The latest season of the Indian Premier League is just a few days away, and with the addition of two new franchises, the 2022 campaign promises to be the most unpredictable one in recent memory. The dynamics of having ten teams in the IPL has ensured that every team is now no longer bulletproof, thereby improving the competition and excitement across the entirety of the campaign.
Although the likes of Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers will not feature in IPL 2022, plenty of superstars from around the world will be amongst the action this season, and here is one player to watch out for from each of the ten franchises.
1. Lucknow Super Giants – Ravi Bishnoi
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Ravi Bishnoi was one of Lucknow’s three retentions for IPL 2022 alongside KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis, and the leg-spinner has since gone on to make his debut for India in T20 cricket, picking up four wickets in four T20Is for the Men in Blue. The 2020 U-19 World Cup finalist is one of the most promising youngsters in Indian cricket, averaging 25 at an economy of 6.9 in 23 IPL matches and is an aggressive T20 bowler who bowls a flatter, quicker trajectory with a high-usage of googlies.
2. Delhi Capitals – David Warner
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After spending eight years with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, David Warner returns to his first IPL franchise – Delhi Capitals – in 2022. Warner had a season to forget in the IPL in 2021, but the Australian opener is well-versed with overcoming adversity and has since gone on to win the man of the series in the 2021 T20 World Cup. The left-hander has scored over 400 runs in seven of his last eight seasons in the competition and has a phenomenal strike rate of 140 at an average of 41.6 in 150 IPL matches.
3. Punjab Kings – Liam Livingstone
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Despite averaging just 14 in nine IPL matches, Liam Livingstone is one of the most exciting T20 players in the world and could be a game-changer in Punjab’s middle-order. Livingstone was the MVP in the first edition of the Hundred in 2021 and is a ferocious power-hitter versus pace who can also bowl both off-spin and leg-spin. Livingstone has a strike-rate of 158 in 17 T20Is and recently scored the fastest T20I century by an Englishman, reaching the three-figure mark against Pakistan in just 42 balls.
4. Chennai Super Kings – Rajvardhan Hangargekar
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For a team that prefers to target experience, Chennai pulled off a major surprise at the auction with their purchase of Rajvardhan Hangargekar for 1.5 crore. Hangargekar was one of the stars of India’s U-19 World Cup success in the West Indies earlier this year, picking up five wickets at an economy of 3.67 in the tournament. Hangargekar is a quick seam-bowler and power-hitting finisher with tremendous upside to his game, and the all-rounder could flourish in the Chennai set-up under the stewardship of captain MS Dhoni.
5. Mumbai Indians – Dewald Brevis
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The Mumbai Indians have future-proofed their squad this auction with the addition of South African sensation Dewald Brevis for 3 crore. Brevis lit up the 2022 U-19 World Cup for South Africa, scoring 506 runs in the tournament in six matches, the most by a player in a single edition of the U-19 World Cup. Although Brevis is unlikely to translate that form onto the senior stage immediately, the 18-year-old is an exciting talent who could become an IPL star in the years to come.
6. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Wanindu Hasaranga
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RCB brought back Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for an eye-watering sum of 10.75 crores in the IPL auction, and the leg-spinner is one of the most exciting talents in T20 cricket who lends excellent balance to the RCB side. Hasaranga is one of the best leg-spinners in the world at the moment, picking up 57 wickets in 35 T20I matches for Sri Lanka at an incredible economy rate of 6.39 and strike rate of 12.91. With the bat, Hasaranga can hold his own as a lower-order power-hitter and gives RCB some excellent batting depth alongside the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed.
7. Rajasthan Royals – Shimron Hetmyer
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Shimron Hetmyer was one of the top performers in the Indian Premier League last season, scoring 242 runs at a strike rate of 168 for the Delhi Capitals. Hetmyer thrived in the role of a finisher for the Delhi franchise, and the West Indian could enjoy similar success for Rajasthan given his experience of playing in Indian conditions and ability to go after pace and spin.
8. Kolkata Knight Riders – Shreyas Iyer
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Kolkata invested heavily in Shreyas Iyer at the 2022 IPL auction, purchasing the former Delhi batter for 12 crores and electing him as their new captain. Iyer has struggled with injury and form in the IPL over the past two years, but the 27-year-old has enjoyed the best spell of his India career over the past few months. Iyer has had a stunning start to his Test career – scoring four 50+ scores in his first seven innings – and was also terrific for the Men in Blue in the recent T20 series against Sri Lanka, scoring 204 runs at a strike rate of 174 in three matches.
9. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Aiden Markram
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Aiden Markram is in the top ten of ICC’s T20 rankings for batters and all-rounders and was picked up for a bargain price of INR 2.6 crore at the auction by the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The South African enjoyed a stellar 2021 World Cup campaign for the Proteas, scoring 162 runs at a strike rate of 145, and the all-rounder is an excellent ball-striker against pace who can also bowl a few overs of off-spin in the powerplay or through the middle overs.
10. Gujarat Titans – Hardik Pandya
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All eyes will be on Hardik Pandya in IPL 2022 as the all-rounder steps out of the comfort of the Mumbai environment to lead the Gujarat franchise for the new season. Pandya has enjoyed an incredibly successful eight-year spell with the Mumbai Indians – in which he won four titles – but the all-rounder did struggle heavily in 2021, scoring just 112 runs at a strike rate of 113. Pandya has also not bowled in the IPL for the past two seasons and will have to adapt his game with the bat to the extra responsibility of being captain.
[Featured Image Credit: Hardik Pandya]
Shivaan Shah