West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith will be one of the most sought-after players at the Indian Premier League 2022 mega auction, according to former India cricketer Aakash Chopra. The former opener said that Smith has already assured himself of Rs 4-5 crore with his performances in the 2nd ODI against India on Wednesday, February 9 in Ahmedabad.
Smith is one of the 34 West Indies players who have been shortlisted for the mega auction of IPL 2022. He is up for grabs at a base price of Rs 1 crore.
Odean Smith picked up the wickets of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant to hurt India’s batting unit in the 2nd ODI. He bowled 7 overs and gave away just 29 runs while picking up the 2 crucial wickets. Smith was bowling full title and with a lot of control as his pace and bounce troubled the India batters.
Smith gave India a huge scare as he hit a quickfire 24 in the West Indies’s unsuccessful chase of 238 against India in the 2nd ODI. The big-hitter effortlessly smashed Shardul Thakur to two big sixes before getting out in the 45th over of the match while trying to clear the fence against Washingon Sundar.
Smith, 25, was part of West Indies U19 World Cup squad in 2016 and has made steady progress ever since. The all-rounder has played 4 ODIs and 7 T20Is for West Indies after making his senior international debut in 2018. Smith was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Caribbean Premier League, picking up 18 wickets in 11 matches last year.
“Odean Smith – I feel he has become a half-a-million-dollar player. He has already become a 4-5 crore player because all teams will run after him,” Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube channel.
“Overall, the skillset with which he is coming, in the IPL mega auction, he will get a lot of horns blown. He bowls, Rishabh Pant and Kohli dismissed in one over and he would have got Rahul as well, and then came to play the big shots.”
Odean Smith got an opportunity in the XI after captain Kieron Pollard missed out from the 2nd ODI due to a niggle. The express pacer will be in India when the IPL 2022 auction get underway on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru.
Speaking about his expectations, Smith said it will be great if he gets a contract to play in the IPL.
“Quite excited going to the auction, I would say. If I get selected, that will be good. My hopes are high on getting selected,” Smith added.
India and West Indies will meet in the final ODI of the 3-match series in Ahmedabad on Friday.
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