IPL 2022: One player from previous season each team failed to replace

The IPL 2022 mega auction gave most of the teams a different dimension in their batting as well as the bowling department. The cap of a maximum of four retentions had put all the franchises in a tough spot to decide on the players for the present and future perspectives as well.

Few of the players which were not retained or not opted to be retained by their previous franchises were selected to play for the two new entrants of this season, Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). As the games of IPL 2022 have progressed, most of the franchises are missing their key player as a pacer, spinner, openers, or all-rounder who did well for them in the past, while their replacements have been ordinary.

One player from the previous IPL season each team failed to replace

1. Delhi Capitals- Avesh Khan

Avesh hogged the limelight after doing well in the U19 World Cup 2016 by taking 12 wickets in six matches and helping the team to reach the finals. On the back of his superlative show, he made his debut for the RCB team in the IPL 2017 season. The cricketer from Madhya Pradesh shifted to Delhi Capitals in 2018 and featured in a total of eight matches until the 2020 season.

It was the 2021 edition, where Avesh Khan finally got the opportunity to showcase his talent after being consistent in the domestic circuit. He finished up with 24 scalps in 14 matches and was one of the key reasons Delhi reached the playoffs for the third time in a row. Avesh also finished second in the list of highest wicket-takers after Harshal Patel.

In the ongoing season, he already has picked up seven wickets in three appearances for LSG, with a match-winning performance of 4/24 in the latest outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Although Delhi has the likes of Khaleel Ahmed and Shardul Thakur in their ranks, they are yet to make a mark in the competition.

2. Punjab Kings- KL Rahul

Although Punjab Kings (PBKS) have been an unsuccessful side in the IPL over the last few years, their captain in the last two editions of the tournament, KL Rahul was sensational in terms of his consistency. He emerged as the leading run-scorer for the franchise from 2019 to 2021, with 593, 670, and 626 runs respectively.

As the reports are to be believed, Rahul opted to not get retained by the PBKS and was picked by LSG in the pre-draft ahead of the mega auction 2022. In the ongoing season, he has maintained his form and has scored more than 100 runs already, and is leading the new entrants from the front.

In place of Rahul, PBKS acquired experienced Shikhar Dhawan to open along with Mayank Agarwal in IPL 2022. Although Dhawan has been a quality run-scorer at the top order in the IPL, it will be tough for him to match Rahul’s supremacy for the Punjab franchise.

3. Rajasthan Royals- Rahul Tewatia

Rajasthan Royals have not quite done well in the IPL since 2008, barring playoffs appearances in 2013, 2015, and 2018. In the IPL 2022 auction, the team management bought quality players, with a fine mix of experience and youngsters. But, they still have a little void in their playing XI in the ongoing IPL 2022.

All-rounder Rahul Tewatia was bought by Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2020 and he made an immediate impact. The 2020 season proved to be career-defining for him, as he amassed 242 runs at an average of 42.50. He struck five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell in a single over that propelled Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling win, which earned him the limelight. In the last season, Tewatia scored 155 runs in 14 innings and picked up eight wickets as well.

The current Rajasthan Royals team does not have enough potent Indian finishers with proven experiences under their belt. The team is playing with Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin at no. six and no. seven respectively, who are not known for their finishing abilities.

4. Chennai Super Kings – Faf du Plessis

The most successful team in IPL history with four title victories and 11 playoffs appearances certainly produced exciting players, who went on to feature for their respective international teams as well. One such example is Faf du Plessis, who joined CSK and was a part of the squad until 2021.

Faf’s best performance came in the 2021 edition, where he emerged as the second-highest run-scorer with 633 runs in 16 innings. In the summit clash, the former Proteas captain was named as the player of the match for his knock of 86 off 59 balls. Despite being in great touch, Chennai did not retain him for being on the wrong side of the age as the franchise was looking to build a squad for the future.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) roped him at the mega auction, a decision that has paid dividends so far in IPL 2022. Faf, who was appointed as the captain, is the leading run-scorer for his side with 122 runs in three innings. CSK, on the other hand, is still on the search for a good option to open alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad.

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad- Rashid Khan

After a title-winning campaign in 2016, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) reached the playoffs in the IPL 2020 on the back of their strong bowling performances. The leading wicket-taker of the team emerged to be spinner Rashid Khan, who scalped 20 wickets in 16 appearances at an economy of 5.37 runs per over.

Since 2017, Rashid has picked up a total of 93 wickets until the 2021 season for the SRH and was certainly their lethal weapon to provide breakthroughs in crucial situations. But, the franchise did not retain him ahead of the IPL 2022 auction after both parties failed to come to a middle point over financial compensation.

The Afghan spin wizard was eventually signed by Gujarat Titans in the 2022 edition and has two scalps in two matches. The current SRH squad does not have a specialist spinner in their rank and has failed to rope in an apt replacement for Rashid. They have Washington Sundar but he lacks the quality of Rashid.

6. Royal Challengers Bangalore- Yuzvendra Chahal

One of the finest white-ball leg spinners of the country, Yuzvendra Chahal played his first match for RCB in the IPL 2014. He emerged as one of the top bowlers for the franchise until the 2021 season. Chahal’s best performance first came in 2016, when he took 21 wickets in 16 matches and helped the team to reach the finals.

In the 2020 and 2021 editions of the tournament, Chahal was phenomenal with the ball, scalping almost 20 wickets in each season as RCB reached the playoffs in both seasons. Surprisingly, he was not retained by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022 auction.

Rajasthan Royals team included him in his armory for the 2022 season and has turned out to be the best bowler for them. In three matches, Chahal has bagged seven wickets at an economy of 5.25, while he returned with 2/15 off four overs against RCB  as well.

7. Mumbai Indians- Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya made his IPL debut in 2015 and impressed everyone with his hitting capabilities. Since 2017, he started to garner runs consistently for the Mumbai Indians and became an integral part of the side. His best performance erupted in the 2019 edition, where he scored 400 runs and picked 14 wickets to help the franchise lift their fourth title in the tournament’s history.

Hardik followed it up with 281 runs in the 2020 edition, while his form dropped in the following season with 127 runs in 12 innings. The flamboyant all-rounder didn’t bowl in the competition due to injury concerns. A dip in form and lack of match practice put him out of contention for being retained by the five-time IPL winners.

Gujarat Titans made Hardik their captain for the 2022 season and the all-rounder from Baroda is looking quite fresh after a long break from cricket. In two appearances in the tournament, he has garnered 64 runs and has also looked in a good rhythm with the ball.

8. Kolkata Knight Riders – Shubman Gill

The talented-top order batter shot to fame after emerging as the leading run-scorer of the victorious Indian team in the U19 World Cup 2017/18, where he piled up 372 runs in six innings. The Kolkata Knight Riders availed his services in the 2018 edition, and he lived up to the expectations, scoring over 200 runs in 11 innings.

After being promoted to the top order, Shubman scored 296 runs in 2019 and then finished up with 440 and 478 runs in the next two editions of the tournament. Despite being in the best of forms, the franchise chose Venkatesh Iyer over Shubman in the list of retained cricketers.

Gujarat Titans roped Shubman Gill in the pre-draft and the youngster has already proved his antics with the bat. In the ongoing season, Shubman has been impressive, scoring 84 runs in two innings. KKR, on the other hand, added veteran Ajinkya Rahane as an opener, who has failed to leave an impact on the team and has managed to score only 72 runs in four innings.