IPL 2022 mega-auction saw 204 players earning contracts from the ten franchises. While some new names got huge contracts, several established stars surprisingly remained unsold.
Every season, a number of players miss IPL matches owing to a variety of reasons, resulting in teams looking for good replacement options.
On that note, Here we take a look at five players that might return to the IPL as replacement signings in 2022:
#5 Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar rose to prominence in the IPL 2021 season where he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and gave decent performances. However, during the second half of the tournament, wicketkeeper KS Bharat replaced him in the XI.
Patidar was released by RCB and was unfortunately unsold in the IPL 2022 auctions. The 28-year old has a solid T20 record, averaging 30+ and striking at almost 140 in his 31 appearances. So, if required, he can be a great replacement option for any team in search of a top/middle order Indian batter.
#4 Roston Chase
In the recently concluded T20I series against India, Roston Chase troubled the Indian batters claiming 6 wickets in three games. Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, all were outfoxed by Chase’s off-spin.
If the series was played a few weeks earlier, there were high chances that he would have got an IPL deal. On the basis of his performances now, he may be acquired by some team as a replacement.
#3 Martin Guptill
Martin Guptill is the second-highest run-scorer in Twenty20 Internationals but surprisingly could not find a buyer in the IPL 2022 mega-auctions.
Despite giving a strong performance in the T20I series against India last year, he was overlooked by the franchises as an explosive opening option. Guptill has played 293 T20 matches in his career, accumulating over 8000 runs at an average of 32 and a strike rate of over 130.
#2 Tabraiz Shamsi
Tabraiz Shamsi is the world’s no. 1 T20I bowler, according to the current ICC rankings. He was at his peak in 2021, taking 36 wickets at an average of 13.36 with an economy of under six.
Overall, Shamsi has taken 57 wickets for South Africa in the shortest format and is a regular in their white-ball squad. At the base price of 1 crore, he would have been a bargain buy for any franchise.
#1 Suresh Raina
At the IPL 2022 mega-auctions, Suresh Raina was one of the most notable names to go unsold. The 35-year old had set his base price at Rs 2 crores. Fans were left disappointed when none of the teams made an offer for the veteran.
Raina has played 200 innings in the IPL, accumulating 5,528 runs with a strike rate of 136.76 and an average of 32.52. He is fourth in the overall list of leading run-scorers in IPL history. For his consistency with the bat, he is also known as ‘Mr. IPL’.
Also, he has taken 109 catches in the IPL, which is the most by any fielder in the tournament. Raina’s signing as a replacement player for IPL 2022 should not come as a surprise, given his vast experience in the league.
Changing times. One of the greats of the IPL, Suresh Raina goes unsold.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 12, 2022
