IPL 2022 Auction: Most expensive sold players on Day 1

The Day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega auction was full of twists and turns. While a few teams including the two new entrants Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans made some big purchases and made the most of their opportunities, the multiple-time winners Mumbai Indians, and the Chennai Super Kings were cautious in their approach and played the waiting game to strike at the right moment. It would be interesting to see whether the two champion teams would make some smart buys on the Day 2 of the event on Sunday.

Even though MI and CSK made some calculated moves, they along with some of the other teams were successful in bringing players on board by breaking the bank. Their rivals Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore also did not hesitate in shelling out some extra bucks to buy a few key players for the 15th edition of the marquee tournament. Without further ado, here’s a look at the players who laughed their way to the bank on Day 1 of the mega auction.

Here are the players who shined on Day 1 of the mega auction

4. Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Nicholas Pooran, Shardul Thakur (INR 10.75 crore)

As many as four players turned out to be the fifth most expensive player of the opening day of the mega auction. RCB shelled out INR 10.75 crore each for both Wanindu Hasaranga and Harshal Patel winning a fierce bidding war. Hasaranga came up with a reputation of being a brilliant leg-spinner and played for RCB only last season while Harshal Patel also turned up for the same franchise winning the purple cap as well.

Nicholas Pooran was the other player to stun many with the amount he earned. SRH beat the four-time champions CSK and two-time champions KKR in the bidding war to secure the West Indian swashbuckler’s services. While many felt he was overpriced a bit, Pooran is kind of a player who can really win his side a game single-handedly on his day.

Shardul Thakur was expected to go big in the auction and it went the same way for the Mumbai cricketer. PBKS, GT, CSK went for him but in the end, DC managed to buy him. He is a sort of an all-rounder and can contribute in both aspects of the game.

3. Shreyas Iyer (INR 12.25 crore)

Shreyas Iyer was among the many sought-after players coming into the IPL 2022 mega auction. As many as five franchises had competed aggressively to have Iyer on board but, he eventually went to the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 12.25 crore. The middle-order batter was reportedly in the Delhi Capitals’ scheme of things months before the main event.

But, he wanted to lead the side and as wicketkeeper batter, Rishabh Pant was already their first-choice player, the 2020 finalists refused the offer and parted ways with him. Apart from making a tremendous impact on the 22 yards, the 27-year-old had also led DC from the front as they had made the playoffs in 2019 and the finals in the 2020 editions respectively.

This would be the first time that Shreyas won’t be featuring for Delhi since his debut in 2015. As KKR are looking for a permanent captaincy slot having released both Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan, it would be interesting to see whether Iyer would be named their next skipper.

2. Deepak Chahar (INR 14 crore)

The Chennai Super Kings have once again bought back their old players including the likes of veteran batter Robin Uthappa and Caribbean all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. Deepak Chahar also happens to be one of those.

Chahar, who was released by the defending champions on November 30, 2021, was bought back by the very same team for a whopping INR 14 crore. The Agra cricketer was the second-most expensive player on Day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega auction. He has already represented CSK for four seasons between 2018 and 2021 and has also been one of their star performers in their two title wins.

Chahar was really impactful with the ball having registered 14 scalps in Chennai’s victorious season last year. The 29-year-old would now be hoping to make it matter yet again as CSK eye a record-equaling fifth IPL title.

1. Ishan Kishan (15.25 crore)

Ishan Kishan was one of the released players by the five-time winners Mumbai Indians who was bought back by the franchise for a staggering INR 15.25 crore. His base price was INR 2 crore. It was not an easy job for MI by any means as they had competitors in the form of Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, and the Sunrisers Hyderabad before the Rohit Sharma-led side outbid the rest of them all.

The wicketkeeper batter has been associated with the Mumbai-based franchise for four seasons since the IPL 2018 and was also instrumental in their back-to-back title triumphs in 2019 and 2020 respectively. 2020 was the best season for Kishan with the bat as he amassed 516 runs averaging at 57.33 and a strike rate in excess of 145.

Ishan is also the most expensive buy so far in the ongoing mega auction. The emerging cricketer would once again be hoping to prove his mettle for the Mumbai Indians on the 22 yards and if given an opportunity by donning the wicketkeeper’s gloves as the franchise eyes its record sixth IPL crown.