IPL 2023: 5 teams that can pick Shakib Al Hasan in auction

Shakib Al Hasan is the greatest all-rounder Bangladesh cricket has produced. He has been the rock of the batting lineup in the middle order and has been a wily customer with the ball providing breakthroughs at crucial intervals. He has aced every format of the game and has played an instrumental role in making the Bangla Tigers stand toe to toe with the top-ranked cricket nations.

Talking about the shortest format, Shakib has proven his mettle time and time again, be it in the international circuit or the T20 leagues around the world. And his staggering numbers tell the story. He has amassed 6301 in a total of 382 T20 games at a strike rate of 122.20 and bagged an insane tally of 432 wickets at an economy of 6.82.

With the 2023 IPL mini-auction around the corner, the Bangladesh legend could be one of the hot picks of the event given the skills he brings to the table. Many franchises might look to draft him at the forthcoming auction. 

Here are the franchises who could pick Shakib Al Hasan in the 2023 mini-auction:

5. Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders were the franchise to give Shakib his first break in the Indian Premier League. The veteran all-rounder was picked by the franchise in 2011 and was associated with them till 2017. In this tenure, he played an important part in KKR’s title-winning campaign in 2012 and 2014. 

In 2012, it was Bangladesh all-rounder’s cameo (11 runs of seven balls) in the finals that help KKR clinch their maiden title. Then in the 2014 season, he was simply sensational throughout the campaign taking 11 wickets in 13 games an economy of 6.68, and amassing 227 runs at a strike rate of 149.34.

KKR roped in Shakib again for the 2021 season of the lucrative T20 tournament to add depth to the side. He has been a proven performer for the two-time IPL champions and it should not be a surprise that Knight Riders put their faith in him for the upcoming IPL season.

The Kolkata franchise had Mohammad Nabi for the spin-bowling all-rounder slot but they did not play him for a single game. Thus, they might ponder over releasing him and can rope in Shakib at his place.