The IPL 2022 mega-auction was perhaps the most interesting of all the auctions, the excitement added with two new teams and a few franchises going on a revamp.
Indian players with future potential and multiple skillsets – such as wicket-keepers, all-rounders, captaincy options – bagged crores worth of contracts; overseas match-winners were in high demand too.
Here’s the best eleven of the most expensive cricketers at the IPL 2022 mega-auction:
Openers: Ishan Kishan, Rahul Tripathi
Ishan Kishan was the most expensive cricketer at the IPL 2022 mega-auction; having been rendered unable to retain back Kishan, Mumbai Indians splurged out 15.25 crore for the left-handed wicket-keeper batsman, the most Mumbai have ever spent on a player in an auction.
Current Orange cap holder – Ishan Kishan
Keep up the good form, Pocket Dynamo!
#OneFamily #DilKholKe #MumbaiIndians #MIvRR @ishankishan51 pic.twitter.com/YmL1CTVyoa
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 2, 2022
Rahul Tripathi has earned all of his 8.75 crore as he powered KKR to the final last season with his middle and death overs pyrotechnics. He will now play for Sunrisers Hyderabad as a middle-overs enforcer.
Middle-order: Shreyas Iyer (C), Liam Livingstone, Nicholas Pooran (wk)
KKR had set their eyes on Shreyas Iyer, who left Delhi Capitals in search of captaincy and will lead the 2-time IPL winners. Shreyas was bought for a whopping 12.25 crore and was the third-most-expensive player at the mega-auction.
Superstar England all-rounder Liam Livingstone was the most expensive overseas buy this year, as Punjab Kings acquired his services for 11.5 crore, while SRH shooted out 10.75 for the West Indies vice-captain and one of the most destructive batters, Nicholas Pooran.
365 days of 666606.
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) September 27, 2021
All-rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga, Rahul Tewatia
After being released from RCB, the franchise bought back Wanindu Hasaranga for a hefty sum of 10.75 crore. The Sri Lankan is a top white-ball all-rounder in the world.
Gujarat Titans, one of the two new franchises, made Rahul Tewatia as their most expensive Indian buy, holing out 9 crore from their purse. Tewatia has grown as a trusted finisher and bowls handy leg spin.
How good has Harshal Patel been for us! He just keeps getting better with each game.
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 10, 2022
Pacers: Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan
High-quality pacers were in demand, having impressed the franchises in the past few seasons. Powerplay specialist Deepak Chahar was rebought by CSK for a jaw-dropping 14 crore – the most for a seamer ever in the IPL auction though Chahar also has been contributing as a batter – while death overs specialist and last season’s Purple Cap holder Harshal Patel was rebought by RCB for 10.75 crore.
Avesh Khan was Lucknow Super Giants’ costliest pick, for 10 crore. And bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur bagged a contract worth 10.75 crore with the Delhi Capitals.
