S. Sreesanth has been added to the Indian Premier League auction list at the age of 39, with a starting price of Rs 50 lakh. The fast bowler had also registered for the IPL auction last year, causing a stir among cricket circles. The then 38-year-old speedster from Kerala, however, did not make it to the final auction list announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

Watching his name finally appear in the list of players who are qualified for bidding at the IPL 2022 mega auction, the speedster wrote a heartfelt message on Twitter, thanking all his well-wishers and asking his followers to keep him in their prayers and hope that he returns to the iconic tournament that the IPL has become.

Love u all..can’t thank u all enough..lots of gratitude Thnks a lot..#grateful and alwys will be grateful to each and every try one of u..plss do keep me in ur prayers for final auction too..”om Nama Shivaya..” pic.twitter.com/XAyBGx9IVU

— Sreesanth (@sreesanth36) February 1, 2022

After serving a seven-year suspension for his suspected role in the spot-fixing incident, the speedster played for Kerala in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year, taking four wickets. Sreesanth had set a base price of Rs 75 lakh for himself ahead of the 2021 season. This year, however, he did not play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Sreesanth, who was previously regarded as one of the best right-arm fast bowlers in the world, was arrested in Mumbai in 2013 alongside two other Rajasthan Royals colleagues, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, for their involvement in IPL spot-fixing. Despite the fact that his seven-year suspension was lifted last year, IPL clubs were hesitant to choose him.

Even though he was absolved of his mistakes by the Indian Supreme Court back in 2019 and his spot-fixing allegations were no more of an official factor hindering his career as a cricketer, teams were simply not aboard the idea of having him on their roster because of his age, the lack of playing time and the presence of a lot of great pacers who are way younger than him and have registered their names at the base price as well.

This time, a total of 590 players will be auctioned off, comprising 228 capped players, 355 uncapped players, and seven cricketers from associate nations. The auction will take place in Bengaluru on February 12-13.

His fans have backed him a hundred per cent this time around and are not interested in anyone who has anything negative to say about the cricketer’s return to his greatest love for cricket.

Congratulations brotherrr Very happy for you

— Shanthnu ஷாந்தனு Buddy (@imKBRshanthnu) February 2, 2022

Congratulations Sree!

— Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) February 2, 2022

No matter what but you love watching sreesanth bowl he is a true fast bowler his aggression was too good to watch love u sreesanth sir big fan from bihar

— Ravi Ranjan (@RaviRan85895845) February 1, 2022

During school days I used to copy @sreesanth36 bowling action & that self motivating fist pump before the run up. He made fast bowling entertaining during those days. Hopefully we'll get to see that same agression again in #IPL this year.

— prAVIn (@LazyLad31) February 1, 2022

Would love to see Sreesanth play for csk , kkr or Rajasthan

— Gurpal singh (@gurpals007) February 1, 2022

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