2022 Indian Premier League [Preview]
The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin in less than a weeks’ time where players from all over the world will take part to showcase their talent.
This year’s edition will be a unique one as it will feature 10 teams with the addition of two more franchises — Gujrat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants.
The opening fixture will be played between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Mumbai on March 26 whereas the final will be played on May 29.
After two consecutive seasons, which were either completely or partially organised in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because of coronavirus outbreak, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is hopeful of hosting the full edition in the home country.
Notable transfers:
This year’s IPL will be a different one as some notable players have left their respected franchise and joined the new ones, some captains have either resigned or been replaced by their respective managements or some experienced players have not been picked at all.
The most notable transfer is of India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya who will represent Gujrat Titans in this year’s IPL where he will also captain the team. He was an integral part of Mumbai Indians over the last few years.
Australia’s star opener David Warner, who started the last edition as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad but ended up on the bench, will be representing Delhi Capitals in this year’s edition.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will have a different look this year as well as they will be led by former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis instead of Virat Kohli who opted to resign from the post.
Youngsters to watch out for:
Prashant Solanki
Chennai Super Kings’ Prashant Solanki is an exciting prospect to watch out for. The 22-year-old does not have that much experience of playing in the 20-over format but his impressive List A record, where he has 21 wickets in just nine matches at an outstanding average of 23, could be a sign of what he is capable of. With the Super Kings depending on veterans over the years, Solanki might prove to be a breath of fresh air.
Riyan Parag
Rajasthan Royals are famous for unearthing some of the best young talents in the history of IPL and this year, they’ve put their money on batting all-rounder Riyan Parag. The 20-year-old’s record in the 20-over format shows that he can be more than handy for a team like the Royals. Despite being still very young, Parag has already played 57 T20s where he has scored 1,019 runs at an average of 24.85, which include eight half-centuries and a best of 77 not out. With the ball in hand, he has 23 wickets with the best of 3-30.
Priyam Garg
Sunrisers Hyderabad had a horrid time in the IPL 2021 and this year, they will be hoping that their local talent will come to the team’s rescue. One of the players whom they will be banking on is young Priyam Garg. The 21-year-old has already played in India’s premier T20 competition where his record is far from satisfactory. However, he has an outstanding record in First-Class and List A formats which makes him an exciting prospect to watch in the upcoming edition.
