After being adjudged as Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup in 2022, Sam Curran’s stock increased, with Punjab Kings paying INR 18.50 crore to sign the Englishman in the auction. However, much to their disappointment, the 25-year-old failed to live up to the expectations in IPL 2023. Despite so, the team management decided to back the cricketer as they retained him for another season.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra however was surprised with the move as he explained that the youngster has barely made a mark in the last 12-17 months. He called Curran ‘an expensive asset’ and believes that the franchise should have released him to make way for some other cricketer. He reminded Curran’s failure in the IPL and SA20 and mentioned that the only reason the England international succeeded in Australia was because of the long boundary.
“I was extremely surprised. Why did you retain Sam Curran? They have parked 18.50 crore rupees in one place. I won't call him a non-performing asset but a very expensive asset for sure. He was sold for 18.50 crore rupees because there were only three all-rounders in the small auction,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“However, if you see his performances in the last IPL, the SA20 now, or the last year, he hasn't done anything special for the last 12-17 months. He just played well in the 2022 T20 World Cup and that too because the side boundaries were very big in Australia,” the 46-year-old added.
You could have got Curran back for half the price or even cheaper: Chopra
Chopra believes that had Punjab let Curran leave, they could have signed him for much cheaper in the auction. He mentioned that the franchise could have even signed him for half the price or even cheaper.
“He should have been released. If you wanted, there was a buyback option available. You could have got him back for half the price or even cheaper, but Punjab said they would keep him with them. Is that the Trevor Bayliss connection? I don't know, I am just contemplating,” Chopra said.
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