However, there will be a group of players who will not be that fortunate in earning a new contract for the IPL 2022 season. It will be difficult to say goodbye to some familiar faces, but that is how the league operates.
Chris Gayle is number one.
After a rainy season with the Punjab Kings, the big-hitting West Indian was discharged. Gayle scored 193 runs in ten games, but there was not a single fifty, and the deadly batsman only made a few outings. His strike rate was also 125, which was below average for someone like Gayle. Gayle isn’t sure if she’ll participate in the auction because she’s considering retiring. Even if he participates, the Jamaican may struggle to find a buyer in the IPL 2022 auction.
Harbhajan Singh is number two on the list.
This time, one of the IPL’s most veteran players might have a hard time finding customers. Last year, the off-spinner found a late taker in the Kolkata Knight Riders, but he failed to capture any wickets in three matches, giving runs at a rate of nine per over. Harbhajan may have reached the end of his shelf life, and if he does enter the fray, teams may think twice about raising the bidding card for him. It’s a scenario that can’t be imagined.
Ambati Rayudu is number three on the list.
Rayudu was a rock for the Chennai Super Kings, and it was his performance for the team in 2018 that paved the way for his return to the Indian side. But those are legends from the past. For CSK, he has a mediocre season, hitting 257 runs in 16 matches with two fifties. His strike rate was a whopping 151 percent. While these aren’t horrible numbers, Rayudu, who doesn’t play much domestic cricket, may find his IPL career come to an end unless the CSK re-bids for him. Even if he receives a bidder, it could be a low-ball offer.
Dwayne Bravo is number four on the list.
Bravo will always be a CSK kid. Bravo, like MS Dhoni, is adored by Chennai fans for his devotion to the club, his heroics as an all-rounder, and, of course, his celebrations and rap music. Bravo had a great season with Super Kings, winning the IPL 2021 and the CPL 2021 alongside St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Bravo, however, has retired from international cricket following the West Indies’ failure to defend their T20 Industry Cup title, and has shifted his focus to the fashion world. It’s difficult to see him go away, but his adventure appears to be coming to an end as well. In the IPL 2021, he scored 47 runs in three innings over 11 matches and grabbed 14 wickets.
Ishant Sharma is number five on the list.
Ishant was released by Delhi Capitals after only three appearances in IPL 2021, during which he took one wicket. He may be a seasoned campaigner, but he appears to have lost his edge in T20s and has been plagued by injuries. Teams are unlikely to risk signing Ishant and being without his services because they have some younger possibilities in the auction.