Former England captain Michael Vaughan has said he “wouldn’t be surprised” to see his former team-mate, James Anderson, snapped up by the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025 auction to be held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25.
Anderson has never played for an Indian franchise, he has always prioritized red ball cricket. But after England’s leading cricket team decided to drop him to look ahead to the future, the 42-year-old fast bowler entered the auction at a bargain price of Rs 1.25 crore.
Vaughan believes the Chennai-based franchise could be the perfect home for Anderson.
The IPL 🇮🇳 have announced the auction dates and Gilly reckons they’ll be up against a great Test match 🇦🇺 while Vaughany gives us a hot tip 👀 when he thinks Jimmy Anderson 🏴#ClubPrairieFire pic.twitter.com/hhYhdHDDLJ
– Club Prairie Fire (@clubprairiefire) November 10, 2024
“James Anderson says, I won’t be surprised if Jimmy Anderson ends up in Chennai Super Kings. Heard it here first. They are a team that likes someone who can bowl in the first few overs. They have always had a bowler, be it Shardul Thakur or someone else. It wouldn’t surprise me if Jimmy Anderson ends up in Chennai,” he said on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, which he co-hosts with Adam Gilchrist.
Anderson’s ability to swing the new ball and take wickets has not been tested on the flat decks rolled out in India during the IPL, but with a good Test record in the country – 44 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 30.27 – he could be a good punt for any franchise.
The Brit is keen to play more cricket and take on new challenges since his last Test at Lord’s against the West Indies in June.
“That’s the point of going into the auction (IPL), I think, I want to play cricket again,” Anderson told Sky Sports. “Whether I am picked up or not is different. There is definitely a feeling within me that I have a lot to offer, in some way or shape.”