With IPL 2022 right around the corner, it’s time to look at the 10 teams and how they shape up before the season.
In addition to the 8 teams IPL fans are used to seeing in previous editions of the tournament, 2 new teams will take the field in IPL 2022. They are the Lucknow Super Giants and the Gujarat Titans.
Since there are 10 teams, the IPL will no longer be held in the round robin format where each team plays against each other twice. Instead, 2 groups of 5 teams each have been created by the BCCI based on the number of trophies won as well as the number of finals they have appeared in.
In each group, each team will play against each other twice. They will also play against each team from the other group once. Additionally, they will play the team in the same row as them twice. When the BCCI designed the 2 group system, they made a table with 2 columns (the 2 groups), and 5 rows based on how teams performed in previous seasons. Since MI have won the most trophies, they were the first team in group 1. CSK have won the 2nd most number of trophies and so they were the first team in group 2. MI and CSK are both in the same row because they are at the top of each group. The rows and groups are listed below.
Group A: MI, KKR, RR, DC, LSG
Group B: CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS, GT
Rows:
MI - CSK
KKR - SRH
RR - RCB
DC - PBKS
LSG - GT
𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 (𝐌𝐈)
The 5 time champions, the Mumbai Indians, have managed to retain part of their side, but there are many new faces. They’ve lost both the Pandya brothers who were instrumental in their success over the years. There’s also no Quinton De Kock, nor is there Trent Boult, 2 key overseas players.
This would mean that Ishan Kishan would get a promotion up the order and end up opening alongside his captain, Rohit Sharma. With no Pandya brothers, the move to play Kishan at the top may leave some worries in the middle order. Brevis and David are 2 upcoming players and Pollard is nearing the end of his career. While the trio could perform really well in the middle overs and finishing games off, it is a risky option and an interesting one to watch out for in this upcoming season.
In the bowling department, Archer was selected to partner with Bumrah, but it seems that Archer will be unavailable to play in this edition of the IPL. This would mean that Tymal Mills, a fellow Englishman, will join forces with Bumrah in IPL 2022.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Sanjay Yadav, Tymal Mills, Jasprit Bumrah, Jaydev Unadkat, Murugan Ashwin
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 (𝐂𝐒𝐊)
The defending champions have put together a pretty good team this season. On paper, it may not be the strongest, but CSK is a side which has always surprised fans all around the world.
While they may not have the experience and skill of Faf Du Plessis at the top, Devon Conway is an excellent replacement. While he may not be a like for like replacement, Conway has done well both domestically and at the international level.
Another player who CSK were unable to retain was Shardul Thakur. Thakur has done very well with both bat and ball. He’s a partnership breaker and can play a handy knock out in the middle.
Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Deepak Chahar, DJ Bravo, Adam Milne / Chris Jordan
𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐊𝐊𝐑)
KKR had a dream turnaround last season. From 2 wins in their first 7 games, they turned things around and ended up qualifying for the playoffs. Being one step away from lifting the trophy, KKR were stopped by CSK in the finals. This year, they have improved their squad in an attempt to come back even stronger.
Building upon their success from last year, some experienced names such as Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Umesh Yadav have joined the side. They make great replacements for the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan who are no longer a part of KKR.
Probable XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Umesh Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝 (𝐒𝐑𝐇)
SRH, who ranked last in IPL 2021, have made some huge changes in their side. After having more drama surrounding their side than the amount of wins they had, SRH have decided to almost completely change up their side.
For starters, there is no David Warner or Rashid Khan in the team. While the dropping of Warner didn't come as a huge surprise, especially following the fact that he was dropped from the playing XI, it will still be a huge blow for the SRH side. In the auction, SRH didn't done too well. They haven't found solid replacements for both Warner and Rashid, something which will be a big worry.
While SRH's strength has been their bowling, they will have a few worries in their spin department. Without Rashid Khan, they don't have that wicket taking and economical spinner in the middle overs. Sundar and Gopal will have to try and fill those massive shoes which Rashid has left behind.
Probable XI: Kane Williamson, Rahul Tripatphi, Aiden Markram, Priyam Garg, Nicholas Pooran, Abdul Samad, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Urman Malik, T. Natarajan, Shreyas Gopal
𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐑𝐑)
The Royals had a great auction. They've picked up a few good players with the likes of Hetmyer, Ashwin, Boult, and Chahal coming into the side. There is no Stokes and no Archer, so the only Englishman who will be playing for RR in this IPL is Jos Buttler. Buttler is proven at the top of the order and a player which no opposition likes to see set.
The big question for RR will be which 2 of Paddikal, Jaiswal, and Saini will make it into this side. All 3 are young Indian options and it'll really depend on how well they're performing and if RR want to play the extra batsmen or the extra bowler.
Probable XI: Devdutt Paddikal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Jimmy Neesham, Ravichandran Ashwin, Prasidh Krishna, Navdeep Saini, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal
𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 (𝐑𝐂𝐁)
RCB had a decent auction. They've added some quality players into the side, but they've managed to keep the performers from last season which is very important.
There is no Paddikal at the top, but RCB have found an excellent replacement in one of the top scorers of the last season, Faf Du Plessis. Additionally, they've added the experience of Dinesh Karthik to this side. With AB De Villiers no longer playing the IPL, Karthik will be in the middle order and in that finisher's role.
In the bowling, Bangalore have added Josh Hazlewood who can not only perform so well, but also be a mentor figure to both Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel. It'll be great to see Hazlewood added into this side as well and really strengthen the pace bowling department for RCB.
Probable XI: Faf Du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, Mahipal Lomror, Waindu Hasaranga, Shabhaz Ahmed, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel
𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬 (𝐃𝐂)
Delhi topped the points table in the last season, but yet failed to make it into the finals after a loss in both qualifiers. They've kept quite a few players in their side the same, but there are improvements which they've made as they attempt to lift the trophy this year.
There is no Shikhar Dhawan at the top for DC, but they've kept the left - right combination by bringing in David Warner. Mitchell Marsh, who was in great form during the T20 World Cup 2021, has come into the side and will play at number 3. A big miss for Delhi will be Shreyas Iyer. Iyer and Pant were 2 young captains. Both would have wanted that leadership position in the side and Delhi have decided to back Pant in that role.
In the bowling, a big miss will be Kagiso Rabada. He partnered well with Anrich Nortje last season and the 2 of them lit up stadiums with their pace bowling. This time around, the 2 South Africans have been separated as Delhi could only manage getting Nortje, and not Rabada.
Probable XI: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Khaleel Ahmed, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Kuldeep Yadav
𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐛 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 (𝐏𝐁𝐊𝐒)
Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan, and Mayank Agarwal - As it happened in previous seasons, Punjab have got 3 openers who have got to play. This'll mean that one of them will have to drop down to number 3. I think it'll be Mayank who plays in that position. He's someone who fits the role well of coming in towards the end of the powerplay and playing according to the situation.
Raj Bawa is a player, who after the U19 World Cup, should make this side. With both bat and ball, his contributions were invaluable. He walked away with the man of the match award in the finals as India lifted their 5th U19 World Cup. He's definitely a player to watch out for in the future and someone who has got to play in this Punjab side.
Odean Smith and Harpreet Brar come in lower down the order. They're mainly bowlers, but can swing the bat around and get a few quick runs towards the end. Brar's performance will really be watched closely by the Punjab Kings because if he isn't doing too well, then Rishi Dhawan, after a great domestic season, will be ready to jump into this side.
Probable XI: Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Raj Bawa, Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar
𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 (𝐋𝐒𝐆)
The first new team is the Lucknow Super Giants. LSG had an amazing auction. They’ve put together a great side.
Their top 3 is strong and then they’re followed by a truck load of all rounders which almost gives you a CSK like feel. These all rounders have really allowed LSG to not only bat deep, but have a lot of quality bowling options.
After the all rounders, LSG have gone in with 3 pure bowlers. Mark Wood provides the experience in the bowling and he’ll be partnered by Avesh Khan, who was 2nd on the leading wickets takers list last season. To finish off, a young and upcoming Indian spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, will be all set to represent this Lucknow side.
Probable XI: KL Rahul, Quinton De Kock, Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
𝐆𝐮𝐣𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐬 (𝐆𝐓)
The other new team, the Gujarat Titans, will have quite a few worries on their mind. For starters, their middle order isn’t looking too good. Hardik Pandya is the only prominent name there, and he hasn’t played too much Cricket in the past few months due to injuries.
Additionally, Jason Roy won’t be available and that’s going to be a big blow for this Gujarat Titans side. In white ball Cricket, Roy has been an integral part of the teams he’s represented and would have been a great option at the top for GT.
Probable XI: Shubman Gill, Matthew Wade, David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh Maan, Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami
