IPL Auction 2022: Top 10 Highlights of the Mega Auction – After over 26 hours of intense bidding which spanned across two days, we finally have reached the conclusion of the IPL 2022 auction. The ten teams spent a total of INR 551.70 crore for 204 players, 67 of whom are overseas stars. Follow IPL 2022 Live updates InsideSport.IN.
IPL Auction 2022: Top 10 Highlights of the Mega Auction – Kishan becomes most expensive player, CSK reunited Dad Gang and teams find new leaders
Check out the top 10 highlights of the IPL 2022 auction –
1. Ishan Kishan becomes the most expensive player of the auction
Some predicted Shreyas Iyer to bag the biggest deal, while the likes of David Warner and Kagiso Rabada were also in contention to go. However, Ishan Kishan has left everyone behind to become the most expensive player of the IPL 2022 mega auction. He has been bought for INR 15.25 crore by the five-time champions Mumbai Indians.
2. The reunion of ‘Dad Gang’ at Chennai Super Kings
While most of the teams were busy making a new-look team from scratch, Chennai Super Kings opted to buy their former players who helped them win their fourth IPL title last season. The likes of Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo and Robin Uthappa will all be seen donning the yellow shirt once again, but their biggest signing is Indian pacer Deepak Chahar, for whom CSK spent INR 14 crore.
3. Huge demand for pacers
T20 cricket is usually considered as a format designed specifically to suit the batters, but it is the pacers who earned the big bucks in IPL 2022 auction. The likes of Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Shardul Thakur and Lockie Ferguson have been sold for INR 10 crore or more.
Also Read: IPL Auction Day2 LIVE : Snubbed by selectors for Sri Lanka series,…
4. Three teams find their captains
The three teams who were searching for a new captain – Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore have all seemingly found their new captains. KKR have signed Shreyas Iyer for INR 12.25 crore, while RCB can make Faf du Plessis their captain. Punjab Kings, who already had retained a potential captaincy candidate in Mayank Agarwal, are likely to select Shikhar Dhawan as their leader.
5. India U19 players bag bumper contracts
Besides the experienced players, the members of the India U19 team were also rewarded for their excellent display in the recently-concluded U19 Cricket World Cup. Yash Dhull, the captain of the title-winning side, was signed by Delhi Capitals for INR 50 lakhs, who also signed Vicky Ostwal for INR 20 lakhs. Rajvardhan Hangargekar was bought by Chennai Super Kings at INR 1.50 crore, but the most expensive of the lot was Raj Angad Bawa, who was roped in by Punjab Kings for INR 2 crore.
IPL Auction 2022: Top 10 Highlights of the Mega Auction – Kishan becomes most expensive player, CSK reunited Dad Gang and teams find new leaders
6. Mumbai Indians’ daring strategy leads to Bumrah-Archer pairing
Mumbai Indians’ strategy at the auction table. especially on Day 1, left almost everyone scratching their heads. Barring buying Kishan, they remained largely in a sedate state, letting go of former stars in Trent Boult, Krunal Pandya and Quinton de Kock. However, they made their plan clear on Day 2 as they went all in on Jofra Archer and secured his services of INR 8 crore. However, Archer is unlikely to play this season owing to an injury.
7. Frenemies to play for same team
Such is the nature of an IPL auction that a player does not have a say in the team he will be playing for. The competition provides unlikely friendships, and that tradition is expected to continue as two pairs of ‘frenemies’ have been drafted into the same team. Ravichandran Ashwin and Jos Buttler, who were involved in the famous ‘mankading’ saga, will play for Rajasthan Royals, while Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda, who players who fell out whilst playing for Baroda, will be seen donning the Lucknow Super Giants kit.
8. ‘Mr IPL’ Suresh Raina goes unsold, Steve Smith & Shakib Al Hasan also fail to attract bids
Suresh Raina, one of the most consistent batters in this competition, will not be seen playing in the upcoming season as he went unsold. Besides him, Australia’s T20I keeper Aaron Finch, former skipper Steve Smith and renowned Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan have also failed to attract bids.
IPL Auction 2022: Top 10 Highlights of the Mega Auction – Kishan becomes most expensive player, CSK reunited Dad Gang and teams find new leaders
9. The unlikely millionaires
While the likes of Ishan Kishan, Kagiso Rabada and Deepak Chahar were always likely to go for big money, we have seen a few surprising mega-money deals as well. Sunrisers Hyderabad spent INR 10.75 crore despite his poor form last season, while they signed Romario Shepherd for INR 7.75 crore. Wanindu Hasaranga was signed by RCB for INR 10.75 lakhs, while despite failing to justify his worth for Bangalore last season, Tim David was signed by INR 8.25 crore.
10. Hugh Edmeades returns after collapsing on Day 1; Charu Sharma does a fabulous job in his absence
After collapsing to the ground on Day 1 of the auction, auctioneer Hugh Edmeades returned in the penultimate session of Day 2. Edmeades was rightfully showered with applause, while in his absence, veteran presenter Charu Sharma did a fantastic job of conducting the auction smoothly.
