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The 2022 mega-auction of the Indian Premier League concluded in Bengaluru on Sunday following a grueling and fascinating two-day affair.
Over 550 crores was spent by ten franchises to claim the services of a total of 204 players, with Ishan Kishan ending up as the most expensive player at Rs 15.25 Crore.
Deepak Chahar ended up as the most expensive Indian pacer (Rs 14 Crore) while England's Liam Livingstone (Rs 11.5 Crores) became the most expensive overseas player.
Here's a look at how each of the 10 teams are shaping up:
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Total Purse: Rs 48 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 45.4 Crore
Players breakdown: 17 Indians + 8 overseas
Biggest purchases: Deepak Chahar (Rs 14 Crore), Ambati Rayudu (Rs 6.75 Crore).
True to their nature, the defending champions retained most of their core that won them the title last season. The Dhoni-led unit bought 8 out of the 11 players that featured in last year's final.
They replaced Faf du Plessis with another overseas opener in Devon Conway, who, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, will serve as a high-stability opening pair, which can bash pace and spin with equal disdain.
Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu will once again spearhead the middle-order while Robin Uthappa has been regained as back-up option. Just like last year, CSK have stacked their batting-unit all the way till 9.
They regained Dwayne Bravo while picking backups in the form of Chris Jordan, Dwaine Pretorious, Shivam Dube and uncapped Rajvardhan Hangargekar.
Adam Milne replaced Josh Hazlewood as the overseas pacer, and rookie Tushar Deshpande.
CSK will, however, miss the services of someone like Shardul Thakur, who regularly used to chip in with wickets during the middle overs.
Jadeja will again spearhead the spin department but in the absence of quality local spinners, CSK might be forced to change their balance of playing XI if they want to include someone like Mitchell Santner or Mahesh Theekshana.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube/Rajvardhan Hangargekar, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Dwayne Bravo/Chris Jordan, Deepak Chahar, Adam Milne, Tushar Deshpande
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Total Purse: Rs 57 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 55.45 Crore
Players breakdown: 14 Indians + 8 overseas; Total- 22/25
Biggest purchases: Harshal Patel (Rs 10.75 crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs 10.75 crore) Josh Hazlewood (Rs 7.75 crore)
Unlike the previous Royal Challengers Bangalore's squad, this one looks more balanced from a bowling perspective but issues in batting, especially in middle and lower order stand out.
The Challengers have put together a brilliant pace line-up with Josh Hazlewood and Mohammed Siraj set to share the new ball and Harshal Patel, who they regained by shelling out Rs 10.75 Crores, set to play the role of a middle-order enforcer. They have also picked an able seam-bowling all-rounder backup in David Willey.
With Yuzvendra Chahal no longer available, RCB has punted on leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga besides regaining Shahbaz Ahmed.
With most of their bowlers having the ability to contribute with the bat, RCB have depth in their batting but the issue lies in their middle-order.
The Challengers opted for Faf du Plessis at Rs 7 Crore. Du Plessis and Kohli will open the innings but both have issues against spin, especially at the start of their innings.
Glenn Maxwell will play the role of middle-overs aggressor against spin bowling but once again, he will have untested, inexperienced local batsmen like Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat for company.
They have bought Sherfane Rutherford to address middle-over issues, but with Du Plessis, Maxwell, Hasaranga and Hazlewood locked in as first-choice overseas players, they will have to change the balance of their playing XI radically to insert him in the mix.
RCB had AB de Villiers to perform the finishers role last year and the same will now be taken up by Dinesh Karthik. With Hasaranga likely to bat as high as No.7, the Challengers lack firepower at the death and it could prove to be a real issue for them if the likes of DK doesn’t hit the ground running.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood
Lucknow Super Giants
Total Purse: Rs 59.8 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 59.8 Crore
Players breakdown: 14 Indians + 7 overseas
Biggest purchases: Avesh Khan (Rs 10 Crore), Jason Holder (Rs 8.75 Crore)
The only franchise to exhaust their purse during the mega-auction, Lucknow Super Giants have built a pretty dynamic squad, stacked with versatile cricketers.
In KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, they have two elite openers, with Evin Lewis and Kyle Mayers serving as more than good enough backups.
Apart from Marcus Stoinis, who is set to play the role of middle-overs-basher, the Supergiants have stacked their middle-order with all-round options like Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder.
The batting-unit is dynamic and versatile where the likes of Krunal or Hooda can be used as floaters as per game situation.
However, the glue that could hold this batting line-up together may well be Manish Pandey, who will bat at the No.3 spot. Pandey's form and his approach over the past few years has been baffling but when on song, he is someone who can perform the dual role of anchor/basher to perfection.
Also, it will be interesting to see if KL continues with his safe approach or dons the role of an aggressive basher.
Lucknow's middle-order might be dynamic but it does lack a bit of pedigree given the fact that most of the options at their disposal have been inconsistent in the past few seasons. So, the role of top-3 is pretty crucial as a set platform provided by them will give a license to their power-packed middle-order to launch an assault from the get go.
With regards to fast bowling, Mark Wood and his backup Dushmanta Chameera are more than potent options, alongside Holder, especially during the powerplay while Avesh Khan will play the role of a middle-overs strike bowler and Ankit Rajpoot is another backup option.
Ravi Bishnoi will lead the spin department alongside Krunal and Hooda. They also have the option to play Krishnappa Gowtham.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Manish Pandey, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Jason Holder, K Gowtham, Mark Wood/Dushmanta Chameera, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan
Gujarat Titans
Total Purse: Rs 52 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 51.85 Crore
Players breakdown: 15 Indians + 8 overseas - Total: 23/25
Biggest purchases: Lockie Ferguson (Rs 10 Crore), Rahul Tewatia (Rs 9 Crore) & Mohammed Shami (Rs 6.25 Crore)
One of the two new franchises in the IPL, the Gujarat Titans had a strange auction where some of their choices did not make any sense.
They broke the bank for someone like Rahul Tewatia, who has done little of note on either side of that memorable knock against Punjab Kings two seasons ago.
They did affect a steal in the form of Jason Roy at base price besides claiming the likes of Lockie Ferguson and Mohammed Shami. In Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore, they have two brilliant spin options and if Hardik is available to bowl, then they could be the bowling attack to watch out for.
However, if Hardik doesn't bowl, then they would have to depend on the duo of Vijay Shankar and Rahul Tewatia to perform the 5th bowler's role. Or they will have to drop someone like David Miller to include a foreign quick like Alzarri Joseph.
But, the biggest issue with their squad is the balance.
Till late evening of the second day, the Titans were without a wicketkeeper and an able middle order basher. They eventually picked the duo of Saha and Wade besides opting for David Miller in the middle order.
But, once again, with Roy and Gill a lock at the top of the order, someone like Wade will likely slot in the middle order. Wade has done well recently in the middle order but he is at his best when he opens. Also, he has perennially struggled on slow pitches of India. Same is the case with Wriddhiman Saha, who is best utilised at the top.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
Shubman Gill, Jason Roy/Matthew Wade, Vijay Shankar, Abhinav Manohar/Wriddhiman Saha, David Miller, David Miller, Hardik Pandya, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Lockier Ferguson, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Shami
Kolkata Knight Riders
Total Purse: Rs 48 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 47.55 Crore
Players breakdown: 17 Indians + 8 overseas
Biggest purchases: Shreyas Iyer (Rs 12.25 Crore), Nitish Rana (Rs 8 Crore)
Kolkata Knight Riders retained most of their core from the last season but their top-4 looks bereft of dynamism that is required in modern-day T20 cricket.
They punted heavily on Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer as part of their attempt to find an able leader. But in the absence of someone like Rahul Tripathi, they do not have a batsman in their top-4, who can bash it from ball 01.
Unless, they slot in Alex Hales at the top but given that Andre Russell, Pat Cummins and Sunil Narine are locked in as three overseas picks, that will mean they will have to drop keeper Sam Billings from the middle order and slot in Sheldon Jackson to keep wickets.
KKR's success last year was largely built on their spin duo, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy and they will once be heavily banking on them to come good.
With regards to their pace bowling department, they once again failed to address the death issues. They picked the likes of Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee, both of whom are powerplay specialists. Chamika Karunratne is an able back-up for Pat Cummins as far as seam bowling all-rounders are concerned.
However, the absence of a proven death bowler could once again prove to be their nemesis.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings (WK), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Umesh Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy
Punjab Kings
Total Purse: Rs 72 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 68.55 Crore
Players breakdown: 18 Indians + 7 overseas
Biggest purchases: Liam Livingstone (Rs 11.5 Crore), Kagiso Rabada (Rs 9.25 Crore), Shahrukh Khan (Rs 9 Crore)
Often ridiculed for spending their tank on wrong players, the Punjab Kings were bang on point with regards to most of their selections and it can well be argued that they have strung together a dynamite batting unit.
In Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan, they have two high-stability openers, who can bash both pace and spin. PBKS has previously struggled with lack of middle-order options but this time, they made it a point to address the chink in their armor.
They have roped in Jonny Bairstow to perform the role of a middle-overs basher besides opting for elite intent merchants in the lower-middle-order in the form of Liam Livingstone and Shah Rukh Khan. They also claimed bowling all-rounder Odean Smith, who as he showed in the recent series against India, can hit sixes at will.
Bhanuka Rajapaka is a decent backup but Punjab would have liked to have some quality local Indian backups.
In Rishi Dhawan and uncapped U-19 World Cup-winner Raj Bawa, they have picked able seam-bowling all-round options.
Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar will take up the spin-bowling department while Kagiso Rabada will spearhead the pace attack while the Indian seam options include left-armer Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Porel and powerplay specialist Sandeep Sharma.
However, the bowling looks short on experience and Rabada will have to do the heavy lifting. Punjab will also hope that the likes of Arshdeep, Porel and Smith step up to the party and ensure that the good work done by the batsmen doesn't get wasted.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
Mayank Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Shah Rukh Khan, Rishi Dhawan, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar
Delhi Capitals
Total Purse: Rs 47.5 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 47.4 Crore
Players breakdown: 17 Indians + 7 overseas
Biggest purchases: Shardul Thakur (Rs 10.75 Crore), Mitchell Marsh (Rs 6.5 Crore)
The Capitals have replaced one southpaw in Shikhar Dhawan with another in the form of David Warner to create one of the most dynamic opening pairs in Prithvi Shaw and the former SRH skipper.
They have replaced the Indian duo of Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer with the Aussie pair of Warner and Mitchell Marsh. In Shaw, Warner, Marsh and Pant, they have a brilliant top-4 but the issue for them will be the middle-lower-order, with the likes of Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis no longer available.
They do have an in-form Rovman Powell to perform Hetmyer’s role? However, if they go down that route, it would mean that they won’t be able to play their favoured combination of two overseas pacers. The Capitals have loaded their bowling stocks with left-arm seamers in the form of Mustafizur Rahman, Chetan Sakariya and Khaleel Ahmed. But, it is likely that Nortje will be the lone overseas pacer, unless they want to leave the finishing duties to the local players. In such a situation, Sarfaraz Khan’s form will be extremely crucial.
Shardul Thakur’s inclusion means they will have someone to play the role of middle-order wicket-taker. Thakur and Axar will also add depth to the batting. Kuldeep Yadav is the lone leg-spinner in the squad and his form will be extremely crucial to their fortunes. As far as backups are concerned, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull are good options with regards to spin bowling and middle-order batting.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Mandeep Singh/Sarfaraz Khan, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya
Rajasthan Royals
Total Purse: Rs 62 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 61.5 Crore
Players breakdown: 16 Indians + 8 overseas
Biggest purchases: Prasidh Krishna (Rs 10 Crore) and Shimron Hetmyer (Rs 8.5 Crore)
The Royals performed really well on the first day of the mega-auction, claiming opener Devdutt Padikkal and middle-order basher like Shimron Hetmyer to complete a strong top-5– Yashasvi, Devdutt, Buttler, Samson and Hetmyer. They've also picked a brilliant middle-order back-up in Rassie van der Dussen.
It will be interesting to see what role is assigned to Jos Buttler. Will he continue to open or with Devdutt in the mix, will he be slotted down the order to perform the role of a finisher?
Their spin attack of Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal is one of the best among all teams while the inclusion of Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna will add depth to their pace bowling.
But, two issues that might come back to haunt them is the underwhelming quality of all-rounders and lack of death bowling options. Riyan Parag and James Neesham will likely to take up those roles but both of them are proper bits and pieces cricketer, who can't be relied on to consistently give 4 overs or score at the death.
Also, with none of their specialist bowlers being six hitters, it leaves them with a very long tail, putting the onus firmly on their top-5 to do all the heavy lifting.
With regards to death bowling, only Obed McCoy seems a viable option but slotting him in the starting XI will be a difficult proposition. Nathan Coulter-Nile is another pace bowling backup but he has struggled in past few years.
Squad:
Probable Playing XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padilkal, Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, James Neesham, R Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna
Mumbai Indians
Total Purse: Rs 48 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 42 Crore
Players breakdown: 17 Indians + 8 overseas
Biggest purchases: Ishan Kishan (Rs 15.25 Crores), Tim David (Rs 8.25 Crores) & Jofra Archer (Rs 8 Crores)
No team raised more eyebrows than five-time champions Mumbai Indians during the mega auction. With just 48 Crores available, MI were mostly bystanders on the opening day until they upped the ante by going all out to regain wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan.
With the Pandya brothers no longer available, MI had to find able finishers and so they went all out to claim Tim David for 8.25 crores. They also brought swashbuckler Fabian Allen into the mix, along with rookie Proteas star Dewald Brevis for Rs 3 Crores.
However, it was their acquisition of Jofra Archer that became the biggest talking point. Despite Archer not being available for the 2022 season, Mumbai went all out for the English pacer to form a dream bowling pair of Bumrah + Archer.
True to their nature, MI stacked up their pace department by acquiring the likes of Tymal Mills, Jaydev Unadkat, Daniel Sams, Riley Meredith and Basil Thampi.
However, their spin department leaves a lot to be desired with Mayank Markande and Murugan Ashwin being the sole picks. If MI fail to get wickets in the powerplay, then the role of spinners will become extremely crucial and that's one place where they could falter.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Fabian Allen/Daniel Sams, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Tymal Mills, Jasprit Bumrah
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Total Purse: Rs 68 Crore
Amount Spent: Rs 67.9 Crore
Players breakdown: 15 Indians + 8 overseas
Biggest purchases: Nicholas Pooran (Rs 10.75 Crore), Washington Sundar (Rs 8.75 Crore), Rahul Tripathi (Rs 8.5 Crore)
SunRisers Hyderabad once again stuck to their template of backing local pacers as they regained Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan besides buying rookie pacer Karthik Tyagi after retaining Umran Malik.
The likes of Tyagi and Malik will likely up the pace quotient, something that had been missing in their bowling unit. However, there remain question marks over the form and fitness of Bhuvi and Natatrajan and if the duo do not survive the entire season, it will put considerable pressure on Tyagi and Umran.
Rashid Khan's absence leaves a gaping hole in their spin stocks with Washington Sundar being more of a restrictive option than an attacking bowler while Shreyas Gopal has been mediocre in the past.
With regards to their batting, SRH have blooded dynamic opening options in the form of Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram and Glenn Phillips besides claiming a middle-order basher like Nicholas Pooran.
They have also added three seam-bowling all-rounders like Romario Shepherd, Sean Abbott and Marco Jansen while late middle-order will be taken up by rookie Indian batsmen like Abdul Samad and Abhishek Sharma.
Squad:
Probable Starting XI:
Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Kane Williamson, Nicholas Pooran, Abhisekh Sharma, Abdul Samad, Romario Shepherd, Washinton Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Umran Malik/Kartik Tyagi
