Punjab Kings have acquired the services of hard-hitting West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith at the IPL 2022 mega auction for a whopping amount of INR 6 crores. Head coach Anil Kumble has finally revealed why they went all out for the Caribbean all-rounder.
The youngster from Jamaica is a well-built strong hard-hitting batter and a fast bowler, who can hit speeds of high 140 kph as well and can play the long handle. Odean Smith had a good T20I series against England at home and showed his skills in the recent ODI series against India also.
Odean Smith must give half of his pay to Pollard. #IPLAuction
— Pratyush Raj (@pratyush93_raj) February 13, 2022
Meanwhile, Anil Kumble, who was the mastermind behind the signing of the 25-year-old cricketer, stated that his hard-hitting abilities attracted the franchise. Speaking on Star Sports, the former India captain said:
“He has showcased his power, bowling skills and also his batting skills and we saw that on display against India here in the one-dayers, so we have been tracking the players for a while and we are very glad that someone like Odean as an all-rounder for us we have been able to secure.”
The Auction Dynamics This Time Were Very Different: Anil Kumble
Kumble further stated that the dynamics in the IPL 2022 mega auction were very much different than that of the previous seasons.
“The auction dynamics are very very different and you have to be nimble and that is something we realised in the last one and half days. You have to be even more nimble during this auction then the previous ones.”
Anil Kumble also stressed on the leadership role and building a culture within the franchise looking forward to a brand new season.
“I think, in a T20, the format or any new squad you want to put together, you would want to get some quality players, and also the leadership group, so yes the focus was not just on the players that we want to acquire but also acquire some leadership groups and build a culture,” he concluded.
