Ruben Trumpelmann, David Wiese and JJ Smit are the three Namibian players alongside a host of U-19 stars among the final 590 cricketers that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Tuesday for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 Player Auction. (More Cricket News)
The IPL 2022 Player Auction will take place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. Among the 590 players listed, 228 are capped, 355 are uncapped players and seven belong to the Associate Nations.
Ruben Trumpelmann and South African-born David Wiese, who played a major role in Namibia’s first-ever entry in the T20 World Cup 2021 and then into the historic Super 12, have their base prices at 20 lakhs and 50 lakhs, respectively.
Meanwhile, players from Oman, UAE and the Netherlands have missed out on the final players’ auction list. USA and Nepal, who registered 14 and 15 players, respectively, in the first list of 1214, have only one representative each.
The 10 teams at the IPL 2022 auction will have an array of top Indian and international players to choose from. Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Ishan Kishan, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar et al are all up for grabs.
Not to forget IPL 2021’s top two wicket-takers Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan. Among the overseas players, all eyes will be on Faf du Plessis, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult, Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Shakib Al Hasan and Sri Lankan Wanindu Hasaranga.
The two new teams – Lucknow Super Giants and Team Ahmedabad – will be the new entrants in the auction. Hardik Pandya will lead the Ahmedabad franchise while KL Rahul has been chosen as the captain of Lucknow.
'Ravi Bishnoi, who got his maiden senior India call-up against West Indies at home, has been a perfect example of U-19 cricketers making big bucks in the IPL. Similarly, the current batch now playing the U1-9 World Cup in the West Indies will have several representations in the IPL 2022 Player Auction.
India U-19 captain Yash Dhull, spinner Vicky Ostwal, pacer Rajvardhan Hangargekar, all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa could evoke some interest from franchise owners.
Afghanistan teen all-rounder Noor Ahmad, who at 15 made headlines by signing a Big Bash League contract, has also thrown his hat in the IPL auction. The leggie, who is currently on national duty in the ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup in the West Indies, has a base price of 30 lakhs.
