Indian T20 League 2023 auction: Here’s why Chennai should target Kane Williamson for the next season

The Indian T20 League 2023 player auction is just around the corner, and the teams are all set to form their squads. Chennai, with a decent remaining purse of 20.45 crores, is also all set to get into the auction room on the 23rd of December.

The stalwart of New Zealand, Kane Williamson, may be one of the seven slots they need to fill in the auction. Before this auction, Williamson’s previous team, Hyderabad, released him. Williamson, who recently relinquished his position as New Zealand’s Test captain, will be looking for a new home in the upcoming edition of the competition.

One of the best T20 players, he scored 2464 runs for the Blackcaps with an average of 33 and a strike rate of over 125, making him one of the most skilled players in the format. In the Indian T20 League, he has amassed 2101 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of more than 125. For the Hyderabad team, where he won the competition in 2016, the New Zealand batsman has honed his skills at the top of the order.

Here are the reasons why Chennai could target Kane Williamson

1. Dependable top-order batter

One of the game’s most technically proficient players is Kane Williamson. Despite the fact that he is not the biggest striker of the ball, the class he possesses transcends all circumstances and formats. Williamson has the potential to be the centre of Chennai’s batting order and serve as the ideal counterbalance to the more aggressive Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top of the order.

2. Captaincy Candidate 

This is likely the main motivator for Chennai to b Williamson. The 32-year-old has extensive experience leading teams as a member of New Zealand’s international team, and he also captained Hyderabad during the competition. He also achieved success with Hyderabad in 2016. Williamson can be the ideal stand-in for MS Dhoni, who might decide to hang up his batting gloves at the conclusion of the upcoming season. Williamson will have the ideal opportunity to shape himself ahead of the more difficult tasks during this period of acclimation.

3. Similar mentality 

Kane’s style and Chennai’s goals are similar, which is another factor driving their competition for him. Since their inception, MS Dhoni has travelled with them. Dhoni’s cool demeanour and ice-cold outlook are crucial strands to their success story. Williamson resembles the former Indian captain quite a bit. He is cool and collected, never gets lost in the action, and is a compassionate motivator. The younger generation can flourish and reach its full potential under his direction.