IPL 2022: Team-wise best and worst buys from the mega auction

The IPL 2022 mega auction took place over the last weekend ended after two days of intense bidding action from the franchises and the squads have been finalised for the tournament. The mega auction was filled with surprises as expected with big names going unsold and the fans must have certainly enjoyed the demand for their favourite players.

The franchises were ready to splash money for the marquee players as they have been setting up the core of the side and the teams formed are looking decent now. The Indian names attracted a lot more bidding than usual and the inclusion of two new teams proved to be the icing on the cake for the fans as well. Here are the team wise best and worst buys from the mega auction.

Teamwise best and worst buys in the IPL mega auction

Chennai Super Kings

Best: Devon Conway

Devon Conway managed to get his first IPL contract this time and was secured by Chennai Super Kings for his base price of INR 2 Crore. The left-hander has had a bright start to his international career with an average of above 50 in all three formats and is proving to be a sensational batter for the New Zealand side.

The 30-year-old is seventh on the T20I rankings for batters and he can play an excellent role at the top for CSK alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad. CSK missed on the services of Faf Du Plessis for this IPL and Conway can be the reliable bank that will suit the CSK setup. It is certainly, one of the steal buys considering his consistency, wicket-keeping option and left-handed option.

Worst: Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for INR 4 Crore and it certainly was confusing considering the all-rounder’s numbers in IPL so far. The Mumbaikar grabbed interest from the likes of Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals and the Punjab Kings before finally settling in the CSK setup.

Dube has played 24 IPL games so far scoring 399 runs at an average of 22.2 and has scored just the sole fifty despite getting decent chances. His slow-medium pace bowling hasn’t been as effective as it should be and has gone down in the pecking order in terms of playing for India.

Delhi Capitals

Best: David Warner

David Warner was one of the best buys in the IPL 2022 mega auction as he was picked up by the Delhi Capitals for just INR 6.25 Crore from the marquee list and he can be very explosive at the top. The left-hander can be the best option to pair up with Prithvi Shaw at the top of the order and it could be one of the potent opening combinations.

Warner has been one of the best players in IPL history with some tremendous numbers to his name and he can be a captaincy option if needed as well. While many teams would have wanted Warner in the side, the Delhi Capitals have definitely stolen the Australian in the mega auction for this price.

Worst: Khaleel Ahmed

Khaleel Ahmed has been around in the Indian bowling set-up for the last three to four years but is yet to establish his authority and it was a big surprise when he was bought for INR 5.25 Crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction. The left-arm seamer has picked up 32 wickets in 24 IPL games but has gone for runs mostly.

Khaleel hasn’t had much game time of late and he was benched in most of the games last season as well. With not much experienced Indian fast bowlers in the Delhi Capitals squad, it wasn’t the wisest move from the Delhi side to go after the 24-year-old for so much money.

Gujarat Titans

Best: Jason Roy

Jason Roy was snapped up for his base price of 2 Crores by the Gujarat Titans and it turned it to be a steal by the franchise considering his recent form. Roy hasn’t had much IPL experience despite playing for the Delhi Capitals in the past but he is one of the hard hitters in the international circuit.

Roy is a match-winner at the top of the order and can easily cut loose in the powerplay. The 31-year-old recently struck a magnificent century for the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL 2022 edition and can play the perfect foil to someone like Shubman Gill who likes to take his time at the crease.

Worst: Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar was bought for INR 1.4 Crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction by the Gujarat Titans and the Tamil Nadu all-rounder hasn’t had the best of times in the cash-rich tournament despite having an extended run. He has played 47 IPL games so far with most of them coming for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Shankar was in and out of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise last year and he is set to play a big role in the top order for the Gujarat Titans with not many known commodities in the squad. He is definitely one of the poor buys of the auction and Gujarat should have bought a better-experienced batter for the middle order.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Best: Shreyas Iyer

Kolkata Knight Riders needed a captain coming into the IPL 2022 mega auction having not retained Eoin Morgan and Shreyas Iyer was an excellent buy considering his batting abilities, and his captaincy potential. Iyer will have a big role to play as KKR had stated him to be a long term prospect and has also been named the captain by the franchise now.

The 27-year-old was bought for a whopping INR 12.25 Crore and he is definitely worth the price considering his IPL numbers and being a strong Indian player. The right-hander was one of the most demanded players in the marquee list and KKR went all out for him which proved to be a great buy.

Worst: Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane was bought at his base price of INR 1 Crore\ by the Kolkata Knight Riders and it definitely is one of the poor decisions from the franchise considering his recent form. Rahane’s IPL record has shown a massive dip in the last three years and he did not feature in the playing XI for the Delhi Capitals barring two games.

The right-hander is no longer part of the Indian limited-overs side and with Alex Hales being picked up, Rahane might be benched for a long time in the tournament. The 33-year-old has lost the golden touch he has had in the past and it was evident when no other franchise had shown interest for the veteran.

Lucknow Super Giants

Best:  Jason Holder

Jason Holder has been in the prime form of late with a hat-trick against England and is one of the better all-rounders going around in the world at the moment. The right-hander has the ability to finish off games with the bat in the death overs and is becoming a potent option with the ball as well.

Holder was picked up for 8.75 Crore by the Lucknow Super Giants side after an immense bidding war against Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals. The West Indian will have a big role to play in the side in the middle order and is definitely one of the better buys as well.

Worst: Mark Wood

Mark Wood’s ability to get the batters on their toes had interested a lot of franchises but his T20 numbers have not been good enough to be picked up for a whopping INR 7.5 Crore by the Lucknow Super Giants side. The England fast bowler can definitely crank it up to 150 Kmph easily but does go for runs.

If considering the value for money, Wood certainly should be a bad buy for the Lucknow Super Giants despite his excellence in the recent Ashes. The 32-year-old has played one game for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL so far but went for 49 runs in his four overs which shows that he can leak runs.

Mumbai Indians

Best: Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan was the most expensive buy in IPL 2021 as he was bought for INR 15.25 Crore by the Mumbai Indians and in a way, the franchise has stuck to its core as well. Kishan can bat atthe top alongside skipper Rohit Sharma and the former has been one of the most destructive batters in the powerplay.

The 23-year-old has been with the Indian squad and is a useful wicket-keeper as well. He satisfies a lot of requirements for the side and Mumbai have been very lucky to get him back in the auction. Kishan is excellent in quick pitches in Mumbai and can take the game out of the opponent’s hands very quickly.

Worst: Riley Meredith

Riley Meredith was picked up for his base price of INR 1 Crore by the Mumbai Indians towards the end of the auction and it did not sound well as the former was taken to the cleaners last time around in IPL. The Australian quick can crank it up to 150 Kmph easily but does go for runs which might be a big concern.

With Jofra Archer not being available for the Mumbai Indians in this IPL season, it would have been wiser for the franchise to invest in a seasoned campaigner who can do the job consistently. He played five IPL games last season for the Punjab Kings picking up just four wickets at an economy rate of 9.94.

Punjab Kings

Best: Shahrukh Khan

Shahrukh Khan turned out to be the most expensive buy in IPL 2022 mega auction in terms of uncapped Indian batters and the right-hander is capable of clearing the ropes at ease. He had a terrific domestic season for Tamil Nadu and single-handedly won games towards the end of the innings.

Shahrukh was bought by his previous franchise for INR 9 Crore after an intense bidding war against Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders. The 26-year-old recently earned his maiden call up for the Indian side and he has a staggering List A career for which his price makes a lot of sense.

Worst: Harpreet Brar

Harpreet Brar turned around a game for the Punjab Kings in the last season and it was definitely a one time wonder as he doesn’t have impressive numbers to show since then. The left-arm spinner has played ten IPL games so far picking up five wickets and it is a big surprise that he was picked up for INR 3.8 Crores.

Brar can bat a little bit down the order but is definitely not among the better all-rounders going around with big spots to fill in the Punjab franchise. His list A numbers do tell the story as he has been bowling a lot of defensive lines and hasn’t been able to create much damage in the middle overs.

Rajasthan Royals

Best: Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal can be an excellent option to invest in looking at the future and he has already been portrayed as a big prospect in the Indian circuit as well. The Karnataka lad had two good IPL seasons with the Royal Challengers Bangalore and was unfortunate to have not been retained by the side.

Padikkal had interested a lot of franchises but finally landed in the Rajasthan Royals camp for INR 7.75 Crore. Consistency has never been a question for the left-hander and he can open the batting or play at number three to push the skipper Sanju Samson to number four making it a formidable top order.

Worst: Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer was bought for a price of INR 8.5 Crore by the Rajasthan Royals and it wasn’t the right move from the franchise considering his IPL numbers over the years. He did finish off some games last season for the Delhi Capitals but he likes to play in the top order which is already held on by four batters.

Hetmyer failed to impress in his first IPL season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and was released from the squad in the subsequent year. With the IPL likely to be held in Mumbai this time, the fast pitches do not suit of Hetmyer as he thrives on the spinners mostly.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Best: Faf du Plessis

Faf Du Plessis had to be one of the best buys in the IPL 2022 mega auction overall as he was bought for just INR 7 Crore bly the Royal Challengers Bangalore from the marquee list. The South African batter was second in the top run-getters list for IPL 2021 and is one of the consistent batters for a long time now.

Du Plessis bring in a lot of solidity at the top alongside Virat Kohli and he can definitely take the side to victories on his own. The 37-year-old has the captaincy potential as well and will solve a lot of issues for the RCB franchise that has been around for a long time including the search for the maiden IPL title.

Worst: Karn Sharma

Karn Sharma came into the mix at the last minute for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as the franchise lacked a backup option for Wanindu Hasaranga and it certainly is not the best option for the franchise. Karn has been with the Chennai Super Kings for the last four years but has hardly played 10 IPL games on the turning pitches.

The leggie has picked up 59 IPL wickets in 69 games at an economy rate close to 8 and is not a match by any means to Yuzvendra Chahal who was superb for the side over the years. He did not attract bidding from any other franchise and was picked up for his base price which speaks a lot of his contributions.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Best: Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram was one of the best buys in the IPL 2022 mega auction as he was picked up by the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise for just INR 2.6 Crores and two other franchises showed interest in him as well. The South African has been looked into as an all-rounder as he has been bowling regularly now as well.

Markram is a versatile batter as well as he can bat at the top at four in which he did a really good job for the Punjab franchise last year. Kane Williamson is expected to use the Proteas batter in a better way and he is very valuable to the side with his fielding abilities as well.

Worst: Nicholas Pooran

West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran was picked up for a whopping INR 10.75 Crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction and it definitely was one of the worst moves as the former hasn’t been in good form recently. Pooran struggled to get going in the last IPL season for the Punjab Kings and got out cheaply as well.

Pooran does have the potential to be very destructive but does not add to the strong overseas contingent as he has been a major disappointment in IPL so far. With just 606 runs in 33 IPL games, Pooran does not satisfy the amount of money spent on him and a better overseas option could have been brought in.