When the preliminary list of players registered for the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction was released, the base price of hard-hitting Tamil Nadu batter Shahrukh Khan left many fans stunned. The ex-Punjab Kings (PBKS) player was listed at just Rs. 20 Lakh despite being someone who is almost guaranteed to attract interest from multiple teams. 

However, in the final list of 590 players who are set to go under the hammer in the two-day event, Shahrukh has increased his base price to Rs. 40 Lakh. Since the 26-year-old is an uncapped player, that is the maximum limit he is allowed to keep his base price at. 

At last year’s auction, PBKS got the har-hitter’s services for a whopping amount of Rs. 5.25 Crore. The Preity Zinta-owned franchise acquired him after an intense bidding war with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Earlier, Delhi Capitals had also shown interest in him and bid till Rs. 3.20 Crore. 

Shahrukh has been a star performer in the Indian domestic circuit for the last few years and played an integral role in helping Tamil Nadu win the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy in both 2020/21 and 2021/22. In the most recent edition, he hit a six on the final delivery of the tournament to seal a memorable win for his team in a thrilling last-ball finish against arch-rivals Karnataka.

In the 2021 IPL, he played 11 games for PBKS in which he scored 153 runs at an average of 21.9 and a strike rate of 134.2. The right-hander’s put his stamp on the tournament with an impressive 36-ball 47 against Chennai Super Kings in a game where no other PBKS batter made more than 15 runs. 

Shahrukh has been named as one of the two stand-by players for India’s upcoming ODI and T20I series against the West Indies. The IPL mega auction is set to take place on the 12th and 13th February in Bengaluru.