The IPL 2022 auction will be a mega auction, and the excitement is increasing. The retention rules have opened up a lot of opportunities for the auction. Thus there are going to be a lot of players in the auction pool. In addition to it, 2 new franchises are coming up. As a result, competition in the auction will increase too. Chennai Super Kings has a great team composition, and it will be interesting to see their picks in the auction. So let us take a look at the 6 players CSK could go for in the IPL 2022 auction.
#1. David Warner
David Warner is an absolute brute with the bat. However after Williamson was handed the captaincy, Warner was dropped from the playing XI of SRH. His stock might have fallen in SRH, but CSK would love to have him. Adding Warner to their setup would be a huge boost to the already formidable batting lineup. David Warner also seems like a perfect fit for the men in yellow, as he performs well on a regular basis. Warner has scored 5447 runs in the IPL and is one of the most successful batsmen in the tournament. So don’t be surprised to see Chennai bid big bucks for the talented Australian.
#2. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He had opted out of the 2021 IPL to play more ‘Shield cricket’. If he decides to make himself available for the 2022 auctions, it would be a no-brainer for the CSK to go after him. Star can bat well lower down the order and is one of the most lethal fast bowlers in the world. Chennai lacks a bit in the bowling department, and Starc is the perfect solution for their problem. However, it all boils down to Starc making himself available for the IPL 2022 auction. He hasn’t played in the IPL since 2015.
#3. Washington Sundar
Virat Kohli is going to have a difficult time picking players to retain next year. Washington Sundar‘s exclusion seems imminent as Mohammed Siraj, Padikkal, Maxwell, and de Villiers have been invaluable for the Bangalore outfit along with Virat Kohli. Sundar is a very talented cricketer and is going to have teams going after him when his name gets called up. So it’s going to be no surprise if Chennai makes a bid for the rising allrounder. Sundar is a genuine match-winner and has the potential to be a star in the future.
#4. Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna plays for the KKR, and is featured regularly in the team. However, it seems his release is nearing, as KKR could retain players like Gill, Russell, etc. Although he has kept a low profile, Krishna is an extremely talented fast bowler and is very young. CSK has a good track record of taking in talented youngsters and making them stars. Krishna could very well become a star in the future, and all it could take is a jump to the Chennai franchise.
#5. Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey was the first Indian to score a century in the IPL. He has consistently featured in the IPL, and is a great talent. Pandey is a regular in the Indian T20 side, and rightfully deserves his place in the team. Sunrisers Hyderabad has Pandey in its system since 2018. However, it seems unlikely that he would make it on the retention list. Manish Pandey is a perfect fit in any team, and CSK would be foolish if they don’t try to get him for themselves.
Pandey has scored 3461 runs from just matches. In addition to this, he is just 31 years old. With a long career ahead, Pandey has a lot to offer to any team that picks him. A bid from CSK can be expected for the talented cricketer.
#6. Ishan Kishan
Mumbai Indians is going to suffer a lot in the 2022 auctions. They will surely retain Sharma, Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. Thus they will lose their talented pool of cricketers, which includes names like Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, etc. But out of these names, Ishan Kishan stands out. He is a young talent for whom the sky is the limit. Chennai has always been great with talented youngsters, and Kishan fits the bill to a tee.
Kishan has scored 1284 runs form 56 matches, and has the potential to score a lot more if given the time to develop. He should be a prime target for Chennai management.
