3 Teams that can pick Alex Hales in IPL 2021 Auction

Alex Hales has had a rough couple of years. The right-handed batsman who was almost certain to be a part of the England squad for the World Cup 2019, was banned after failing a drug case. Since then, the Nottinghamshire batsman has not been included in the England side for even once. Hales has been spending his off-season playing various T20 leagues around the world. 

He is currently playing in the Big Bash League 2020-21 for the Sydney Thunder. At the time of writing this, the 32-year-old is the highest run-getter in the league. In the 12 innings he has played so far, he has scored 462 runs at an average of 38.50 with a magnificent strike rate of 165.59. He also scored a 56-ball 110 on Friday in Adelaide, which has got him back in the news. 

With the IPL Auctions coming soon, we can expect Hales to find a team. He has played in the league before as he had represented Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018. In six matches, he had scored 148 runs with a strike rate of 125.42. He had also been picked by Mumbai Indians but didn’t make it to the XI.

3 Teams that can pick Alex Hales in IPL 2021 Auction

1. Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings has always been a side who looked for overseas batsmen to open the innings or play in the top order. Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Shane Watson, Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Faf du Plessis are some overseas players who have opened the innings for them. This has been MS Dhoni’s strategy in shaping a perfect side for him. He fills his middle-order with quality Indian batsmen. 

However, with Shane Watson finally retiring at the end of last year’s IPL, CSK’s only overseas batsman who can open is Faf du Plessis. They have traded in Robbie Uthappa for possibly an opener’s role, but it won’t be a bad option for them to get in Hales as a reserve option. 

CSK can opt for one more overseas player at the auction and whether it will be Hales, that will be interesting to see. But, going by the strategy with which Dhoni and his franchise operate, it seems that Hales is right now the best option as an overseas batsman. His experience at the top can do a lot of good for the side, which finished second-last in the 2020 season.