IPL 2021 is just 2 games away from knowing a winner. But the excitement surrounding the next edition is insane. Not only will the 15th edition of IPL 2022 see the addition of two new teams into the mix but it will also feature a mega auction.
Franchises will look to build their team for the next cycle of 3 years. The retention policy before the mega auctions makes things more interesting. Franchises won’t be able to retain all of their favourite players. The best ones will enter the auction pool. This will see teams picking key players and choosing them as their captains. Few teams might even want to replace the old guard and infuse fresh energy into the setup.
We look at 6 players who might end up captaining IPL 2022 teams next year:
#6 Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes missed out on the entire IPL barring the first game owing to an injury and self-observed break. He is one of the world’s leading all-rounders. Stokes’ value to any side is brilliant. There is little doubt that Rajasthan will hold back Stokes considering his mixed performances for the franchise. He will be available in the auction pool. Stokes is a good captaincy candidate too. Teams like RCB, SRH, and the new ones will be looking at Stokes closely.
#5 Shubman Gill
Eoin Morgan has done a fine job as KKR captain especially in the 2nd leg of IPL 2021. But Morgan is on the wrong side of the 30s. His form has seen a dip too. Morgan is no longer the enforcer he was even in the game’s shortest format. KKR will be looking at a young leader who may go on to lead them in the coming decade. There can’t be a better candidate than Shubman Gill.
#4 Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey might not have had a great season with SRH but he is no mug when it comes to T20Is and captaincy. Pandey has fantastic numbers leading Karnataka in the domestic tournaments. He has vast experience leading India-A sides too. Two new teams may fall back on his experience to lead a side.
#3 Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer was appointed Delhi’s captain midway in 2018. He went on to build a gun side over the last couple of years. DC qualified for successive playoffs (2019-20) under his leadership. But an untimely injury ruled him out of the first leg. Iyer went on to lose his captaincy to Rishabh Pant. If he has captaincy ambitions then Iyer might look elsewhere during the mega auctions. Iyer if picked in the auctions is sure to captain that side.
#2 David Warner
SRH handed a raw deal to David Warner. He was their talisman, their icon player but SRH management thought otherwise. Warner who won the orange cap for fun at SRH was dropped midseason not just from captaincy but from the side too. He is sure to be released from SRH ahead of the mega auctions. Teams like RCB will be gunning for Warner if he arrives at the auction table.
#1 Ravindra Jadeja
There is arguably no other player as valuable as Ravindra Jadeja at the moment. He is undoubtedly the world’s leading batting allrounder. His presence in the field brings brilliant energy. Jadeja is the natural successor to MS Dhoni especially when it comes to finishing off games. CSK are likely to appoint Jadeja as their new leader next season of IPL 2022.
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