IPL mega auction will be held ahead of the 2022 season. Mega auction is always exciting for the fans as they watch out for their favorite teams battling out for their favorite players. With two new teams added to the fold, the ten-team IPL will be exciting than ever before. This article looks at four players Punjab Kings might retain ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.
The last time Punjab Kings (formerly known as Kings XI Punjab) qualified for the knockout stage was way back in the 2014 season. Things haven’t gone as per plan for the franchise. They have been in the quest for silverware. KL Rahul has been the top performer for the side, scoring valuable runs, season after season. However, the franchise finished sixth on the table, yet again. Overseas contingent for the Punjab Kings was off the hook, and they will look to solve the issue at the upcoming auction.
1. KL Rahul
Rahul has been third on the orange cap list for the 2021 season. He can score consistently, which is what a franchise would want from their opening batsman. The Karnataka batsman has scored above 550 runs in every season since joining the Punjab Kings. Moreover, he can also play the anchor-role, if other batsmen have a bad day at the office.
He plays a multidimensional role. KL ticks the boxes of an opener, wicket-keeper, and captain. His decisions as a captain have been questioned in the past, but that does not degrade him as a batsman. Punjab Kings would want to retain their main man ahead of the 2022 auction.
2. Arshdeep Singh
The limit to retain the number of uncapped players is two. There is no better-uncapped player in the Punjab Squad than Arshdeep. The left-arm pacer has improved magnificently over the past couple of seasons. Since his IPL debut in 2019, Arshdeep has shown signs of maturity in every season.
He played 3 matches in his first season with the franchise. His economy rate clocked at 10.90 runs per over. However, his economy in the 2021 season was just below 8.3 RPO. Arshdeep bowls both in the powerplay and at the death. This aspect of his game could make the Punjab Kings retain him ahead of the 2022 auction.
3. Ravi Bishnoi
The 21-year-old leg spinner from Rajasthan has all the qualities to make it to the very top. He has 24 wickets to his name in a 23-match-long IPL career.
Bishnoi has room for improvement, and retention by his franchise could well be the kind of motivation he needs. Bishnoi bowls stump to stump and is not scared to flighted delivery. His economy of 6.3 throughout the 2021 season has made him the standout spinner in the squad.
4. Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal has been very consistent with his performances over the past three seasons. One of the most important aspects of opening batsmen is chemistry. Mayank and Rahul represent the same state in the domestic circuit and are well aware of each other’s playing styles. Talking about attributes, Mayank is a very sensible batsman, who understands his role very well.
On some days, he gets going from the start. While on the other, he plays the anchor role to make sure the team posts a respectable total. He has scored more than 400 runs for two seasons in a row. The Punjab Kings could retain Mayank ahead of the 2022 season, based on his performances and contributions.
