Former Indian legendary spinner Anil Kumble has suggested that Mumbai Indians could target Sikandar Raza in the upcoming IPL 2023 auction. The five-time champions have a remaining purse of INR 20.55 crores.
The Rohit Sharma-led team doesn’t have a marquee spinner in their ranks and they would be looking to fill that void in the auction. Kumar Karthikeya Singh had scalped five wickets in four matches of the previous season for Mumbai Indians.
Kumble feels the Zimbabwean spinner could fill in those shoes for Mumbai Indians and he can also contribute with the bat in the middle order. Sikandar Raza had a great T20 World Cup 2022 for Zimbabwe as he scored 219 runs in eight matches at an average of 27.38 and a blistering strike rate of 147.97.
Furthermore, the mystery spinner took 10 wickets in eight matches of the tournament at an average of 15.60. Thus, Raza could be on the radar of all the 10 franchises in the upcoming IPL 2023 auction. Raza has set his base price at INR 50 lakhs.
“Mumbai Indians don’t have a marquee spinner in their ranks. Kartikeya (Kumar Kartikeya Singh) did really well for them last year. If they have to go for an Indian spinner with experience then they will have to probably go back to Amit Mishra or Piyush Chawla. I don’t see that happening. Perhaps, the only option for them is to go for the overseas spinner. Who will it be? There’s Adil Rashid, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Adam Zampa,” Kumble said on the JioCinema app.
“I would probably look towards Sikandar Raza because he can also give you a wonderful middle-order batting (option) as well, along with his spin which is not easy to pick, and he has done well in the recent past,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have to fill in nine slots remaining in the squad, of which at least three can be overseas players.
IPL 2023 auction will take place in Kochi on December 23.
