SRK snapped up by Zinta’s Punjab Kings
After some excellent exploits in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), Tamil Nadu big-hitting all-rounder Shahrukh Khan unsurprisingly drew the attention of the franchises at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction here.
The 25-year-old was eventually sold for a whopping Rs 5.25 crore to Preity Zinta co-owned Punjab Kings (PBKS), formerly known as Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Shahrukh, an uncapped player with a base price of Rs 20 lakh, was in huge demand as teams went all out to get him.
“I am really excited to be a part of this franchise. I am hoping to learn a lot by playing under Anil Kumble sir and a dynamic captain like KL Rahul. I will try to do my best for the team,” said Shahrukh in a video message posted on the Punjab social media handles.
PBKS CEO Satish Menon was delighted with the pick. “As the name suggests, Shahrukh Khan is going to be a hero. He showed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali what he is capable of. He is a great middle-order guy to have in the team,” said Satish after the auction.
Two other players from the Tamil Nadu state team, left-arm spinner Manimaran Siddharth and opening batsman C Hari Nishaanth, were also sold at the auction. The 22-year-old Siddharth, who was released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), was snapped up by Delhi Capitals (DC) for his base price of Rs 20 lakh.
Coimbatore-based Hari Nishaanth will make his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which secured him for Rs 20 lakh. While three players from the state side got picked by different franchises, five of them went unsold at the auction.
