Shahrukh Khan, the Tamil Nadu batsman, is seeking a new IPL team after being released by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the 2024 IPL mini-auction. High expectations surrounded Shahrukh Khan when he was acquired for ₹9 crore in the 2022 mega-auction.
While he displayed promise in his debut season with PBKS in 2021, his subsequent two seasons fell short of expectations. Since 2022, he has amassed only 273 runs in 21 innings.
Shahrukh Khan has established a modest base price for the upcoming IPL auction and emphasized the challenges of batting in the lower-middle order, especially when facing seasoned death bowlers.
“People judge you when you can’t get those two sixes at the death. But it can’t happen every day. For bowlers too…for a Natarajan or Bumrah, they can’t be successful all the time. I try to stay till the last ball in the death overs,” Shahrukh said in an interaction with the Hindustan Times.
“Once you hit 15-20 runs in one over, it feels amazing. When you don’t get them in one game, people think he has failed. But they don’t understand the value of getting 10 runs in 4-5 balls. If you look at T20 matches, that’s what it boils down to,” he added.
Shahrukh Khan recently participated in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Tamil Nadu. He accumulated 62 runs in five innings during the team’s campaign until the semi-finals of the latter tournament.
“I am strong, so I don’t need to do anything special”- Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan earned acclaim as a top finisher in domestic cricket, particularly for his standout performances in the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Trophy. Unfortunately, he hasn’t replicated that form in the IPL, but he remains confident in his power-hitting abilities.
A new beginning in the IPL 2024 mini-auction could be the solution, and Shahrukh is steadfast in his approach, relying on his strength without attempting anything extraordinary.
“Power comes naturally to me. I am strongly built so I don’t have to do anything extraordinary. I have the technique to negotiate the good length balls. With my power, I know even mishits can go long. So, I don’t look to complicate it,” Shahrukh said.
“A lot of bowlers try to bowl the wide yorkers to me. I get doubles but not many boundaries and sixes. When I miss, those are dot balls. But with this tactic, third-man and fine leg are in. If I can develop a ramp shot over fine leg or the keeper, I can outsmart them. I have been working on it in practice matches,” he concluded.
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