IPL Auction 2020: 3 teams likely to bid the highest for SRH batsman Yusuf Pathan

Explosive Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan turned 37 on Sunday. The elder of the Pathan siblings, who was also a part of the World Cup-winning Indian squad in 2011, has recently seen a decline in his T20 career. He remains to be an important fixture in the Baroda side but his IPL career may have seen its best days. Now that Pathan has been released by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, questions arise over his future as we go into the IPL Auction 2020.

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Immense experience up for grabs

In his last IPL season, Pathan was not able to contribute much at all to the Sunrisers. Failing both with the bat and the ball, it was not too surprising to see the Sunrisers parting ways with him. Although Pathan may not be in the full attacking prowess of his youth, his experience can still prove vital to the sides who need some solidity in their middle order. And let us not forget that Pathan has 3200 IPL runs and still holds the record for the second-fastest hundred in the IPL. On his day, Pathan can still take apart the best sides but whether or not that day arrives is a gamble that a few teams may be willing to make.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Knight Riders and Pathan had a great association over the years. With them, he won the seasons of 2012 and 2014. With Pathan, the team gets an experienced domestic all-rounder in the playing XI who can provide a safety net for the times when Andre Russell fails to fire. KKR might look to buy him back after a gap of two seasons.

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Delhi Capitals

Delhi has gone big on Indian talent in the trading window as they acquired Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin in deals which strengthened both, their batting and bowling. The Capitals may now acquire Pathan for his experience in the middle order which could prove vital, in case young guns like Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, and Rishabh Pant fail to fire. 

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Rajasthan Royals

Yusuf could very well return to his original IPL home, the Rajasthan Royals. The team with whom he won the inaugural IPL may make good use of the Baroda all-rounder. Now that Krishnappa Gowtham is off to the Kings XI Punjab, Pathan could fill that void and be an experienced all-rounder in the Royals middle-order.

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