed Chris Gayle Grand Hyatt hotel on Friday (ANI) this year. He helped Zimbabwe beat
who is a part of JioCinema’s Expert Bangladesh in both white-ball formats
Panel for the IPL Player Auction.. The and scored a century against India. He
IPL 2023 auction will be held in Kochi names I am hearing more than often all over the world, be it Pakistan Super also secured first win against Australia
as franchises line up to rope in players and that seems to me teams will be League (PSL), the Caribbean Premier in Australia.
for the vacant spots up for grabs. targeting them as well,” mentioned League (CPL), the Bangladesh Pre- He scored 735 runs in 24 match-
Talking about opportunities off the Jamaican. mier League (BPL) and Lanka Pre- es across 23 innings at an average of
the field rather than on the field he He also stated that the English mier League (LPL). Now, he will be 35.00, with five fifties. He has also
said that he has been looking for players will benefit in the auction a part of the most high-profile league taken 25 wickets this year. He also
something new. having won the T20 World Cup this of them all, IPL. The Zimbabwe all- performed well in T20 WC this year,
“I am actually looking for some- year. “With England winning the T20 rounder, who has roots in Punjab, was scoring 219 runs in 8 matches, with
thing new for me now, more off the World Cup it’s going to play a big part quoted as saying to ESPNCricinfo, “It one fifty. He also took 10 wickets in
field. Looking on at a particular auc- in it as well. Especially for Sam and was part of my thinking that before I the tournament. They finished at the
tion which is something new and I’m Ben. So, it’s going to be some money hang my boots up, it would be nice to 11th spot in the tournament.
venturing into it as well. A bit of a money money,” said the left-hander. have the IPL on my CV. Alhamdulillah “It has been incredible. It has
mock-up auction as well, which was Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar (thank God) it has happened. I am re- been life and career changing. Ev-
fantastic and fun,” said Gayle. Raza expressed happiness after be- ally happy, humble and excited at the ery time I have won a Player-of-the-
Predicting the cash-rich auction ing bought by Punjab Kings for the same time. I would have been fine with Match trophy, I kiss my mum’s hand
to be dominated by all-rounders, he Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 in any franchise but to have a Punjabi and give her the trophy. The best part
mentioned the top-three names that the auction, saying that playing in the munda in Punjab, it is a great match.” of these few months is that I have
would earn the biggest paycheques in league was on his radar before retiring “I was in training today. I was handed her over a lot of trophies. I
the auction. from the sport and being of Punjabi calm. Sometimes I was nervous. I think the trophy cabinet is full now. To
“Those guys are very very hot, roots and being in Punjab franchise is went through all the emotions before sum it up, I would say that making my
Sam Curran, Ben Stokes, and Camer- a “great match” the auction.” parents proud has been the highlight,”
on Green as well. Those are the three Raza has played in many leagues “We went back to the hotel. Then said Raza.

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