The new IPL season is only some months away and as expected franchises have retained certain star players such as Dhoni, Kohli, Rohit etc. Those who have been released from the various teams will go under the hammer during the mega auction. Out of these non-retained players, some are bound to trigger off a monetary tug of war among the franchises to get them into their squads. So, let us look at the players who could take IPL price tags to a new level altogether.
Kagiso Rabada
Despite claiming 15 wickets in the same number of matches in the latest IPL edition, Delhi Capitals had to forgo this South African bowler for the next season. But Rabada is bound to be chased by all the IPL franchises considering the bowling riches he possesses. In the IPL seasons so far, Rabada had taken 76 wickets from 50 matches and this will not be lost on certain franchises looking to strengthen their bowling department.
Rashid Khan
The mystery spinner from Afghanistan is yet another player to be the cynosure of all the eyes during the auction. In the 2021 IPL, Rashid scalped 18 wickets from 14 matches he played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and has troubled the best batters in the world. Apart from being a spinner par excellence, he can use the long willow to good effect as well. With 96 wickets from 76 matches, the enigma and the experience the Afghan brings to the table are something IPL laggards like Rajasthan Royals or Punjab require.
Yuzhvendra Chahal
His exclusion from the recently concluded T-20 World Cup in the UAE continues to baffle many and he has been a consistent performer in the IPL. While the RCB might have had a tough time in letting go of him, the non-retention would prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Haryana lad. In the 2021 IPL, Chahal got 18 wickets from 15 matches and his overall performance in the league has also been remarkable. So, it won’t be a surprise if the franchises loosen their purse strings an extra bit to get him on board.
Venkatesh Iyer
The Kolkata Knight Rider did not retain the star all-rounder despite having a rocking IPL this year. The South Indian from Madhya Pradesh scored 370 runs from 10 matches and picked 3 wickets as well. His unorthodox batting style and multi-skilled abilities have already earned him a place in Team India’s T-20 squad, so it won’t be a surprise if the IPL franchises chase him all the way during the time of auction.
KL Rahul
The Karnataka batsman had been in sublime touch during the 2021 IPL playing for the Punjab team. Despite the superlative efforts with the bat, his franchise could not cover the distance in the IPL this year. And this might have been the main reason for Rahul to part ways with the Kings XI Punjab. The new run machine is also an able guard behind the wickets, and for these qualities alone, a bidding war looms large among the franchises to grab him during the mega auction for the IPL 2022 season
