The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) extended the IPL from eight to ten teams this year, which seems to be the reason behind altered calculations of player retentions and trade strategies. The organisers announced the previous eight teams can retain four cricketers each while the two new teams got to pick three players in the pre-draft
It is not new that the IPL 2022 is on its way to finding a new champion, years later. While champion teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings are fading miserably, teams like Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, and Rajasthan Royals are at their best. During IPL 2022 auctions and player retentions, the cricketing world saw some obvious and surprising preferences too.
As IPL is on the way, some retained players are underperforming while, certain players released by their respective franchises, are at their peak, in their performance. However, considering the current stage of the tournament, let us have a look at five players, who should have been retained by their 2021 teams.
5 players who should have been retained by their 2021 teams
5. Yuzvendra Chahal
The first on the list is none other than Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal was released by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) before IPL 2022. Chahal was bought by Rajasthan Royals for a massive price of INR 6.50 Cr. His previous franchise RCB retained three of their players Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, and Glenn Maxwell, from the previous edition of the tournament and decided not to retain the right-arm leg-break bowler, for the 2022 edition.
Chahal had a decent season with RCB during IPL 2021, followed by a rough stint of his cricketing career with his national side. He picked up 18 wickets in 15 matches at a reasonable economy of 8.12. In this season, alongside Ravichandran Ashwin, Chahal has strengthened RR’s spin bowling unit exceedingly well. Currently, he is the Purple Cap holder and already has 17 wickets in six matches, at the economy of 7.33, with a hat-trick against KKR.
RCB, on the other hand, is playing Sri Lankan leg-break spinner Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva. But gazing at Chahal’s form this year, they should be missing the former RCB player.
4. Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik, a right-hand wicket-keeper batter has always been there, around the Indian cricket team, for the last 18 years. Showing his prime to the world during IPL 2022, Karthik has disclosed his clear intentions of getting selected for the national side, for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.
Karthik, who captained Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from 2018 to 2020, was released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) purchased Karthik for a vast price of INR 5.50 crore. Playing as a wicket-keeper batter for RCB, Karthik is having his foremost IPL season. He has scored 197 runs at a gigantic strike rate of 209.57, with a half-century. Karthik has been dismissed only once since the tournament started and is proving himself for the position of a finisher.
Last year, in IPL 2021, Karthik scored 223 runs in 15 innings. KKR this year, is missing a strong finisher alongside Andre Russell.
3. Trent Boult
The Kiwi left-hand pacer is representing Rajasthan Royals (RR), giving his best on the field. Released by his former franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of IPL 2022, Trent Boult has picked up seven wickets in five matches, at a reasonable economy of 7.0, this year. RR bought the Kiwi pace gun for a whopping price of INR 8.0 crore.
Boult had a lightning stint with MI during IPL 2020, as he picked up massive 25 wickets at an economy of 7.96. While in IPL 2021, he clinched 13 wickets in 14 matches, at an economy of 8.15. He was an integral part of the team and aided MI to earn the title of IPL 2020, alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Beholding MI’s pace attack this year, they should be missing the 32-year-old, gravely.
2. Kuldeep Yadav
After the coarsest phase of his cricketing career, Kuldeep Yadav ultimately seems to be back on the track. The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player was released by the franchise, reflecting his poor performance in the last couple of years. Kuldeep was bought by KKR ahead of IPL 2014 and had ups and downs during the period.
Glancing at the particular season of IPL 2020, he played only four matches for KKR, picking up merely a wicket, at an economy of 8.66. Moreover, he didn’t play a match during IPL 2021 and carried drinks for his teammates.
The left-arm chinaman was bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 2 crore through IPL 2022 auction. Currently, third in the row for the Purple Cap, Kuldeep has picked up 11 wickets in five innings, at an economy of 8.23. While KKR, this year is surely missing a quality spinner and is struggling to carry on the momentum.
1. Shimron Hetmyer
The young West Indian batter from Guyana, was released by Delhi Capitals (DC), ahead of IPL 2022. Bought for a mammoth price of INR 8.50 crore, Shimron Hetmyer is representing in-form Rajasthan Royals, for IPL 2022.
During his stint with DC during IPL 2021, he scored 242 runs in 13 innings, at a decent strike rate of about more than 150. In IPL 2022, the left-hand middle-order batter has taken his game a notch ahead, scoring 223 runs in six matches at a monstrous strike rate of 205.52. Hetmyer, on his way to being an excellent finisher, seems to be paramount. The Capitals may be missing the batter considering the current situation.
Written by Prachi Pisal
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