IPL 2022: 5 teams that might target Steve Smith in mega auction

There’s no doubt that for Steve Smith, the shortest format has become a bittersweet affair. The cricketer who had once started his international journey with T20Is is now struggling to exhibit his bona fide class in the shortest format. In the IPL, the Aussie legend has failed in recent times to find his new home and is been expected to go unsold in the 2022 mega auction.

But with the cash-rich league now offering an additional flock of two new teams, certainly the 32-year old can still revive his fading IPL career. For a few particular franchises, Steve Smith can still become a worthy individual for their future courses.

Here are 5 franchises that might target Steve Smith in IPL 2022:

1. Punjab Kings 

Punjab Kings‘ IPL 2022 journey will again start from scratch. Their former skipper KL Rahul and a few elite cricketers are looking to dwell somewhere else. The franchise at the mega auction will be in a quest to fetch a strong overseas player who can contribute with his leadership traits as well as in their middle-order. In the past, the PBKS middle-order has endured many disasters, unlike any other team.

Hence in such a scenario, Steve Smith can certainly smoothly resolve the above problems. Since the Australian won’t enjoy a lavish demand in the mega auction, the PBKS think tank can easily fetch him even in a steal deal. Smith can also open the innings for them or can bind the middle-order through his nudging gameplay. At No.3, Smith can become analogous to what Aiden Markram had performed for them.

Also, in case if the team endures a leadership crisis then Smith can even step in as a skipper. All in all, as both the Aussie batter and the PBKS franchise will be now starting afresh, surely both can give each other a longstanding identity from IPL 2022 onwards.