IPL 2022: 5 players who might go unsold in the mega auction

The league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) came to a close on Friday (October 8). Four teams have made it to the playoffs, with Delhi Capitals (DC), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) securing the first, second, third and fourth position respectively. As with the 13 editions that have gone by, this year’s IPL has also provided fans with plenty of entertainment, action and drama.

It has also provided plenty of new talents like Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan and Umran Malik. Barring the young players, even a few seasoned campaigners like Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, and Mohammad Shami have performed well for their respective teams.

But if there is a positive side, there is also a negative side. Few seasoned players, who have performed consistently for their teams over the years, have struggled to get going this season. Players like Jaydev Unadkat, who was the highest wicket-taker in the 2017 season, has been disappointing this season for Rajasthan Royals (RR). Even former CSK player Kedar Jadhav has looked a pale shadow of himself for SRH this season. With mega auctions coming up in 2022, few of the players might not have takers.

Here are few players who might go unsold during the mega auctions in 2022:

1. Imran Tahir

CSK leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who has season after season delivered for the team, has so far got to play only a game this year. During that match also he bowled well and picked up two wickets. But due to team combinations and four foreign players’ factors, he has not been given chances. The biggest factor that is going against him is probably age. The leg-spinner is currently 42 years of age, and that could be one of the reasons wherein the franchises might not be keen to have him.

Nonetheless, in his eight years long IPL career Tahir has given many such memorable moments for CSK. He has so far played 59 matches in IPL and has picked up 82 wickets. For the longest time, he was CSK’s leading wicket-taker and MS Dhoni’s go-to-bowler. His superb bowling in the middle phase didn’t allow the game to drift away.
Tahir’s 4 for 27 against KKR in the 2019 edition of the IPL is undoubtedly his best spell so far for CSK. He came in KKR batters were placed 79 for one, and from there picked up wickets at regular intervals.