SunRisers Hyderabad bought English batsman Harry Brook for a significant ₹13.25 crore in the 2023 IPL auction. Although there were high hopes for his debut season, he played 11 matches for SRH, scoring 190 runs at an average of 21.11 and a strike rate of 123.38.
His standout performance was a remarkable unbeaten century (100* off 55 balls) against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens, including 12 fours and three sixes.
However, Brook’s early impressive innings didn’t translate into a significant impact in the remaining games of the season. Following his release by SRH, the English batter has entered the ₹2 crore category for the IPL 2024 auction.
Three teams that should go after Brook in the upcoming Dubai auction on December 19:
#3 Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Punjab Kings (PBKS) released seven players, including power hitters Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Shahrukh Khan, ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. Despite having strong hitters, PBKS faced batting challenges in the IPL 2023 season.
Among the retained players, Shikhar Dhawan might be past his prime, and Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone weren’t consistent. While the team had some notable batting displays, they had an overall disappointing season, securing the eighth position with six wins and eight losses.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) might consider enhancing their batting lineup by acquiring Brook, taking the risk but deeming it worthwhile. With a salary cap of ₹29.1 crore and two overseas slots available, Punjab could potentially make a substantial bid for Brook.
#2 Gujarat Titans (GT)
This potential acquisition could add an intriguing dimension. Considering Gujarat Titans (GT) for IPL 2024, they currently have David Miller as the primary overseas power-hitter. Apart from him, there’s limited hard-hitting overseas talent.
While Kane Williamson, retained after an injury in IPL 2023, isn’t a feared T20 batsman, and Matthew Wade, though talented, lacks consistency. Consequently, GT often finds themselves depending on Rashid Khan for substantial hitting contributions.
Gujarat Titans, having traded their ex-captain Hardik Pandya to Mumbai Indians, hold a budget of ₹38.15 crore for the IPL 2024 auction. With two overseas slots available, signing Brook could be a viable choice for one of them.
#1 SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)
It’s not uncommon for franchises to release notable players before the IPL auction and then reacquire them. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if SRH once again shows interest in Brook at the IPL 2024 auction, likely for a lower price than his significant IPL 2023 salary.
SunRisers Hyderabad had a disappointing IPL 2023, finishing at the bottom of the points table after the league stage with only four wins and 10 losses in 14 matches. Despite high expectations for Brook, his contribution was largely underwhelming, except for one game.
Looking at SRH’s team before the IPL 2024 auction, they don’t have strong overseas batsmen, depending a lot on Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and Glenn Phillips. So, SRH might think about giving Brook another chance since they have a budget of ₹34 crore and three available overseas slots.
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