IPL 2022 will begin on March 26th. Ahead of the season, two new teams have been introduced. It is not for the first time that IPL has been a ten-team tournament. In fact, if you take a look at the fourth edition of IPL and the upcoming campaign, there are a lot of common factors. In this article, we take a look at five similarities between IPL 2011 and IPL 2022.
1) Introduction of two new franchises and the Group Format
Back in IPL 2011, two new teams had made an entry into the competition. BCCI had expansion plans and in line with this, Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala were introduced to IPL. The group format was devised for the hosting of the league games. However, the decision of introducing two new teams ran into a few issues. Eventually, IPL became an eight-team affair again.
That said, for the fifteenth edition of IPL, BCCI has expanded the tournament once more. Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans are the two new franchises. Just like in IPL 2011, a group format in similar lines has been formed for IPL 2022.
2) Chennai Super Kings are the defending champions
CSK won the title in IPL 2010. It was the first championship for the franchise after having reached the finals in IPL 2008. MS Dhoni was the captain of the franchise then. Hence, CSK were the defending champion in IPL 2011.
Cut to IPL 2022, CSK is the defending champions and MS Dhoni is still the captain of the unit. After the disappointment in IPL 2020, CSK was looking for a strong comeback. They did that with a title-winning campaign in IPL 2021.
3) The season opener is between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders
The first game of IPL 2011 was between CSK and KKR. The MS Dhoni-led outfit won that thriller of an encounter by just two runs. Srikkanth Anirudha was the Player of the Match in that game.
Starting on March 26th, IPL 2022’s first game will also be between CSK and KKR. Incidentally, both teams had met in the final of IPL 2021. Hence, this is one of the similarities between IPL 2011 and IPL 2022.
4) Captain of the recent ICC 50-over World Cup runner-up is the skipper of the Hyderabad-based outfit
The Hyderabad-based franchise was known as Deccan Chargers then. Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who had led his nation to the finals of the 2011 World Cup, was the captain of the franchise. India had won that final and Sri Lanka ended as the runners-up.
Similarly, the current captain of the runner-up of the recent 50-over World Cup is Kane Williamson. The Kiwi is the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, the franchise that represents the city now. For that matter, Kane is also the captain of the runner-up of the recent T20 World Cup.
5) Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders was hired for a big amount at the auctions and the player’s previous team is Delhi
After three disappointing seasons, KKR was looking for a new era. Hence, they made Gautam Gambhir their most expensive purchase and appointed him as the skipper. The southpaw was arriving from the Delhi Daredevils squad.
Similarly, in IPL 2022, KKR will be led by Shreyas Iyer, who was their most expensive signing at the auctions. Incidentally, Mumbai cricketer Iyer is also coming from a Delhi franchise. Like Gambhir at IPL 2011, till the player arrived at KKR, Iyer has represented only one IPL franchise. Hence this is also one of the similarities between IPL 2011 and IPL 2022.
