PL 2022 Retention: 5 Overseas Bowlers Who Might Cause A Bidding War

IPL 2022 retention is done and dusted. All the franchises have named their retention list, which included both Indian as well as overseas players.

The eight franchises have splurged INR 269 crores in buying 27 players. Of these 27, 19 players are Indians, while eight of them are foreigners.

The overseas players which are retained by the franchises are Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Kane Williamson, Moeen Ali, Anrich Nortje, Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard, and Glenn Maxwell.

Notably, out of all 27 players, the franchisees, have retained only two overseas bowlers i.e, Anrich Nortje and Sunil Narine. The rest of the bowlers are going to find themselves back in the auction pool. Perhaps, most of the overseas players are likely to go to a different franchise for next year.

With so many overseas bowlers at the auctions, one could see some of them causing a bidding war. And, on that note we take a look at five overseas bowlers who might cause a bidding war in the IPL 2022 Mega Auctions:

IPL 2022 Retention: 5 Overseas Bowlers Who Might Cause A Bidding War

1. Rashid Khan

Surprisingly, Sunrisers Hyderabad didn’t retain Rashid Khan for next year. As per reports, SRH wanted to retain him but Rashid Khan expressed his desire to be their first retention. With Kane Williamson being their first choice, SRH had to release Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan spinner will go back into the auction pool. Rashid Khan is an indispensable asset for any side in T20 cricket.

The opposition always looks to play his overs out and there are hardly a few batsmen who play him well. Besides his bowling exploits, he is a gun fielder and can also hit the lusty blows in the slog overs. There is no point denying that he will cause a bidding war at the auctions.

2. Trent Boult

Mumbai Indians wouldn’t have wanted to release Trent Boult but then they had no choice. For the overseas slot, they went with their seasoned performer in Kieron Pollard. Boult has been impressive for Mumbai even since he was traded with Delhi Capitals.

Boult bowled beautifully in the power play and fetched the team wickets regularly. He was the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League. The following season, he wasn’t as effective but still ended up picking the joint second highest number of wickets for the team. A proper match-winner in T20 cricket, Boult could attract high bids for the teams at the auctions.

3. Lockie Ferguson

Pat Cummins’s unavailability in the second leg of IPL 2021 meant Lockie Ferguson played all the matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in UAE. He was brilliant in all phases and picked wickets whenever the team needed him to.

Ferguson spearheaded the bowling attack wonderfully and KKR would be disappointed to not have retained him for next year. Ferguson picked 13 wickets in just 8 matches in IPL 2021 at a stellar average of 17.23.

He couldn’t play a game for New Zealand in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 but has now attained full fitness. The New Zealand fast bowler is likely to attract heavy bids at the auctions.

4. Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada blew hot and cold as far as his performances in the year 2021 are concerned. He led the way with the ball for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020 but couldn’t replicate similar performances in the following year.

As a result, the franchise opted for Anrich Norjte ahead of Rabada. This means that Rabada will once again find himself at the auction pool.

Despite his mediocre performances this year, Rabada is expected to receive heavy bids at the auctions.  There could also be a chance that Delhi Capitals also attract heavy bids in the auctions to buy him back in the team for next year.

5. Wanindu Hasaranga:

Royal Challengers Bangalore retained only three players ahead of the Mega Auctions. Surprisingly, they let go of their premier spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Another notable exclusion is Wanindu Hasaranga.

Given how he played for Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, RBC could have retained him for next year. But they didn’t. Hasaranga picked the most wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 and also contributed heavily with the ball.

He could be a big asset for any team in IPL and thus is likely to attract heavy bids at the auctions. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if Hasranga causes a bidding war at the 2022 Mega Auctions.