The 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League will include two new teams. The sale of the franchises has already been concluded. Hence, there will be an extra demand for captaincy candidates for the upcoming campaign. A few of the existing franchises, who are looking for a fresh start, will also be a part of the race. While domestic captains are usually preferred, overseas leaders have found success in the competition, and hence, a few franchises could take the latter route. In this article, we take a look at five foreigners who could be a captain in IPL 2022.
1) Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson is one of the foreigners who could be a captain in IPL 2022. Midway through IPL 2021, Kane was appointed as the skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad. So far, in 33 games that he has captained, Kane has helped SRH win 16 games. This record also includes a season in which the New Zealand skipper took SRH to the finals.
Kane has made a mark again as a skipper by helping New Zealand do well in the 2021 T20 World Cup. His batting form might be a little inconsistent off-late, but Kane is a class player, and hence, the franchisee need not worry much about it. Therefore, SRH could retain him and kickstart the fresh era under him.
2) David Warner
David Warner is one of the most successful captains in IPL. In 69 games as the skipper of SRH, the Aussie has got the Hyderabad-based unit a total of 35 wins. The franchise also won the 2016 edition of the competition under his captaincy.
The association of Warner and SRH took a hit in IPL 2021. The franchise is all set to release him before IPL 2022. Warner has found form in the 2021 T20 WC. Hence, a couple of teams might target him as their captain. One of the new franchises has the best chance to do that.
3) Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard is also one of the foreigners who could be a captain in IPL 2022. The West Indian has captained Mumbai Indians only when Rohit Sharma has not been available. However, Pollard has experience in the format and will add value as a skipper.
Mumbai Indians could release Pollard and hence, he becomes a captaincy candidate for a few other teams. In Pollard, any franchise will get a veteran T20 all-rounder and someone who has seen multiple perspectives of the game. This will be helpful for a captain in the format.
4) Jos Buttler
Many experts have started giving their opinions that Jos Buttler could be a captaincy candidate for IPL 2022. Rajasthan Royals is likely to retain Buttler, but if the franchise also keeps hold of Sanju Samson, it will be the latter who will take up the captaincy mantle.
However, if the Englishman or Sanju is released, Buttler could be in line for a captaincy role next season. Buttler has only captained five games so far for England. Hence, there is less experience. However, as a batsman and as a wicket-keeper, the Englishman is one of the best in the business. He has a calm head on his shoulders and this could help the team.
5) Steve Smith
Steve Smith’s stakes have reduced in IPL over the last two seasons. However, with the introduction of two new teams, this could see a rise. Especially with the RPSG Group buying the Lucknow franchise, Steve Smith has a good chance of becoming the captain.
The Aussie led the Rising Pune Supergiant team in 2017. The franchise was owned by the same group. Smith also took the team to the finals. It is said that he enjoys a good relationship with the owners. Hence, there is a possibility that he could be given the chance to captain an IPL team in 2022.
