Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed in-form West Indies captain Shai Hope as a potential addition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) urging the franchise to target him at this year’s IPL auction.
R Ashwin believes the Caribbean batter would be a valuable pick for the defending champions.
How prolific has Shai Hope been during the ongoing tour of India?
Shai Hope continued his prolific run on Indian soil, registering his fourth hundred of the tour during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. The West Indies captain remained unbeaten on 102 off just 50 deliveries striking four fours and nine sixes. Having scored two centuries apiece in the ODI and T20I series alongside five scores of 50 or more in seven appearances, Shai Hope has showcased the finest form of his career. His impressive performances come at a crucial time for the Caribbean side who are aiming to secure a place in the 2027 ODI World Cup through the qualifying tournament and restore their status among cricket’s leading teams.
How drastically has Shai Hope improved his T20 international record since 2024?
Shai Hope who has also become only the fourth West Indies batter to surpass 2,000 runs in T20 internationals. He has undergone a remarkable change in his fortunes in the shortest format. From 2017 to 2023, he accumulated 493 runs in 26 matches across 24 innings averaging 22.41 and registering just two half-centuries. However since the start of 2024, the right-hander has amassed 1,511 runs in 48 T20Is at an average of 39.76 and a strike rate close to 149. His tally during this period includes three hundreds and 11 fifties underlining his emergence as a far more consistent and explosive batter.
What did Ravichandran Ashwin say on his YouTube channel regarding Shai Hope’s IPL prospects?
Speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin said, ‘Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could be an option for him because they have both Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell. Bethell batted reasonably well, but do they need to have another option there? Maybe, maybe not. So, honestly, should Shai Hope play in the IPL? Is he deserving? Absolutely. In my mind, he would be a number-one player. Will he be picked in this auction? He definitely should be, and I am hoping he will be.’
What are Ashwin’s views on Shai Hope’s ideal batting position in the IPL?
Shai Hope made his IPL debut with Delhi Capitals in 2024, scoring 183 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 150, with 41 being his highest score. However the tournament remains a stage where the West Indies captain is yet to make a significant impact. Ashwin believes that batting at No. 3 or No. 4 may not be the ideal role for Hope in the IPL although he still considers the Caribbean star a viable option for franchises.
Why might franchises hesitate to break the bank for Shai Hope at the auction?
‘He is not finding a place in the first XI of any squad, so that is a cause for concern. He will always get a place at number three or four, but is he suited to that role? He is probably not suited to that role, but he is an option. Will a team break the bank for him? I hope so, but it is unlikely. Most teams have their opening slots fixed with overseas players, so I think it will depend more on the combinations they are looking for,’ he signed off.
How impressive are Shai Hope’s statistics in T20 internationals throughout the year?
The West Indies captain is having his most productive year in T20 internationals, accumulating 601 runs in 16 innings at an average of 50.08 and a strike rate exceeding 152. His tally includes two hundreds and four half-centuries. Hope has also been outstanding across formats in 2026, scoring 1,336 runs in 29 international matches and 30 innings at an average of 55.66 and a strike rate of 92.01. During this period, he has registered five centuries and seven fifties.
How dominant has Shai Hope been specifically across formats against India?
Shai Hope has been in sensational form during the tour of India, topping the West Indies’ batting charts and ranking second overall in the ODI run-scoring list. He has accumulated 278 runs in three innings at an average of 139.00, registering two hundreds, including an unbeaten 162 in the series-deciding ODI in Assam. The Caribbean captain has been equally dominant in the T20I series, amassing 261 runs in four outings with two centuries and a half-century, making him the competition’s highest run-getter.
What are Shai Hope’s overall phenomenal numbers on the current tour?
Across seven innings on the tour, the West Indies captain has piled up 539 runs at an impressive average of 134.75, registering four hundreds and one half-century. His numbers against India across international formats are equally noteworthy, with 1,961 runs from 45 matches and 49 innings at an average of 47.82. The tally features eight centuries and six fifties with his highest score being an unbeaten 162.