Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer became the most expensive pick among the marquee set of players available at the Indian Premier League 2022 mega auction on February 12. The 27-year-old attracted multiple bids but finally went to two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping sum of INR 12.25 crores.
With multiple teams eyeing a new skipper, Iyer was always expected to fetch big money at the auction in Bangalore. KKR, who released their captain Eoin Morgan, are now likely to put Iyer at the helm of affairs.
The Indian cricketer brings with him solidity in the batting unit and captaincy credentials, having guided Delhi Capitals middle-order and also taken them to the final of the 2020 season. It was also under Iyer’s captaincy that DC broke their playoffs jinx of seven years and made the final stages in IPL 2019.
Among other marquee picks, Iyer will be joined by Australian speedster and potential captaincy competitor Pat Cummins in the KKR squad. The franchise have brought their player back after releasing him for a bargain price of INR 7.25 crores – which is less than half the money they spent on him ahead of the IPL 2020.
Talking of quicks, Punjab Kings made a very handy pick in South Africa’s spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who they bought after an interesting bidding war for a sum of INR 9.25 crores. Rabada, who played for DC till the end of IPL 2021, will now be leading the bowling attack for PBKS.
Hello Kagiso! 👋🏻#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPLAuction #IPLAuction @KagisoRabada25 pic.twitter.com/78O2gEpzzF
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 12, 2022
In the pace department, former Mumbai Indians left-arm pacer Trent Boult will now ply his trade for Rajasthan Royals, having been bought for INR 8 crores. Boult, considered an effective powerplay specialist, could prove a valuable addition to the RR set-up as they look to rejuvenate their bowling.
PBKS also brought a solid replacement for their former skipper and opening batter KL Rahul in the form of Shikhar Dhawan. The experienced left-hander, released by DC at the end of IPL 2021, was picked at the auction for a sum of INR 8.25 crores.
Among the other notable buys, DC lost yet another of their previous year’s integral first-choice player in off-spinner R Ashwin, who will now be rolling his arms over for RR. Ashwin, the second player to be up for grabs in the morning after Dhawan, was sold for a sum of INR 5 crores.
Another prominent Indian name, stalwart quick Mohammad Shami, who was released by PBKS, got picked at the auction for INR 6.25 crores by Gujarat Titans.
The marquee list was round-off with the bidding war for Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and David Warner.
While Du Plessis, last year’s second-highest run-getter for CSK, went for INR 7 crores to Royal Challengers Bangalore, ex MI wicketkeeper-batter De Kock found his new home in Lucknow Super Giants for INR 6.75 crores.
Ex-Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Warner was perhaps the biggest steal, picked for INR 6.25 crores by DC.
