The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) extended the Indian Premier League (IPL) from eight to ten teams, the IPL 2022 mega auction certainly influenced franchises’ auction plans and strategies.
As the 33rd IPL match is on its way, the tournament is already bringing the best of it, to the cricketing world. Also, 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.
The maximum purse of 90 crores for each team, four maximum retentions were allowed, by the authorities. During IPL 2022 mega auction and player retentions, the fans and followers of the game saw some obvious and surprising preferences.
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 the five worst picks by the franchises in IPL 2022.
5 Worst picks by the franchises in IPL 2022 auction
5. Vijay Shankar
The first on the list is Indian all-rounder Vijay Shankar. The medium-pace bowler is bought by the new Gujarat Titans (GT) for IPL 2022. GT bought the right-hand batter for a comparatively high price of 1.40 crore. Released by his previous franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Shankar is having a poor run with GT.
Shankar has played four matches for GT and has scored merely 19 runs. He has bowled 1.3 overs, conceding 15 runs, in the tournament so far. The 31-year-old was selected in the Indian cricket team for the 2019 World Cup & has played his last international match back in 2019. Until now, Shankar has scored 731 runs in 51 IPL matches and is struggling to perform well, in IPL 2022.
4. Ajinkya Rahane
The veteran Indian batter, Ajinkya Rahane was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Freed from Delhi Capitals (DC), KKR bagged Rahane for the price of INR 1 crore. The former opener in the white-ball format of the game is bearing a rough phase of his international career. Rahane, dropped from the Indian team recently, is having a poor run with KKR.
The 33-year-old could manage to score merely 80 runs in five matches, so far. Rahane was handed the role of an opener for KKR, but considering his poor form, Australian opener Aaron Finch has replaced him, for the role. Besides, Rahane has scored 4021 runs in 156 matches of his IPL career, at a decent average of 120.8. Known for his longer format skills, Rahane will have to come back stronger, beholding the competition he has in the national team.
3. Daniel Sams
The third on the list is Mumbai Indians (MI) all-rounder Daniel Sams. MI bought Sams for a whopping price of INR 2.60 crore. Sams has played three matches for MI and has taken merely a wicket with the huge economy of 12.67.
As a batter, Sams hasn’t been able to do any better, as he has scored only 7 runs including a duck, in two of the innings. Before MI, Sams was a part of Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2020 and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). During his stint with DC and RCB, Sams has managed to score merely six runs in three innings.
Considering the bowling, the 29-year-old has conceded runs at the economy of 7.95 and has taken a wicket. The left-arm fast-medium bowler has already lost his position in the playing XI, due to his poor form with both, the bat and bowl. Although he returned against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and had a good outing, but his overall performance has not been praiseworthy.
2. Rovman Powell
The West Indian cracking batter Rovman Powell was bought by Delhi Capitals (DC) for a huge price of 2.80 crores. Powell has played six games for the franchise and has failed to deliver a breakthrough. He has scored merely 31 runs, with the highest score of 20 off 12, against Gujarat Titans (GT). Moreover, Powell bowled an over against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), conceding 17 runs!
Powell, who announced himself with blistering knocks during the India tour, has seemed to be off the track in the tournament, so far. Before DC, Powell was a part of KKR, without playing a match.
1. Ambati Rayudu
For the fifth time in the row, the veteran Indian batter Ambati Rayudu was signed by his previous year’s franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK). CSK purchased Rayudu through a mega auction for a whopping price of 6.75 crores.
Rayudu had a decent run with CSK last year as he managed to score 359 runs in 11 innings. While the former Mumbai Indians (MI) batter, who had a massive season with CSK during 2018, seems to be struggling this year.
He has played six matches for CSK this year and has scored 128 runs in five innings, with the highest score of 46 off 31, against Gujarat Titans. While CSK, considering their poor run across the tournament, should be expecting more from the 36-year-old.
Written by Prachi Pisal
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