IPL Auction 2022 - Low-key and Bargain buys

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The much-awaited IPL mega auction is around the corner. The IPL auction has become a major event in the cricketing calendar that the whole cricketing world keenly watches. Out of 1,214 players (896 Indian and 318 overseas players) registered for the IPL 2022 player auction, a total of 590 players may go under the hammer during the two-day auction set to take place at Bengaluru on February 12 and 13.

There are several players like Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kagiso Rabada, David Warner, Jason Holder who are touted to be in demand from a lot of teams. These players can go at above 10 crore price, even ending up as the most expensive players.

Other players who are in demand are Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, Trent Boult, Shahrukh Khan.

A team can go for two of these top players for even a total of 30 crore. The teams will get their core sorted then and can construct the rest of the squad with other low-key players.

Let’s take a look at some of the low-key, under-rated players who might be a good fit and may come at a lower price.

Batters

Options: Rahul Tripathi (Base price 40 lakh), Sarfaraz Khan (20 lakh), Aiden Markram (100 lakh), Rassie Van Der Dussen (100 lakh), Finn Allen (50 lakh), Najibullah Zadran (50 lakh), Paul Stirling (50 lakh), Daryl Mitchell (75 lakh), Tim David (40 lakh), Sherfane Rutherford (100 lakh), Rovman Powell (75 lakh)

Rahul Tripathi – He is one of the best powerplay batters in IPL. He plays high-impact innings, putting the team first, which can be certainly match-winning.

Tim David – a right-hand batter who is destructive against spin scoring at 60/154. Since 2020, he has scored 1406 runs at 34/162. He has scored 163 runs at 81/211 in the ongoing PSL 2022.

Rassie Van Der Dussen – Pace power hitter. He scores at a strike rate of 137 with an average of 33 against pace since 2019.

Paul Stirling – can be the first-choice opener for many teams. He has been performing well in T20 leagues for some years now. Despite being a right-hand batter, he plays legspinners well, scoring at 57/174 (Average/Strike Rate). He has scored at a strike rate of 182 in the ongoing PSL 2022.

Rovman Powell – exciting batter who is good against pace but struggles against spin. He scored 147 runs at 73/193 against England in the recently concluded T20I series.

Wicket-keepers

CSK, DC and RR have already retained M S Dhoni, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson/ Jos Buttler. Other teams on the lookout for wicket-keepers have big names like Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, Nicholas Pooran, Dinesh Karthik as options.

If teams are looking to spend only less and get a decent wicket-keeper, then the options will be Anuj Rawat (20 lakh), Vishnu Vinod (20 lakh), Mohammed Azharuddeen (20 lakh), Sam Billings (200 lakh).

 

Spinners

There is a lack of good options for wrist-spinners with Chahal, Hasaranga, R Ashwin, and Washington Sundar being the obvious good choices. Other decent choices can be Adam Zampa, Chahar, Murugan Ashwin, R Sai Kishore, Mitchell Santner.

R Sai Kishore (20 lakh) – is a very good SLA bowler, who can bowl in power play. He has 40 wickets at an economy rate of 5.23 runs per over. He has an economy rate of less than 5 in powerplays.

Mitchell Santner (100 lakh) – is one of the best defensive spinners in the T20s who varies the pace of the ball really well.

  

All-rounders

Ben Cutting (75 lakh) – good pace power hitter. He has scored at 22/184 against pace in death overs since 2019

David Willey (200 lakh) – left-arm swing bowler with good new ball threat. Also can be used as an opener.

Romario Shepherd (75 lakh) – can bowl good pace and is handy with the bat

Odean Smith (100 lakh) – a big hitter who can bowl good pace but cannot rely on 4 overs.

Marco Jansen (50 lakh) – can be a backup allrounder for the future. Being 2.06-metre-tall, he provides a point of difference in addition to the left arm variation.

Harishankar Reddy (20 lakh) – has all-round potential. Can hit the long ball, bowl at a good pace and can bowl yorkers

Indian options for power hitters

• Shahrukh Khan is the only good option available as an Indian power hitter.
• Deepak Hooda can be a good option but not against high pace.
• Abhishek Sharma is another all-round option who can hit sixes against spin
• R Vivek, a six-hitter who smashes spinners, has done decently well in the TNPL for the last few seasons. But how he will fare in the IPL needs to be seen.

Pacers

Many teams are looking for fast bowlers to fit in their first XI. Those who can bowl at a high pace and take wickets are the most sought-after players. The high-profile players include Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins, etc.

The pacers who might fit as good options in some teams or good support bowlers/backup options in some other teams are Josh Hazlewood, Tymal Mills, Adam Milne, Mark Wood, Andrew Tye, Dushmanta Chameera, Blessing Muzarabani, Benny Howell, Ali Khan, Ruben Trumpelmann.

Ruben Trumpelmann who plays for Namibia can deliver at 140 kmph and has good power hitting capability.

Good Indian fast-bowlers are always in demand as they are scarce. This makes the likes of Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami to be the most sought-after ones. Ishan Porel is a good backup option who can be used in the first XI with the right kind of setup around.

The price of the player doesn’t necessarily reflect the value of the player. The auction dynamics is such that sometimes good players may not go at high prices and not-so-good players might actually end up being the highly-paid players. This is what makes the auction exciting and interesting too.

There are some reports suggesting this auction to be the last auction in the IPL. Whatever the future holds, let’s enjoy the present!!!

 

 All stats and data are taken from ESPNcricinfo