A STAFF REPORTER
Calcutta: As the ten franchises sit to pick their players from the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, Saturday, there will be a temporary stasis among 350 odd cricketers across the planet.
Some will be glued to their television sets while some will leave it to their fate. But Sri Lankan off-spinner and former Chennai Super Kings player, Muttiah Muralidharan, is unfazed by the hoopla surrounding the player auction. “I have gone through this before, I am not tensed, neither am I too excited,” Muralidharan told The Telegraph, on Friday.
The Lankan offie retired with a record 800 Test wickets and while he trains his eyes on playing county cricket and Twenty20 in other countries, he considers the IPL a perfect platform for professional cricketers like him to continue playing after retirement.
“The IPL is an excellent opportunity to express one’s talent. I don’t have any expectations. Whoever buys me, I will play for them,” he said.
Muralidharan had played a vital role in Super Kings’ good show in all editions of the tournament and even though his “heart is with Chennai”, Murali said he will be faithful towards any team that buys him.
“In the first year, the Super Kings wanted me desperately and they bought me. So, I am grateful to them. If they buy me again, I will be really happy… But if they don’t, I will play for some other franchise. You can say my heart is with Chennai.”
The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side beat the Mumbai Indians in last year’s final to lift their maiden IPL title. Murali, who picked up 40 wickets in three editions at an economy of 6.34, however, didn’t feature in the team’s retention list for the next edition.
“That’s what the franchise wanted I believe. In IPL, players hardly have any say. Whatever rules are being made, we have to follow.
“If the Super Kings buy me, it’s good… Otherwise, I don’t mind being committed to any other team,” Murali said.
The offie is on the verge of signing a deal with Surrey for the coming season and said he doesn’t want to think too much about the auction.
“There is definitely an element of interest. But I am not tensed. I have played for 20 years for my country and several counties and haven’t let anyone down. I am sure the franchises know that.”
Sri Lanka have a strong presence with 47 players in the auction list and Murali felt most players from the island have a chance. “Some of these players are very talented and I am sure a good number of them will be picked.”
Players had an option to change their base price before the auction, but Murali said he never bothered to change his reserve price of $300,000. “I really didn’t bother about that. If someone wants me, surely the price will go up,” Murali said
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