"He can give CSK wonderful middle-order batting"- Anil Kumble suggests CSK to pick the veteran Indian star in the auction

The mini-auction for the next edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to take place on December 23 in Kochi. A total of 405 players who have been shortlisted will go under the hammer during the auction.

A few big names also try their luck, who were part of the IPL 2022. The likes of Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, and Cameron Green will be among the top prospects in the upcoming auction. But when it comes to the Indian-capped players, a few will certainly attract a number of teams.

One such name is veteran Indian middle-order batter Manish Pandey, who was part of the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 season. Pandey has played for a number of IPL franchises so far in his career. And without a doubt, he is a proven match-winner in the middle order.

The IPL teams always look for an experienced Indian batter who can provide stability in the middle order and adjust according to the situation. And Manish Pandey, who has been part of the cash-rich league since the inaugural season, is ticking all the required boxes.

The four-time IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings, will also be among the franchises that might go after Pandey in the upcoming auction. Notably, for CSK, Robin Uthappa, who played in the last season, has retired from all forms of cricket and will not be part of the team anymore.

Adding to that, veteran all-rounder Moeen Ali has been great with the bat. As a result, the Yellow Army's middle-order batting is severely depleted. That might force them to go for the 33-year-old Indian batter in the auction.

Former Indian captain Anil Kumble has expressed a similar view. In a latest discussion with the media, Kumble said, "Manish Pandey can be an option for Chennai Super Kings. He can give you wonderful middle-order batting."

Pandey has played 160 games and scored 3648 runs at an average of 29.90, including one century and 21 half-centuries. Apart from CSK, the likes of SRH, DC, and the Gujarat Titans might also be big for the 34-year-old.