Senior India opener Shikhar Dhawan was the first player to be sold in the IPL 2022 mega-auction. He has been bought by Punjab Kings for a whopping 8.25 crore after they won a fierce bidding war against Delhi Capitals, Dhawan’s former team.
A number of reasons motivated Punjab to go big for the left-handed opener – the key one being that KL Rahul had left the franchise after last season. Further, despite being dropped from India’s T20I team, Dhawan has been in top notch form in the IPL for the Capitals.
Last season, he scored 587 runs at an average of 39. Before that, in IPL 2020, Dhawan was in staggering form – amassing 618 runs at 44 while striking at 144. He struck 2 centuries and 4 fifties in the IPL 2020, helping the Capitals to their maiden IPL final, where they however lost to Mumbai Indians in the final.
Since IPL 2015, Dhawan has scored over 450 runs every single season.
Dhawan adds is stability to the batting order – Punjab needed it desperately considering that Mayank Agarwal, who is retained, will play the aggressor’s role and with Rahul gone, they needed someone at the top to bat through and hold the middle-order.
Dhawan also offered leadership qualities; Punjab haven’t yet announced their new skipper since Rahul departed. Although Agarwal is the front-runner for the job, Dhawan could also be entrusted with this duty.
We’ve entered a bidding war with DC!
Eyeing for Gabbar! ?#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPLAuction #IPLAuction
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 12, 2022
Hence, Punjab were keen on getting hold of the left-handed opener, not worried about splashing big money – 8.25 crore – on the 36-year-old batsman.
Updated Punjab Kings squad(price in crore):
Arshdeep Singh-4
Shikhar Dhawan-8.25
Purse remaining-63.75
