Veteran off-spinner and 2011 World Cup winner Harbhajan Singh has been recently released by the Chennai Super Kings. This was done in a bid to freshen up their squad and bring in some new faces after their disastrous season last time out in the IPL 2020. CSK failed to make the playoffs for the first time in their history. IPL 2021 auction is all set to take place on 18th Feb.
Harbhajan Singh actually opted out of playing last season out in the UAE. One of the criticisms of the Chennai Super Kings was that they were an aging side with too many slow fielders. CSK needed some youngsters to provide new ideas and show different skills especially in a format like T20.
Singh was one of the casualties of the change in CSK’s policy. The 40-year old, who no longer plays for India, is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 150 wickets. With such experience and knowledge in the bank, he’ll surely be a big coup for whichever IPL team goes out and signs him. You can bank on Harbhajan Singh’s experience to make you win a lot of money in IPL betting.
If Harbhajan Singh is on the bowling end, you can place an under bet on the runs scored in his over on Betway. Here are three IPL teams that might be interested in buying Harbhajan Singh:
Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Sunrisers already have one of the very best spinners in the business in Rashid Khan. This brilliant T20 specialist is wanted by every team in every T20 franchise league in the world.
IPL 2021 Auction strategy for SRH
SRH have often lacked a second spinner, with fellow Afghan Mohammad Nabi often played alongside Rashid Khan as a spinning all-rounder. But at 36, Nabi’s best days are just about behind him. He wasn’t quite so effective last season.
If the Sunrisers play Harbhajan Singh instead of Nabi, they also free up another overseas spot. David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, and Rashid Khan are guaranteed to play every game. And whereas Bhajji may not be best suited to playing knocks of 8 or 10 overs like Nabi is, he can certainly smash it for a couple of overs, which is a useful addition.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Singh will have played a fair bit alongside RCB skipper Virat Kohli for India, especially in the ODI format. So Kohli will know what a tough, determined, and competitive player Singh is.
IPL 2021 Auction strategy for RCB
And those are exactly the same characteristics that RCB skipper Kohli possesses and admires. Just the sort that has been lacking at RCB over the past few years, where the team just hasn’t clicked.
RCB are fortunate to have a world-class Indian spinner in Yuzvendra Chahal. But they often played Adam Zampa alongside him, and the Aussie didn’t always exploit conditions so well. Just like with SRH, being able to play Singh rather than an overseas player as a second spinner, would allow RCB to strengthen in another department, possibly bringing in an overseas pace bowler or all-rounder.
Also, check out our cricket betting tips ahead of IPL 2021 season.
Kings XI Punjab
Singh is of course, from Punjab. Whereas a lot of players signed for their home state/city in the first-ever IPL season, Singh went off to Mumbai, then Chennai a few years later. So maybe a return home would suit him just fine.
IPL 2021 Auction strategy for KXIP
And boy, do they need him. Fellow spinners Murugan Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi did a decent job last year, but the experience Singh brings would not only be good as a player in his own right but also as a mentor to the young Bishnoi, who could be at the franchise for years to come. After another disappointing season where they failed to make the playoffs again, they could do with a proven winner.
There’s another element to this. In Mumbai and Chennai, Singh played for and won titles with two of the biggest and best teams in the IPL. The chance to make a splash with an underdog and go on a really good run, for his home team no less, would be an extremely appetizing prospect for Singh.
IPL 2021 Betting Sites
IPL 2021 is a great opportunity for cricket betting. You can make a lot of money by doing IPL betting. For that, you need to choose the right sportsbook. You can also check out the best betting sites in India.
