Marnus Labuschagne likely to be available for IPL 2021 Auction

Marnus Labuschagne shared his intention to play in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. The 26-year-old pointed out he would be registering in the IPL auction that will take place in Chennai on 18 February. As per some media reports, the 14th edition of the tournament will take place at its original April-May window. However, the BCCI has yet to announce the venue and dates for IPL 2021. 

Labuschagne has been playing for the Brisbane Heats, led by Chris Lynn, in the 2020-21 edition of the Big Bash League. The Australian joined the franchise late as he was playing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Labuschagne is awaiting that an IPL call-up will help him fill a long gap between Tests. Significantly, postponing South Africa's tour means that Australia will not host any Test series until the beginning of the next summer. Marnus Labuschagne is currently one of Australia's finest batsmen and he believes that he possesses the skills to be a successful player in all three formats. Labuschagne has recently helped the Heats grab a playoff spot in the current season of BBL. He became the first cricketer in BBL history to score 40 plus runs and taken three-plus wickets in the same game.

I have been interested in the IPL for quite a long time: Marnus Labuschagne

Despite an unorthodox playstyle, Labuschagne was very important for Australia in the recent Test series against India. In the limited-overs format, he scored 79 runs in three matches including one half-century. Although the score might not be very dreadful, it has more to do with his inconsistent batting order. However, it is his brilliant form in the Test series which might fetch him an IPL contract. 

Marnus Labuschagne was the most consistent Australian batsman in the Test series, especially in the third and fourth Tests. He accumulated 426 runs, including a hundred, at a brilliant average of 53.25. Overall, Labuschagne has featured in 18 Tests and scored 1885 runs at a fantastic average of 60.80. He also has a decent score of 39.41 in his short ODI career to date. 

Many experts have assumed that Labuschagne's technically sound game would not be suitable for the game's shortest format. But the 26-year-old has proved his critics wrong in the BBL 2021. The South African-born smashed 176 runs in just six innings at a decent average of 29.33. He scalped ten wickets.

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