Shane Watson likely to beat Yuvraj Singh in 2016 IPL auction

New Delhi: Even as Yuvraj Singh continues to make his return into the national fold, a certain Australian all-rounder is likely to beat the Indian star in the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Saturday.

Yuvraj, who made a triumphant comeback to international cricket after a lengthy lay-off, is the talking point ahead of the high-profile auction. But when the actual bidding war begins, Shane Watson may well trump the Indian all-rounder, thanks to his recent performances in the Australia-India Twenty20 International series.

After taking retirement from Test cricket, Watson has somehow increased his cricketing lifespan. And his utility to the Australian team was evident in the way he performed with both the ball and ball.

The 34-year-old has had a good outing in the recently concluded Big Bash League, turning up for the eventual champions Sydney Thunder. Besides, he is proven performer in the IPL.

In contrast, Yuvraj's case is still mired in uncertainty, despite credible outings against the Australians. He, in fact, was released by the Delhi Daredevils despite being their marquee player last term.

There's no doubt that he is still one of the valued payers in the T20 circles, but IPL franchises are likely to have second thoughts while doling out those obscenely huge amounts to sign him. In that aspect, the his Australian counterpart looks more of a safer bet.

Another player who is likely to rake in huge money in today's auction is England discard Kevin Pietersen. Like Watson, he also had a good tournament Down Under in the BBL.