The Selection Dilemma

BCCI welcomed two new IPL teams for the 2022 season and onwards, one from Ahmedabad and one from Lucknow. Assuredly, the board is looking to explore new heights and set new benchmarks, observing the success of this league escalating in the last 14 years. The expansion to 10 teams by BCCI is a clear sign of looking into the future and making IPL a gigantic two-month league, with the ultimate goal to make the league flourish all around India and across the globe.

The players' retentions are over for the 8 IPL teams. The two new teams can pick 3 players each through the draft system( 2 Indian and 1 overseas player).

The draft system in 2022 is not similar to the one in 2016 when Pune and Gujarat replaced Chennai and Rajasthan. This time, the owners or the management can speak to certain players who are interested in the draft and make them comfortable with the retention price, unlike in 2016 where Pune picked one player and then Gujarat picked another and continued till completing 5 players each in the draft for each team.

The Probable Six Players:

1. KL Rahul –

     (Credits: TOI)

Rahul has been one of the most consistent and heartening batsmen in the T20 format over the last few years. With KL departing from Punjab Kings, two new teams will be eagerly waiting to rope him in and turn in the captaincy to him. Though he was not fortunate and successful in winning a trophy from the teams' point of view, his stats and numbers were remarkable. With brand new management, he can be more lethal as a player and the new teams would not want to miss him out on the draft. Lucknow is the front runner to get the KL Rahul through the draft.

Matches – 94, Runs – 3273, Average – 47.43, Strike Rate – 136.38, Hundreds – 2, and Fifties – 27.

2. Rashid Khan 

    (credits: India today)

The best and destructive spin wizard in the shorter format of the game right now. It was a big surprise when Sunrises Hyderabad decided to let him go due to some retention issues between both parties. Any team would yearn to have Rashid in their 11. He brings that X-factor with the ball at any time of the match. On the other hand, his batting has been underutilized in many ways. He will be one of the first picks for any team in the draft.

Matches – 76, wickets – 93, economy rate – 6.33, Average – 20.56, Strike Rate – 19.48

3. Hardik Pandya –

     (credits: India today)

Fast bowling all-rounders are rare in India and Hardik Pandya is one strong attraction among them. Due to his back issues persisting post-surgery, injuries, and a poor run of form, Mumbai Indians decided not to retain him. So it will be a great tussle between the two new teams to get him through the draft round. He is a beast when in good rhythm, and with full fitness, he could be a nightmare for the opposition. He adds lots of flexibility to the mix, and I feel that his captaincy skills are underrated in India.

Matches – 92, Runs – 1476, wickets – 42, Batting strike rate – 153.91, Bowling Strike Rate – 20.69

4. Shikhar Dhawan –

    (credits: India today)

The career graph of Shikhar Dhawan as a T20 player changed when he came into Delhi Capitals in the year 2019. Since then, he has been among the most consistent batters in the league. One of the things he newly attached to his game style was taking calculated risks when the situation demanded. Shikhar was always an ODI batsman who played T20, but the last couple of seasons in IPL showcases a different version. With the added risk, one can see the change in his approach and the strike rate. This has helped Delhi Capitals as a unit to have a solid head start, as their middle-order lacked stability in games. New teams will be looking for an Indian opener for this cycle and Dhawan will be one of the choices along with KL Rahul in the squad.

Matches – 192, Runs – 5783, Average – 34.63, Strike Rate – 126.63, Hundreds – 2, and Fifties – 44

5. Yuzvendra Chahal –

    (credits: NDTV)

Chahal is going through a turbulent time, missing out on the T20 Worldcup followed by RCB releasing him on the retention day itself. He will be looking to prove a point in front of his naysayers. One cannot underestimate him as he is still among the best in the business. He was Virat’s go-to man for RCB in the IPL whenever his team needed a wicket at any stage of the match. Chahal had a terrific IPL in UAE and is doing well in Vijay Hazare Trophy. The two teams will be tempted to invite Chahal to their side, and get that Indian core sorted out before the auction. The numbers over the years have been fantastic for Chahal, considering he bowled most of his overs in Chinnaswamy which is a nightmare for bowlers. Keeping an eye on World Cup ahead in October 2022, this IPL is important for Chahal to make a solid mark moving forward as well as to ensure his spot in the T20 World Cup squad.

Matches – 114, wickets – 139, economy rate – 7.59, Average – 22.28, Strike Rate – 17.61

David Warner –

    (credits:NDTV)

David Warner is one of the greats in the league, but having an off-season followed by disturbances with the management, Warner decided to move away from the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise. He will be keen to prove a point to all those who sidelined him. He was the man of the tournament in T20 World Cup 2021, helping clinch the Worldcup for Australia. Warner is like a banker who assures 400/500 runs every season for fun. His ability to convert into big scores and accelerate at the right time makes him a more alluring pick in this format. So both teams will be eying to get Warner in the mix and cannot overlook his captaincy skills, as he won the IPL trophy in 2016.

Matches – 150, Runs – 5449, Average – 41.60, Strike Rate – 139.97, hundreds – 4, and fifties – 50

There are other big and deserving names for the draft picks like Shreyas Iyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Johny Bairstow, Avesh khan, etc. But most of them would like to go into the auction table and get themselves an extensive price tag. With only 3 draft picks possible, some worthy players will miss out for sure.

We are entering into an exciting couple of weeks with the draft list around the corner. The addition of two new teams will make IPL more fierce and fans are equally excited to see more competitiveness in the league. Before the auctions, the draft phase would keep every cricket fan glued their eyes to any related news. And hopefully, every cricket diehard will be up for a treat in the 2022 edition.

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