The 2022 IPL auction is almost upon us which means that we will soon see which teams steal a march on their rivals by recruiting the world’s most explosive T20 players. Indeed, the two-day event has the potential to set a particular team on course to eventual IPL glory if they manage to pick up the right players capable of completing a squad’s make-up. Here are the three best players at the auction and what they will bring to their new franchises.
David Warner
Love him or hate him, David Warner is one of the best T20 batsmen in the world and arguably the greatest IPL import of all time. In addition to that, the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament is statistically the most successful foreign batter at the competition having scored 5 449 runs at an average of 41.59. Perhaps most astounding though is the fact that the Australian has scored those runs at a strike rate of 139.96. When considering Warner’s unmatched brilliance with bat in hand at the IPL, it’s worth keeping in mind that the 35-year-old also missed the entire 2018 season. The bottom line is that David Warner is pure box office at the top of the order and his belligerent approach against the new ball will make him one of the most attractive buys at the auction.
Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer will not be short of suitors at the 2022 IPL auction but perhaps for a different reason than most other candidates. The Mumbai-born player is obviously a very handy cricketer at the top of the order with bat in hand but it is his leadership abilities that teams will bid for. Indeed, the 27-year-old is tipped as a future Indian captain and has shone on the field whilst leading the Delhi Capitals in seasons gone by, with the most notable achievement being when Iyer led the franchise to their first IPL final in 2020.
Looking at it from the outside and given that we know IPL teams generally opt for Indian players to take up long-term captaincy roles, it seems likely that CSK will bid for Iyer given that this season is likely to be their current captain’s last. Although it should be said that MS Dhoni is expected to go out in a blaze of glory as all the best IPL betting sites have CSK down as odds-on favorite to win the tournament. They will, however, need to purchase a quality fast bowler if this is to happen given that their current squad is a bit top-heavy in terms of spin. Step forward to our next stand-out pick.
Kagiso Rabada
No bowler has taken more wickets in the IPL over the last three seasons than Kagiso Rabada has after claiming a staggering 70 scalps at an average of just 14.4. In particular, the South African quick is the best in the world at knocking over the tail at the back end of an innings which has the tendency to dramatically swing a game in his team’s favor. In short, whoever picks up this diamond from the Rainbow Nation up will be well on their way to IPL success.