IPL 2022 Auction: 6 Wicket-Keepers Who Will be at Top of Every Franchise’s Buying List
IPL 2022 Auction: Cricket broadly has three disciplines: batting, bowling, and wicket-keeping. There are several batters and bowlers in the team but there is only one wicket-keeper. Wicket-keepers form an integral part of the team. As the IPL mega auction nears, every team must be preparing a thorough list of players to buy them at the auction.
As many as 590 players will undergo the hammer for the 15th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Every franchise will look to buy players who suit their requirements and fit within the available budget. Finding the right choice for the wicket-keeper batsman position will be crucial for every franchise as they bring balance and fluidity to the team. Here is a list of:
IPL 2022 Auction: 6 wicket keepers who will at top of every franchise’s buying list
6) Matthew Wade
The Australian wicket-keeper was part of the IPL’s fourth season in 2011. He was bought by Delhi Daredevils for $100,000 but could only play three matches. He was later released by Delhi Daredevils and failed to find any bidder. Southpaw Matthew Wade is a free-flowing batsman who rose in the ranks in Australian cricket as a successor to Brad Haddin.
Although Wade has been part of the Big Bash League from the start and the Australian T20I side on most occasions, he could never impress bidders in the IPL. He went unsold in last year’s auction. However, his recent stellar performances in the T20 World cup and BBL are coming of the age. He is expected to attract bidders this time.
5) Jonny Bairstow
The England wicket-keeper was the mainstay of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team. Jonny Bairstow is an impactful player and can win matches for any team. There is a reason England cricket has done so well in cricket, especially limited-overs cricket. Bairstow’s players across all formats for England thus exhibit the potential to perform under pressure.
He is a utility player and can open as well as play in the middle-order. He is quite neat behind the wickets and would surely be the favorite among the franchises bidding at the table. Bairstow made his IPL debut in 2019 for SRH and has been with the same franchise since. In 28 innings of IPL, Bairstow has scored 1038 runs at an astonishing average of 41.52 and a strike rate of 142.19.
4) Nicolas Pooran
West Indies stylish left-arm batsman wicket-keeper Nicolas Pooran will be in high demand at the auction table. Nicolas Pooran is a hard-hitter of the cricket ball and scores runs at a brisk strike rate. Pooran is technically sound and can keep wickets when needed. Pooran had an indifferent IPL season last year. He has been part of Punjab Kings XI since 2019.
In 2020, in 14 innings of the IPL, Pooran amassed 353 runs at an average of 35.30 and at a staggering strike rate of 169.71. Pooran has the fifth-highest strike rate of all time in the IPL and could be an asset to any team.
3) Quinton de Kock
Quinton De Kock is a seasoned campaigner in the IPL and has been a part of this lucrative tournament since 2013. He is a reliable player and has delivered pressure situations. The South African is a fluent batsman and bats in the opening slot. He scores quickly and plays long innings. Quinton joined the Mumbai Indians franchise in 2019 and has been pivotal in their successive title wins in 2019 and 2020.
Quinton is now retired from Test cricket and will look to channel his energy in limited-overs cricket. In 77 innings of the IPL, Quinton scored 2256 runs at an average of 31.33 and at a strike rate of 130.93. As Quinton is placed in the first set of auctions, all franchises will try to rope in his services at hefty prices. No wonder he sells like a hot cake.
2) Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan was also part of the Mumbai Indians franchise. The young Indian wicketkeeper embodies class and exuberant stroke play. Ishan declined Ahmedabad’s team’s offer to be among their draft picks. Instead decided to go through auctions expecting better offers. He is expected to be one of the most expensive buys of this year’s auctions.
Ishan Kishan was bought by Mumbai India for a whopping INR 6.2 cr in 2018. And despite a dip in his form, he ended his season at a strike rate of 150 with a spurt of valuable performances. As he is Indian and could be a huge asset as a wicket-keeper batsman, franchises will not shy away from shedding extra money at the mega auction.
1) Dinesh Karthik
Perhaps one of the IPL’s most experienced players, Dinesh Karthik, will be the most sought-after wicket-keeper at auction. Dinesh Karthik is a seasoned campaigner and has been a part of the IPL since the start. He was named wicket-keeper of IPL XI of the tournament in 2017 by Cricbuzz. Karthik was bought by KKR in 2018 and has been a part of the franchise since. He was entrusted with the responsibility to lead and play as a finisher.
Karthik handles the pressure well and has delivered in the most hostile situations. Karthik brings experience and balance to the side. He recently expressed his desire to represent India again in limited-overs cricket and looks ready for any challenge.
