IPL: Team-wise three players who might be retained for mega auction

As we approach the mega auction for the IPL 2022, there are many questions in every fan’s mind. The dynamics of every team are going to change completely. It will be an interesting to look what the future holds for us in the IPL.
Previously, strong franchises on paper have suddenly turned weaker after the mega auction.

There have been other cases too, where some franchises have improved on paper and that has led to strong performances too. Ardent IPL supporters know the value of the  mega auction and how it can bring changes.

As we all know, every franchise can retain only 3 players and there will be a couple of RTM options available too. But which players will each franchise retain?

Here are team-wise three players who might be retained for mega auction:

Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has shaped his career in the IPL and transformed the performances into the international circuit. He has been a wonderful pick for the Mumbai Indians, who can prove to be captaincy material too. Mumbai Indians will retain him at all costs.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma becomes an obvious pick considering how much he has done for the MI franchise. Five IPL trophies along with memorable performances time and again, Rohit has led Mumbai Indians from the front. It’s likely to stay the same until he hangs his boots.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has been instrumental in Mumbai’s success since 2013. His knack of changing the match completely in death overs along with his finesse with the new ball has made him one of the best bowlers in the entire world. They will look to retain him and gain the most out of him.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been playing for RCB since IPL’s inception. Considered as the best batsman in the world, King Kohli has stated in a lot of interviews how much the franchise means to him. This is a 100% surety and Virat’s going to continue captaining the side as well.

AB De Villiers

Another name that’s not going to surprise you on the retention list is Abraham Benjamin De Villiers. He’s probably the most entertaining batsman of all time and is extremely reliable. He has pulled out RCB from the jaws of defeat on a lot of occasions. You can expect the same sort of performances from him representing Red, Black and Gold in the IPL.

Yuzvendra Chahal

While all the other bowlers have failed to deliver for RCB, Chahal has always stood up. He has been a crucial performer for them who has put on amazing performances consistently when other bowlers were getting smacked around. RCB will look to get more and more out of him in the future.

Chennai Super Kings

MS Dhoni

Although there’s no surety if MS Dhoni is going to retire after this season or not, sources claim that he will continue to play in the IPL for the next few years. If he makes himself available for the next season, CSK will retain him. CSK’s name is synonymous with MS Dhoni, so this one is obvious.

Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina is a monumental figure for one of the most dominant teams in the IPL. He has over 5K runs to his name and has always been in competition with Virat Kohli in the leading run-getters of the IPL. CSK won’t hesitate one bit before retaining him.

Sam Curran

This might be the first surprise on the list but if you have seen Sam Curran’s performances across formats, you know for a fact that he’s a future superstar. He was one of the best performers for CSK in an otherwise disappointing edition. CSK has shown immense faith in him and it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he’s retained by the most consistent team of the IPL.

Delhi Capitals

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has seen a great time as the player and captain of the Delhi Capitals. He took over the reins from Gautam Gambhir after an abysmal run in the 2018 edition of IPL and never looked back. Although he’s going to miss the 2021 edition completely, DC is likely to show faith in him before the mega-auction.

Rishabh Pant

One of the most talked-about cricketers in the world right now, Rishabh Pant has seen a tremendous high in the recent months with some impeccable performances. He is the backbone of the Delhi Capitals’ batting lineup, especially in the absence of Shreyas Iyer. Rishabh Pant is also the current captain of Delhi Capitals. He is surely going to play for the Delhi Capitals in the coming seasons.

Kagiso Rabada

Rabada’s inclusion in Delhi Capitals has just made the team better, especially on the bowling front. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2020 edition and the 2nd highest wicket-taker in the 2019 edition, both times for Delhi Capitals. They wouldn’t let him go.

Punjab Kings

KL Rahul

Since the time KL Rahul has joined Punjab Kings, he has shown a different version of himself. There’s hardly a match where KL Rahul doesn’t score a half-century in the IPL, a testament to his impact in the last couple of years. He is going to lead PBKS in the years to come and is going to be retained.

Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal might not be discussed enough but his class coupled with aggression has led him to new heights in the IPL as well as international cricket. Ever since making his debut for the Indian test team, he has looked a different player across formats and he showed it last season with 424 runs at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 156.45. Although it might come as a surprise, Mayank has a high chance of getting retained by Punjab Kings.

Mohammed Shami

Shami has seen a high in the IPL in recent years for Punjab Kings. His wicket-taking ability and a calm head in pressure situations have made him the star bowler of Punjab Kings. The bowling of the unit is going to move around Shami and it is almost certain that they won’t let him go.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Shubman Gill

Here’s the future of Indian cricket as well as Kolkata Knight Riders. Shubman Gill has been consistent as a batsman for KKR even when he was playing at a position that wasn’t best suited for him. Once he reaches his purple patch, the sky’s going to be the limit for him and KKR understands that well. He is most likely to be retained and expect him to captain the side.

Andre Russell

Andre Russell is one of the greatest T20 players of all time and he has shown it for KKR time and again. He can single-handedly change the match with his ferocious batting and has been a surprise package as the leading death bowler of KKR. He creates immense value in the team and KKR will look to preserve him for as long as possible.

Pat Cummins

One of the best bowlers in the entire world, Pat Cummins was bought by KKR for a whopping INR 15.50 crores. Although he isn’t as good a limited-overs bowler as he is in the longest format of the game, he has continuously improved himself on this front and it has shown in his performances for KKR. The franchise will look to invest in him for long and he has the ability to back it up.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

David Warner

It’s heartening to see how much David Warner has given to SRH. He has been an exceptional batsman for the team who never disappoints but more than that, he’s been an august captain who has shown his teammates the way when the chips are down. David Warner would love to represent SRH in the times to come and SRH wouldn’t like to go off with this asset.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is one spinner who has not left his purple patch for a couple of years now. He is difficult to hit and ends up taking the most important wickets of the opposition at the same point in time. He is still just 22 years old and SRH might want him to represent the franchise for the next decade.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Here’s one bowler who’s not in the highlights anymore but still comes up with efficient performances time and again. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the best new-ball bowlers across formats and there are countless times when he picked up the first wicket of his opposition whether he was playing for India or SRH in IPL. They should be showing faith in him and if injuries don’t come his way, his calm head along with experience adds so much value to the team and the franchise should know it for sure.

Rajasthan Royals

Sanju Samson

When on a song, Sanju Samson can pull off stunning innings, ones that you can watch on loop. Deemed as inconsistent, Rajasthan Royals have made him the captain of the franchise much to the surprise of everyone. It is a clear indication that they are looking to go forward under the leadership of this talented player who’s yet to touch his prime.

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler is regarded as one of the best T20 batsmen in the entire world, his wicketkeeping abilities add to his resume as a world-class player. Rajasthan Royals have shuffled his batting position a lot of times but he has always given his best for them. Retaining Jos would benefit them for the times to come since they don’t have many options.

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes, the name itself carries a lot of value with it. A fantastic batsman, a quality pacer, and an outstanding fielder, Ben Stokes defines the term “All-rounder”. He has not shown his best game for Rajasthan Royals yet, but he’s not too far away. He has a great chance to be retained.