IPL 2022: 3 Teams that may target Yuzvendra Chahal in the mega auction

Yuzvendra Chahal is one of the finest spinners in Indian cricket. He started his IPL career with five-time champions Mumbai Indians in 2013. Next year, he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Since then, he became an integral part of the team and in 113 games played for the three-time finalists, the leggie has 139 scalps to his name averaging 22.28 and an economy of 7.59.

The Jind-born player was released by the team ahead of the player retention. However, this is not the first time he was released from a team. Ahead of the 2018 auction, he was released by the team only to be snapped back by the team. The 31-year-old was one of the contenders for the purple cap in 2020, only to be left behind by Delhi Capitals’ pacer Kagiso Rabada.

Here’s a lot at three teams who would target Yuzvendra Chahal in the mega auction

1. Punjab Kings

Their premium leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi played a pivotal role in the middle overs. With 24 wickets in 23 games, Bishnoi was snapped by Lucknow Super Giants last month. With no leggie in the team, the 2014 finalists would like to add him as the leg spinners are an asset to the team. They bring variations and are a wicket-taking option, no matter how placid a wicket is.

Recently, Chahal gave an interview to his India teammate and veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and said that he would love to play for the Bangalore-based team but if given the opportunity, he would play for any team. This statement might tempt the Preity Zinta-owned team to go big to acquire his services.

2. Chennai Super Kings 

The four-time winners and two times Champions League holders would love to acquire the services of Chahal. The team has lacked effective wrist spin options in the last few seasons. In the last two seasons, the team had Piyush Chawla and Karn Sharma. They didn’t play enough and couldn’t create any impact in the limited opportunities. However, they had the services of former South Africa leggie Imran Tahir who didn’t play much for the side.

This year, they have retained their all-time skipper MS Dhoni, last year orange cap winner Ruturaj Gaikwad, and all-rounders such as Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali. With spin bowling options such as Jadeja and Ali, the team would like to add a wrist spinner in the form of Yuzvendra Chahal. He has more chances of featuring in the playing XI as he is an Indian after all.

3. Delhi Capitals

The 2020 finalists have retained skipper Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, and Axar Patel. With Ravichandran Ashwin released, the team would like to have the services of a leggie in the form of Yuzvendra Chahal. Notably, the didn’t utilize the services of Amit Mishra which proved costly in the qualifier two, with no leg spinner in the team in the low scoring affair.

Chahal has been a seasoned spinner and with Capitals willing to make another season a successful one, they would like to add his variation in the kitty. Having retained off spinner in form of Axar Patel, DC would be keen on buying services of a star leggie.