Who should buy Yuvraj Singh in IPL Auction 2019: Sportsrush presents before you three teams who could buy Yuvraj in the auction.

Having played for five different IPL franchises (returning to Kings XI Punjab last year), veteran all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has undoubtedly traveled across the nation to find a home team in the Indian Premier League.

One of India’s best limited-overs all-rounders, a 36-year old Yuvraj finds himself without an IPL contract yet again. Much like his former Indian teammate in Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj had also received a homecoming after he was bought by Kings XI Punjab for INR 2 crore.

In the eight matches which Yuvraj played for the Kings XI last season, he scored 65 runs at an average of 10.83 and a strike rate of 89.04. Such paltry numbers had it in them for his franchise to release him and that is what eventually happened.

There is no hiding to the fact that Yuvraj never really got going in the cash-rich tournament. In 128 IPL matches, the southpaw scored 2,652 runs at an average of 24.78 and a strike rate of 129.68. A mere 12 half-centuries in 10 years of the IPL doesn’t serve his potential.

Talking about his recent form, post the IPL, Yuvraj has only featured in one tournament – Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the seven matches that he played for Punjab, Yuvraj scored 264 runs at an average of 37.71, including one half-century. His below par numbers in addition to his age might make it difficult for him to find a franchise for IPL 2019.

However, that is not the end of it. Despite all of that, Yuvraj might still get an opportunity to play IPL 2019 on sheer basis of his reputation of being a swashbuckler.

Who should buy Yuvraj Singh in IPL Auction 2019?

1) Royal Challengers Bangalore – One of the three IPL franchises to have played every season of the IPL so far without winning a single title, RCB have retained only a couple of specialist batsmen in Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

There is no hiding to the fact that RCB needs experienced batsmen in the middle-order. Apparently, middle-order has been a concern for them over the years. If Yuvraj stands tall on his potential, he might as well sort their middle-order issues this time around.

Yuvraj had earlier played for RCB in 2014, scoring 376 runs in 14 matches at an average of 34.18 and a strike rate of 135.25.

2) Sunrisers Hyderabad – While Sunrisers Hyderabad stuck to their core group of players during the trading window, they still would be hunting a little gap to fill here or there. One of them being buying middle-order batsmen as replacements for the likes of Yusuf Pathan and Deepak Hooda.

Unlike Pathan and Hooda, Yuvraj is a left-handed batsman, but possesses the same attributes of hitting big shots at will and bowling an over or two of spin bowling, if required. If Hyderabad’s overseas players leave the tourney midway in a bid to prepare for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Yuvraj can provide unmatched experience during the business end of the tournament.

Yuvraj had earlier played for Sunrisers in 2016 and 2017, scoring 488 runs at an average of 28.11 and a strike rate of 137.07.

3) Rajasthan Royals – A franchise known for throwing rookie players into tough situations, the thought of Rajasthan Royals buying Yuvraj Singh might seem strange to some but he has it in him to become the solution of their middle-order worries.

While Royals already comprise of a left-hander in their middle-order in Ben Stokes, Yuvraj might well be the batsman which Stokes needs around him. Alongside Sanju Samson, Rahul Tripathi and Stuart Binny, Yuvraj can be shuffled in the batting line-up depending on the situation and the conditions prevailing.

In this happens, Royals will become the sixth franchise which Yuvraj will represent in the IPL.

Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Yuvraj below: