Gujarat Titans (GT) secured Tamil Nadu batsman Shahrukh Khan during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction in Dubai. This new opportunity is timely for Shahrukh, aiming for a fresh start after a disappointing year.
Punjab Kings (PBKS), who had invested ₹9 crore in the power-hitting batsman at the 2022 mega-auction, released him after a couple of lackluster seasons with the franchise.
Shahrukh Khan entered the mini-auction as a prominent name in the uncapped category, leading to an expected bidding war. While PBKS sought to reacquire him at a more affordable price, Gujarat Titans, with a substantial budget, displayed their supremacy by securing the player for ₹7.4 crore.
“The way Gujarat have backed players, I will be comfortable. I will be playing at No. 6 or 7. I have been a fan of Miller; he is a guy who comes in and wins big games.”
”The way he has played for South Africa and GT… he is calm under pressure and that is what I will try to emulate,” Shahrukh said following his acquisition by GT.
“Dinesh Karthik used me as a finisher for the first time at TN. He told me that finishers cannot look at their individual scores.”
”I think that batting at No. 5 or 6 will be great, but I am ready for any role. In the TNPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I have played up the order. I have been bowling well in the TNPL and that can be an add-on,” Shahrukh said.
The right-handed batsman has demonstrated his power-hitting skills in the IPL but has struggled to maintain consistency. Shahrukh Khan is expected to seamlessly integrate into the Gujarat Titans’ playing XI as they navigate the post-departure phase of Hardik Pandya. Shubman Gill will now lead the franchise.
“When I came in, I struggled facing bowlers who bowled 140 km per hour” – Shahrukh Khan views on his weakness
During the 2022 season, Shahrukh Khan faced significant challenges in venues with bouncy conditions in Maharashtra, accumulating only 117 runs at a strike rate of 108.33. His performance did not improve with the return to the home-and-away format, resulting in his release from the team.
“When I came in, I struggled facing bowlers who bowled 140 km per hour. I have been working on that. I have also been working on playing left-arm spinners and leg spinners better,” he concluded.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
