IPL 2022: 5 Players who should have been retained by their 2021 teams

The IPL 2022 has started on a strong note with young players trying to showcase their potential, while the experienced ones working on their skills to maintain consistency for their respective teams. Teams like Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (GT) have been terrific in their debut campaign, while Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have done well to turn fortunes in their favour.

However, some of the teams like Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Delhi Capitals (DC) have struggled in the initial matches of the tournament. Ahead of the 2022 mega auction, all the teams were provided with the choice to retain a total of four players from the 2021 squad. This was certainly a big challenge for the teams to choose their first-choice players, but some of them committed blunders by not acquiring the services of the ones, who helped them to win many matches in the last few editions.

Here are 5 Players who should have been retained by their 2021 IPL teams

1. Quinton de Kock

The Protea batter, Quinton de Kock has been one of the finest white-ball players in international cricket and the IPL. He shot to fame by scoring 445 runs in 13 innings for DC in the 2016 edition. However, he missed the next season due to injury. In 2018, he featured for RCB and garnered 201 runs in eight innings. But, he was traded to MI ahead of the 2019 auction.

The track record in the tournament and fine wicket-keeping skills earned Quinton a permanent place in the MI side in the 2019 edition. He ended up scoring 529 runs in 16 innings while emerging as the leading run-getter for the team and helping them to secure their fourth title. In the subsequent edition, he again followed it up with superlative performances to score 503 runs in 16 innings and was one of the reasons for the team’s fifth title victory.

In the 2021 edition, Quinton scored 297 runs in 11 innings at an average of 29.70, but the team could not seal the playoffs spot. His performances were not bad, but he did come under the radar of the team management, who chose Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, and Suryakumar Yadav as their retention picks. In the 2022 edition, Quinton is featuring for LSG and has scored 212 runs in six innings at an average of 35.33.

2. Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis has been a consistent run-scorer since his debut in IPL 2012.  He scored 300+ runs in 2012, 2014, and 2015 editions for CSK. In the 2016 edition, he scored 206 runs in six innings and featured in two matches for Rising Pune Supergiant in the next edition. However, CSK used the Right To Match (RTM) card in 2018 to retain his services, which turned out to be the right decision.

In 2018, Faf scored 162 runs in six innings, and was part of the Playing 11 when CSK emerged as the champions. In the next edition, he scored 396 runs and followed it up with 449 runs in the subsequent one. His best-ever performance came in the 2021 edition, where he finished up as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament with 633 runs in 16 matches.

In the finals of the 2021 edition, Faf smashed 86 off 59 against KKR to push CSK to post a strong total of 192, and ultimately win their fourth title as well. However, he was not retained by CSK in 2022, and is plying his trade as a leader for RCB. In six appearances, he has scored 154 runs at a strike rate of 123.20.

3. Avesh Khan

The right-arm pacer, Avesh Khan was the best bowler of the Indian team in U19 World Cup 2016. He then made his IPL debut in 2017, while playing a single fixture for RCB. In the next auction, he was snapped by DC. But, he could not make full use of the opportunity and took only four wickets in six matches.

In the 2019 and 2020 editions, Avesh featured in a total of two matches and gave away runs at an economy of 10 and more. However, with Rishabh Pant coming at the helm in the 2021 edition, he provided an opportunity for the pacer to be a key bowler in the powerplay overs. As the season progressed, he improved his performances and took wickets with the new ball and in the death overs as well.

Avesh finished with a total of 24 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 7.37, was the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, and was one of the key reasons for the team’s entry into the playoffs in IPL 2021. However, he was not retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction. In this edition, he has impressed again with 11 wickets in six appearances.

4. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill hogged the limelight when he emerged as the leading run-scorer of the champion Indian team in the 2018 U19 World Cup with 372 runs in six innings. In the same year, he featured for KKR and contributed 203 runs in 13 matches (11 innings). In the next edition, he was promoted to the opening slot and he ended up scoring 296 runs in 14 matches (13 innings).

In the 2020 edition, Shubman garnered 440 runs in 14 matches at an average of 33.84. The next edition turned out to be the most successful for him, as he amassed 478 runs in 17 matches and played a key role to take the team to the finals and finishing as a runner-up after a disastrous first half.

Ahead of the 2022 auction, the team chose Shubman’s partner, Venkatesh Iyer as one of the retentions. The debutants Gujarat Titans availed the services of the stylish top-order batter, who has not disappointed them so far. In six matches, Shubman has scored 200 runs at a strike rate of 151.52.

5. Yuzvendra Chahal

One of the finest leg-spinners in the country, Yuzvendra Chahal made his debut in IPL 2013, while playing for Mumbai Indians. In the next season, he was picked by RCB, which was a career-defining moment for him. In the same edition, he picked up 12 wickets in 14 matches. Then in the next two editions, he picked 23 and 21 wickets respectively, with the latter one helping the team to reach the finals as well.

In the 2018 auction, RCB used the RTM card to retain the services of Chahal. In the 2020 edition, he picked up a total of 21 wickets in 15 matches and was one of the key reasons for the team sealing the playoff spot. In the subsequent edition as well, he scalped 18 wickets in 15 matches at an economy of 7.05.

However, the RCB team management didn’t choose to retain or pick Chahal in the auction. It was RR, who bagged him for a price of INR 6.50 crore. In the 2022 edition, Chahal has picked 17 wickets in six matches and is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. He recently finished with figures of 5/40 off five overs against KKR and is all set for his best ever IPL season. Although RCB have done well in the initial matches they still have a space to fill with a quality spinner, who picks wickets in a consistent manner for them.