Hardik Pandya is out of action from international cricket for quite sometime. He remains a vital cog in India's limited-overs setup but hasn't played a single game since the Men in Blue's dismal 2021 T20 World Cup campaign.&nbsp;

Hardik has had issues fulfilling the all-rounder's role following his back surgery, in the pre-pandemic era. Since then, he hasn't bowled a lot for Team India and didn't roll&nbsp;his arms for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the last two IPL seasons. In the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, the 28-year-old Hardik will represent the newly-formed Ahmedabad franchise, named the Gujarat Titans, where he will be eager to play as an all-rounder and also make a mark as captain.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mandatory-rules-laid-down-by-bcci-for-all-10-franchises-at-mega-auction-451445">IPL 2022: Mandatory rules laid down by BCCI for all 10 franchises at mega auction</a>

While Hardik remains a big name in Indian cricket in recent times, following his IPL blitz for the MI franchise, the all-rounder had once failed to draw a single bid and went unsold at the 2014 auction for the cash-rich league. Back in 2014, Hardik wasn't a known face in the domestic circuit and, thus, failed to draw a single bid despite a base price of INR 1 million (Rs 10 lakhs).

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In the 2015 auction, Hardik's base price remained the same but he managed to be bought by the Rohit Sharma-led MI franchise. From 2015-2021, Hardik has amassed&nbsp;1,476 runs at a strike rate of 153.91 along with claiming 42 wickets. He was a vital part of MI's title win in the 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 editions, respectively. He will now be eager to replicate his success for his home franchise Gujarat Titans.

Hardik Pandya is out of action from international cricket for quite sometime. He remains a vital cog in India's limited-overs setup but hasn't played a single game since the Men in Blue's dismal 2021 T20 World Cup campaign.

Hardik Pandya is out of action from international cricket for quite sometime. He remains a vital cog in India's limited-overs setup but hasn't played a single game since the Men in Blue's dismal 2021 T20 World Cup campaign. Hardik has had issues fulfilling the all-rounder's role following his back surgery, in the pre-pandemic era. Since then, he hasn't bowled a lot for Team India and didn't roll his arms for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the last two IPL seasons. In the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, the 28-year-old Hardik will represent the newly-formed Ahmedabad franchise, named the Gujarat Titans, where he will be eager to play as an all-rounder and also make a mark as captain. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Mandatory rules laid down by BCCI for all 10 franchises at mega auction While Hardik remains a big name in Indian cricket in recent times, following his IPL blitz for the MI franchise, the all-rounder had once failed to draw a single bid and went unsold at the 2014 auction for the cash-rich league. Back in 2014, Hardik wasn't a known face in the domestic circuit and, thus, failed to draw a single bid despite a base price of INR 1 million (Rs 10 lakhs). ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya's Ahmedabad franchise named Gujarat Titans, reveals team owner In the 2015 auction, Hardik's base price remained the same but he managed to be bought by the Rohit Sharma-led MI franchise. From 2015-2021, Hardik has amassed 1,476 runs at a strike rate of 153.91 along with claiming 42 wickets. He was a vital part of MI's title win in the 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 editions, respectively. He will now be eager to replicate his success for his home franchise Gujarat Titans.

Throwback: When Hardik Pandya didn't draw a single bid and went UNSOLD at IPL 2014 auction

After a long wait, the Ahmedabad franchise's owner&nbsp;Siddharth Patel of CVC Capital Partners has revealed the official name of the Hardik Pandya-led unit. The Ahmedabad franchise is set to be named Gujarat Titans. It remains one of the two new additions (along with Lucknow -- named Lucknow Super Giants) to the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of the 2022 edition, in India.

Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, the Ahmedabad franchise had named all-rounder Hardik Pandya as the captain and also roped in Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill as their three picks. Gary Kirsten, who guided the MS Dhoni-led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup title, will serve as the batting coach whereas former pacer Ashish Nehra has been named as the head coach.&nbsp;

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For the unversed, the franchise from Ahmedabad is the second team from Gujarat to feature in the IPL. In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Gujarat Lions were the first-ever side from the state to be included in the IPL. It was led by Suresh Raina, who took them to the playoffs in their inaugural season.&nbsp;

Hardik's services have been roped in for INR 150 million whereas the CVC Capital Partners also bought Rashid for the same price. Shubman, on the other hand, was picked at INR 80 million. He has earlier represented the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) since the 2018 season.&nbsp;

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It will be interesting to see who all are picked by the Ahmedabad franchise in the forthcoming auction. As per reports, the newly-formed team have INR 520 million in their purse heading into the auction proceedings. The mega auction will be held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13.

After a long wait, the Ahmedabad franchise's owner Siddharth Patel of CVC Capital Partners has revealed the official name of the Hardik Pandya-led unit. The Ahmedabad franchise is set to be named Gujarat Titans.

After a long wait, the Ahmedabad franchise's owner Siddharth Patel of CVC Capital Partners has revealed the official name of the Hardik Pandya-led unit. The Ahmedabad franchise is set to be named Gujarat Titans. It remains one of the two new additions (along with Lucknow -- named Lucknow Super Giants) to the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of the 2022 edition, in India. Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, the Ahmedabad franchise had named all-rounder Hardik Pandya as the captain and also roped in Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill as their three picks. Gary Kirsten, who guided the MS Dhoni-led India to the 2011 ODI World Cup title, will serve as the batting coach whereas former pacer Ashish Nehra has been named as the head coach. ALSO READ | 'An emotional call': Aakash Chopra on CSK shelling out INR 120 million to retain MS Dhoni ahead of IPL auction For the unversed, the franchise from Ahmedabad is the second team from Gujarat to feature in the IPL. In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Gujarat Lions were the first-ever side from the state to be included in the IPL. It was led by Suresh Raina, who took them to the playoffs in their inaugural season. Hardik's services have been roped in for INR 150 million whereas the CVC Capital Partners also bought Rashid for the same price. Shubman, on the other hand, was picked at INR 80 million. He has earlier represented the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) since the 2018 season. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Mandatory rules laid down by BCCI for all 10 franchises at mega auction It will be interesting to see who all are picked by the Ahmedabad franchise in the forthcoming auction. As per reports, the newly-formed team have INR 520 million in their purse heading into the auction proceedings. The mega auction will be held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13.

IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya's Ahmedabad franchise named Gujarat Titans, reveals team owner

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to embark on a new journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he gears up to lead the Ahmedabad franchise in the upcoming 2022 edition of the tournament. Hardik was released by Mumbai Indians last year before being picked by the Ahmedabad franchise as one of their three picks from the player draft.

Hardik will be turning up for a new team for the first time in his IPL career since making his debut in the T20 league in 2015. The all-rounder has not enjoyed the best of form over the past couple of years owing to his fitness issues. Pandya has faced a lot of struggles ever since undergoing a back surgery in 2019 and has refrained from bowling.

He didn't bowl at all for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021 last year and bowled only a handful of overs for the Indian team during the T20 World Cup 2021. However, the all-rounder has been working hard on his fitness after opting for a break post the T20 World Cup last year and is looking to make a strong return to the pitch.

While Hardik is yet to make himself available for selection in the Indian team, he is all set to lead Ahmedabad in IPL 2022. When asked if he will be bowling for his new team in the upcoming season, the star all-rounder remained coy. "It's a surprise for everyone," he told Cricbuzz.

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Hardik has asked the selectors not to pick him as he has been working on returning to bowling regularly. The all-rounder said he has always liked to contribute with the bat and the ball and will not settle for playing purely as a batter going forward. With a T20 World Cup lined up later this year, Pandya's bowling will be crucial for his chances in the Indian team.

"It's been challenging. I've always been someone who contributes with the bat, ball and on the field. When I decided I will just bat, I wanted to spend some time on the ground. We all love challenges and I love to fight it out. Criticism is good and it doesn't really bother me. For me, results do matter but I work hard for the process," said Pandya.

"I've always realised that as an allrounder I give a lot of different options to the team. I'll try to work on being an allrounder and if something doesn't work out then my batting is always there. But Hardik Pandya combined with both bat and ball, it sounds better than just a batter," he added.

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Pandya also spoke about learning from the likes of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having learned by playing under them in the Indian team and the Indian Premier League. Hardik wants to implement different qualities from the trio in his own captaincy style when he leads Ahmedabad in IPL 2022.

"From Virat, I would pick his aggression, passion and energy, which is tremendous. With Mahi bhai, I would pick the composed nature. From Rohit, I'll let the players decide what they want to do. These three qualities I'll take from them and bring here," Pandya told Cricbuzz.

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to embark on a new journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he gears up to lead the Ahmedabad franchise in the upcoming 2022 edition of the tournament.

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is all set to embark on a new journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he gears up to lead the Ahmedabad franchise in the upcoming 2022 edition of the tournament. Hardik was released by Mumbai Indians last year before being picked by the Ahmedabad franchise as one of their three picks from the player draft. Hardik will be turning up for a new team for the first time in his IPL career since making his debut in the T20 league in 2015. The all-rounder has not enjoyed the best of form over the past couple of years owing to his fitness issues. Pandya has faced a lot of struggles ever since undergoing a back surgery in 2019 and has refrained from bowling. He didn't bowl at all for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021 last year and bowled only a handful of overs for the Indian team during the T20 World Cup 2021. However, the all-rounder has been working hard on his fitness after opting for a break post the T20 World Cup last year and is looking to make a strong return to the pitch. While Hardik is yet to make himself available for selection in the Indian team, he is all set to lead Ahmedabad in IPL 2022. When asked if he will be bowling for his new team in the upcoming season, the star all-rounder remained coy. "It's a surprise for everyone," he told Cricbuzz. Also Read: Warner, Iyer, Rabada and 7 others part of marquee set at IPL 2022 mega auction, see full list Hardik has asked the selectors not to pick him as he has been working on returning to bowling regularly. The all-rounder said he has always liked to contribute with the bat and the ball and will not settle for playing purely as a batter going forward. With a T20 World Cup lined up later this year, Pandya's bowling will be crucial for his chances in the Indian team. "It's been challenging. I've always been someone who contributes with the bat, ball and on the field. When I decided I will just bat, I wanted to spend some time on the ground. We all love challenges and I love to fight it out. Criticism is good and it doesn't really bother me. For me, results do matter but I work hard for the process," said Pandya. "I've always realised that as an allrounder I give a lot of different options to the team. I'll try to work on being an allrounder and if something doesn't work out then my batting is always there. But Hardik Pandya combined with both bat and ball, it sounds better than just a batter," he added. Also Read: Complete list of 590 players to go under the hammer at the IPL 2022 mega auction Pandya also spoke about learning from the likes of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having learned by playing under them in the Indian team and the Indian Premier League. Hardik wants to implement different qualities from the trio in his own captaincy style when he leads Ahmedabad in IPL 2022. "From Virat, I would pick his aggression, passion and energy, which is tremendous. With Mahi bhai, I would pick the composed nature. From Rohit, I'll let the players decide what they want to do. These three qualities I'll take from them and bring here," Pandya told Cricbuzz.

'It's a surprise': Hardik Pandya on whether he will bowl or not for Ahmedabad franchise in IPL 2022

The Ahmedabad Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise revealed their final three picks from the players draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction on Friday (January 21). The Ahmedabad IPL franchise has roped in star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, ace spinner Rashid Khan and young India batter Shubman Gill ahead of the auction.

The two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad had been given the right to pick a maximum of three players each ahead of the mega auction after the existing eight teams revealed the list of the players retained by them. While Ahmedabad have picked Hardik, Rashid and Shubman, the Lucknow team has picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi.

The Ahmedabad franchise has picked Hardik and Rashid as their top players at the price of Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) each. Shubman will be earning a staggering amount of Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million) per season with the team. While Hardik was part of the Mumbai Indians squad last season, Rashid and Shubman represented Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively.

Hardik had made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2015 and played an instrumental role in their success over the years before his seven-year-long stint with the franchise ended this year. Hardik has been one of the best all-rounders in the league over the years with 1476 runs and 42 wickets in 92 IPL matches.

Rashid, on the other hand, made his IPL debut in 2017, had played only for Sunrisers Hyderabad till now and will be part of a new team from the upcoming season. Many had been left surprised when Rashid was not retained by the Sunrisers before it was revealed he wanted to be retained as the first-choice player for an amount of Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million).

However, SRH wanted their skipper Kane Williamson to be the first-choice retention. They went on to keep Williamson and released Rashid ahead of the mega auction. Rashid has been one of the best bowlers in the IPL since his debut in 2017 and has an impressive 93 wickets to his name in 76 IPL matches.

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Gill too has played only for Kolkata Knight Riders so far in the IPL and will be playing for a new team first time this year. He was picked by KKR for a sum of Rs 1.8 crore (INR 18 million) ahead of IPL 2018 and has since made a name for himself with his consistent performance.

He will be now earning more than four times what he was at KKR with his Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million) contract with the Ahmedabad team. Gill has 1417 runs in 58 IPL matches. Former India head coach Gary Kirsten and former India pacer Ashish Nehra will be part of the team's backroom staff.

The Ahmedabad Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise revealed their final three picks from the players draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction on Friday (January 21).

The Ahmedabad Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise revealed their final three picks from the players draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction on Friday (January 21). The Ahmedabad IPL franchise has roped in star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, ace spinner Rashid Khan and young India batter Shubman Gill ahead of the auction. The two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad had been given the right to pick a maximum of three players each ahead of the mega auction after the existing eight teams revealed the list of the players retained by them. While Ahmedabad have picked Hardik, Rashid and Shubman, the Lucknow team has picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi. The Ahmedabad franchise has picked Hardik and Rashid as their top players at the price of Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) each. Shubman will be earning a staggering amount of Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million) per season with the team. While Hardik was part of the Mumbai Indians squad last season, Rashid and Shubman represented Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively. Hardik had made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2015 and played an instrumental role in their success over the years before his seven-year-long stint with the franchise ended this year. Hardik has been one of the best all-rounders in the league over the years with 1476 runs and 42 wickets in 92 IPL matches. Rashid, on the other hand, made his IPL debut in 2017, had played only for Sunrisers Hyderabad till now and will be part of a new team from the upcoming season. Many had been left surprised when Rashid was not retained by the Sunrisers before it was revealed he wanted to be retained as the first-choice player for an amount of Rs 16 crore (INR 160 million). However, SRH wanted their skipper Kane Williamson to be the first-choice retention. They went on to keep Williamson and released Rashid ahead of the mega auction. Rashid has been one of the best bowlers in the IPL since his debut in 2017 and has an impressive 93 wickets to his name in 76 IPL matches. Also Read: Lucknow franchise rope in KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction Gill too has played only for Kolkata Knight Riders so far in the IPL and will be playing for a new team first time this year. He was picked by KKR for a sum of Rs 1.8 crore (INR 18 million) ahead of IPL 2018 and has since made a name for himself with his consistent performance. He will be now earning more than four times what he was at KKR with his Rs 8 crore (INR 80 million) contract with the Ahmedabad team. Gill has 1417 runs in 58 IPL matches. Former India head coach Gary Kirsten and former India pacer Ashish Nehra will be part of the team's backroom staff.

Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill join Ahmedabad IPL team ahead of mega auction

The Ahmedabad franchise has reportedly finalised their draft picks ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction. The Ahmedabad franchise was bought by CVC Capital Partners in October last year and are one of the two new teams set to be part of the IPL from the 2022 edition of the tournament.

Ahead of the mega auction which will see all ten teams build their squad almost from scratch, the two new teams have been given the option to pick a maximum of three players each. While the existing eight teams had the choice of retaining up to four players, Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises can pick three players each in the draft ahead of the mega auction.

As per a report in ESPN Cricinfo, Ahmedabad are all set to rope in star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan and young Indian batter Shubman Gill ahead of the mega auction.

As per the rules set by the BCCI, the new franchises can spend Rs 15 crore, Rs 11 crore and Rs 7 crore on three players respectively, however, the Ahmedabad franchise has decided to pay both Hardik and Rashid Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) each while Gill will be paid Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million).

As per the report, Hardik is also set to be appointed as the captain of the Ahmedabad franchise. The all-rounder was released by Mumbai Indians on retention day. He has played only for Mumbai Indians so far in the IPL but will be turning out for a new team ahead of the new season.

Hardik, who has 1476 runs and 42 wickets to his name in 92 IPL matches, played an instrumental role in Mumbai Indians' success since joining the side in the 2015 season. Rashid, on the other hand, has been one of the best bowlers in the IPL since his arrival in the league in 2017. He has picked up 93 wickets in 76 matches at an economy rate of just 6.33.

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Gill, who was roped in by KKR in the IPL auction in 2018, was deemed as a future leader of the side. However, he was let go of by the franchise this year. The talented right-hander has 1417 runs in 58 IPL matches at an average of over 31 and is one of the rising stars of Indian cricket.

The report also states that the Ahmedabad IPL franchise has finalised its coaching staff which will be headed by former India pacer Ashish Nehra, who is likely to be the head coach of the team. Former India head coach Gary Kirsten is set to be roped in as a mentor while former India batter&nbsp;&nbsp;Vikram Solanki will be the batting coach of the team.

The Ahmedabad franchise has reportedly finalised their draft picks ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction. The Ahmedabad franchise was bought by CVC Capital Partners in October last year and are one of the two new teams set to be part of the IPL from the 2022 edition of the tournament.

The Ahmedabad franchise has reportedly finalised their draft picks ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction. The Ahmedabad franchise was bought by CVC Capital Partners in October last year and are one of the two new teams set to be part of the IPL from the 2022 edition of the tournament. Ahead of the mega auction which will see all ten teams build their squad almost from scratch, the two new teams have been given the option to pick a maximum of three players each. While the existing eight teams had the choice of retaining up to four players, Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises can pick three players each in the draft ahead of the mega auction. As per a report in ESPN Cricinfo, Ahmedabad are all set to rope in star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan and young Indian batter Shubman Gill ahead of the mega auction. As per the rules set by the BCCI, the new franchises can spend Rs 15 crore, Rs 11 crore and Rs 7 crore on three players respectively, however, the Ahmedabad franchise has decided to pay both Hardik and Rashid Rs 15 crore (INR 150 million) each while Gill will be paid Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million). As per the report, Hardik is also set to be appointed as the captain of the Ahmedabad franchise. The all-rounder was released by Mumbai Indians on retention day. He has played only for Mumbai Indians so far in the IPL but will be turning out for a new team ahead of the new season. Hardik, who has 1476 runs and 42 wickets to his name in 92 IPL matches, played an instrumental role in Mumbai Indians' success since joining the side in the 2015 season. Rashid, on the other hand, has been one of the best bowlers in the IPL since his arrival in the league in 2017. He has picked up 93 wickets in 76 matches at an economy rate of just 6.33. Also Read: Ben Stokes, Pat Cummins and other top England, Australia players in doubt over entering IPL mega auction Gill, who was roped in by KKR in the IPL auction in 2018, was deemed as a future leader of the side. However, he was let go of by the franchise this year. The talented right-hander has 1417 runs in 58 IPL matches at an average of over 31 and is one of the rising stars of Indian cricket. The report also states that the Ahmedabad IPL franchise has finalised its coaching staff which will be headed by former India pacer Ashish Nehra, who is likely to be the head coach of the team. Former India head coach Gary Kirsten is set to be roped in as a mentor while former India batter Vikram Solanki will be the batting coach of the team.

Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill set to join Ahmedabad franchise ahead of IPL 2022 - Report

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra is reportedly set to become the head coach of the Ahmedabad IPL franchise from the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League. Ahmedabad and Lucknow are the two new teams set to become part of the competition from this year. The new teams have already started making the right moves ahead of the mega auction as they aim to build strong squads for their debut season.

While the Lucknow IPL team has already confirmed the arrival of Andy Flower as the head coach and former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir as the mentor of the side, the Ahmedabad franchise has also reportedly selected their backroom staff ahead of the new season. The Ahmedabad franchise is likely to rope in Nehra as their head coach and former India coach Gary Kirsten as the mentor of the team.

Former England batter Vikram Solanki is reportedly set to be the 'Director of Cricket' and will also serve as the batting coach of the team. The Ahmedabad franchise has not made the appointments official yet as they continue to wait for the formal 'Letter of Intent' (LOI) from BCCI after the conclusion of the investigation surrounding their investments in betting firms in the UK.

"As far as I have heard, they have signed Ashish as their head coach and someone who would be in overall charge of the franchise. Solanki will be the 'Director of Cricket' and also expected to double up as batting coach and Kirsten will be in a mentorship role," a senior IPL source was quoted as saying by PTI.

"The Ahmedabad franchise can't announce it formally as it is a BCCI diktat and they can only make a formal announcement after they get the Letter Of Intent. The head honchos of the Ahmedabad franchise has already interviewed the trio and short-listed them for the season," the source added.

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The Ahmedabad franchise is expected to receive the LOI for their ownership of the team later this month. The two new teams can pick a maximum of three players in the draft ahead of the mega auction. It remains to be seen who will Ahmedabad franchise rope in ahead of the auction.

The mega auction for the 2022 IPL season is all set to be conducted in February. A number of star players will go under the hammer at the auction which is expected to be a blockbuster affair.

&nbsp;

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra is reportedly set to become the head coach of the Ahmedabad IPL franchise from the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League. Ahmedabad and Lucknow are the two new teams set to become part of the competition from this year.

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra is reportedly set to become the head coach of the Ahmedabad IPL franchise from the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League. Ahmedabad and Lucknow are the two new teams set to become part of the competition from this year. The new teams have already started making the right moves ahead of the mega auction as they aim to build strong squads for their debut season. While the Lucknow IPL team has already confirmed the arrival of Andy Flower as the head coach and former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir as the mentor of the side, the Ahmedabad franchise has also reportedly selected their backroom staff ahead of the new season. The Ahmedabad franchise is likely to rope in Nehra as their head coach and former India coach Gary Kirsten as the mentor of the team. Former England batter Vikram Solanki is reportedly set to be the 'Director of Cricket' and will also serve as the batting coach of the team. The Ahmedabad franchise has not made the appointments official yet as they continue to wait for the formal 'Letter of Intent' (LOI) from BCCI after the conclusion of the investigation surrounding their investments in betting firms in the UK. "As far as I have heard, they have signed Ashish as their head coach and someone who would be in overall charge of the franchise. Solanki will be the 'Director of Cricket' and also expected to double up as batting coach and Kirsten will be in a mentorship role," a senior IPL source was quoted as saying by PTI. "The Ahmedabad franchise can't announce it formally as it is a BCCI diktat and they can only make a formal announcement after they get the Letter Of Intent. The head honchos of the Ahmedabad franchise has already interviewed the trio and short-listed them for the season," the source added. Also Read: From Rahul to Iyer: 5 potential captaincy candidates for new IPL teams Lucknow and Ahmedabad The Ahmedabad franchise is expected to receive the LOI for their ownership of the team later this month. The two new teams can pick a maximum of three players in the draft ahead of the mega auction. It remains to be seen who will Ahmedabad franchise rope in ahead of the auction. The mega auction for the 2022 IPL season is all set to be conducted in February. A number of star players will go under the hammer at the auction which is expected to be a blockbuster affair.

Ahmedabad IPL franchise likely to rope in Ashish Nehra as head coach, Gary Kirsten to be mentor - Report

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to become a ten-team tournament from the 2022 season with the inclusion of two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad. While the existing eight IPL teams have already revealed the list of retained players ahead of the mega auction which is set to take place before the start of the new season, Lucknow and Ahmedabad have been given the right to pick three players each from the pool of non-retained players.

While both Lucknow and Ahmedabad IPL franchises will be looking to pick quality players from the pool of the non-retained ones ahead of the mega auction, they would also be looking to secure the signing of their respective captains. Both Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises will be on the lookout for captaincy candidates who can be picked before the mega auction to build the team around them.

A number of top Indian and overseas players have been let go of by their respective franchises who can become the future leaders of the two new IPL teams. The likes of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer among others will be on the radar of not just the two new teams but several others, who will be looking to get a new captain ahead of the new season.

Here is a look at 5 potential captaincy candidates for two new IPL teams:

KL Rahul&nbsp;

KL Rahul is one of the favourites to take over as the captain of the Lucknow IPL team and is reportedly in negotiations with the franchise after leaving Punjab Kings. Rahul has been reportedly offered a staggering deal of Rs 20 crore (INR 200 million) per year to join the Lucknow team ahead of the new season.

One of the best Indian batters in the IPL over the last few years, Rahul led Punjab for two seasons in 2020 and 2021. While he was consistent with the bat on the personal front, Rahul failed to inspire his side to playoffs in both seasons. Nonetheless, he has been one of the best batters in the league for the last few years and is a great captaincy prospect for both the new teams.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rashid-khan-to-ben-stokes-top-5-overseas-players-released-by-their-teams-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-433867">Rashid Khan to Ben Stokes: Top 5 overseas players released by their teams ahead of IPL mega auction</a>

Shreyas Iyer

Another Indian star, who has the experience of captaining an IPL team, Shreyas Iyer will also be on the radar of the two new teams for the captaincy role. Iyer left Delhi Capitals in search of a leadership role after leading the franchise for two and a half seasons. Iyer helped DC make it to their first final in 2020 and was exceptional as a leader.&nbsp;

His stature in the IPL has grown over the years and it won't be a surprise if an IPL team ropes him in as their new skipper. Iyer has plenty of experience behind his back having played 87 matches in IPL. He has 2375 runs to his name at an average of over 31.

David Warner&nbsp;

One of the best overseas batters in the league over the years, David Warner was released by his former team Sunrisers Hyderabad after a fallout during IPL 2021. Warner was sacked from captaincy midway through the IPL 2021 before being dropped from the playing XI by SRH. He remains the only captain to have led SRH to an IPL title in 2016 and will be a strong captaincy contender for both the new teams as well as some other franchises.

While he has a plethora of experience as a captain, Warner has been a consistent performer as a batter in the IPL. He has the highest runs among the overseas batters in the history of the league and fifth overall with 5449 runs in 150 games at a stunning average of over 41.

Steve Smith&nbsp;

Steve Smith has not had great campaigns in the IPL in the last few years but he remains an experienced leader who is capable of taking over the captaincy role for a top IPL side considering his experience and pedigree. Smith has led Rising Pune Supergiant and Rajasthan Royals in the past.&nbsp;

He had led Rising Pune Supergiant to their maiden final in the 2017 season where they lost against Mumbai Indians just by 1 run. Smith has been part of the IPL since 2012 and the former Australia skipper can be a great leader for any team. He has 2485 runs to his name in 103 IPL matches at an average of over 34.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-rs-20-lakh-to-8-crore-indian-youngsters-who-earned-massive-salary-hikes-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-434151">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-rs-20-lakh-to-8-crore-indian-youngsters-who-earned-massive-salary-hikes-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-434151">From Rs 20 lakh to 8 crore! Youngsters who earned massive salary hikes ahead of IPL mega auction</a>

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes managed to play just one game for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021 as he injured his finger in the opening game of the season before flying back home. One of the best all-rounders in the world at present, Stokes has been released by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the mega auction and can trigger a bidding war at the auction table.

He is also an ideal candidate for captaincy with the kind of experience he possesses. Stokes is a crucial player for England across formats and has been amazing as an all-rounder. He has 920 runs and 28 wickets to his name in 43 IPL matches.

&nbsp;

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to become a ten-team tournament from the 2022 season with the inclusion of two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad. While the existing eight IPL teams have already revealed the list of retained players ahead of the mega auction which is set to take place before the start of the new season, Lucknow and Ahmedabad have been given the right to pick three players each from the pool of non-retained players.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to become a ten-team tournament from the 2022 season with the inclusion of two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad. While the existing eight IPL teams have already revealed the list of retained players ahead of the mega auction which is set to take place before the start of the new season, Lucknow and Ahmedabad have been given the right to pick three players each from the pool of non-retained players. While both Lucknow and Ahmedabad IPL franchises will be looking to pick quality players from the pool of the non-retained ones ahead of the mega auction, they would also be looking to secure the signing of their respective captains. Both Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises will be on the lookout for captaincy candidates who can be picked before the mega auction to build the team around them. A number of top Indian and overseas players have been let go of by their respective franchises who can become the future leaders of the two new IPL teams. The likes of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer among others will be on the radar of not just the two new teams but several others, who will be looking to get a new captain ahead of the new season. Here is a look at 5 potential captaincy candidates for two new IPL teams: KL Rahul KL Rahul is one of the favourites to take over as the captain of the Lucknow IPL team and is reportedly in negotiations with the franchise after leaving Punjab Kings. Rahul has been reportedly offered a staggering deal of Rs 20 crore (INR 200 million) per year to join the Lucknow team ahead of the new season. One of the best Indian batters in the IPL over the last few years, Rahul led Punjab for two seasons in 2020 and 2021. While he was consistent with the bat on the personal front, Rahul failed to inspire his side to playoffs in both seasons. Nonetheless, he has been one of the best batters in the league for the last few years and is a great captaincy prospect for both the new teams. Also Read: Rashid Khan to Ben Stokes: Top 5 overseas players released by their teams ahead of IPL mega auction Shreyas Iyer Another Indian star, who has the experience of captaining an IPL team, Shreyas Iyer will also be on the radar of the two new teams for the captaincy role. Iyer left Delhi Capitals in search of a leadership role after leading the franchise for two and a half seasons. Iyer helped DC make it to their first final in 2020 and was exceptional as a leader. His stature in the IPL has grown over the years and it won't be a surprise if an IPL team ropes him in as their new skipper. Iyer has plenty of experience behind his back having played 87 matches in IPL. He has 2375 runs to his name at an average of over 31. David Warner One of the best overseas batters in the league over the years, David Warner was released by his former team Sunrisers Hyderabad after a fallout during IPL 2021. Warner was sacked from captaincy midway through the IPL 2021 before being dropped from the playing XI by SRH. He remains the only captain to have led SRH to an IPL title in 2016 and will be a strong captaincy contender for both the new teams as well as some other franchises. While he has a plethora of experience as a captain, Warner has been a consistent performer as a batter in the IPL. He has the highest runs among the overseas batters in the history of the league and fifth overall with 5449 runs in 150 games at a stunning average of over 41. Steve Smith Steve Smith has not had great campaigns in the IPL in the last few years but he remains an experienced leader who is capable of taking over the captaincy role for a top IPL side considering his experience and pedigree. Smith has led Rising Pune Supergiant and Rajasthan Royals in the past. He had led Rising Pune Supergiant to their maiden final in the 2017 season where they lost against Mumbai Indians just by 1 run. Smith has been part of the IPL since 2012 and the former Australia skipper can be a great leader for any team. He has 2485 runs to his name in 103 IPL matches at an average of over 34. Also Read: From Rs 20 lakh to 8 crore! Youngsters who earned massive salary hikes ahead of IPL mega auction Ben Stokes Ben Stokes managed to play just one game for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021 as he injured his finger in the opening game of the season before flying back home. One of the best all-rounders in the world at present, Stokes has been released by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the mega auction and can trigger a bidding war at the auction table. He is also an ideal candidate for captaincy with the kind of experience he possesses. Stokes is a crucial player for England across formats and has been amazing as an all-rounder. He has 920 runs and 28 wickets to his name in 43 IPL matches.

From KL Rahul to Shreyas Iyer: 5 potential captaincy candidates for new IPL teams Lucknow and Ahmedabad

Australian star batter David Warner has hinted at entering the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction ahead of the 2022 season after being released by Surisers Hyderabad (SRH). Warner had a fall out with SRH during IPL 2021 which culminated in his exit from the franchise as they decided to retain skipper Kane Williamson, and uncapped players Abdul Samad and Umran Malik.

Warner has been one of the best overseas batters in the IPL over the years and has notched up runs consistently one season after another. He is currently the top run-getter among overseas batters and the 5th highest run-getter overall in the history of IPL with 5449 runs from 150 matches at a stunning average of over 41.

The Aussie batter is also coming off a brilliant campaign for Australia in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021 where he had notched up 289 runs in seven matches to bag the Player of the Tournament award. Considering his experience and recent form, Warner was expected to be picked by one of the two new IPL teams - Ahmedabad and Lucknow - who are both allowed to pick a maximum of three players from the pool of non-retained players ahead of the mega auction.

The two new teams can retain a maximum of two Indians and one overseas player. However, Warner has hinted that he will not be joining any of the two new teams and is likely to head into the mega auction. Replying to a fan on Instagram, he hinted at entering the upcoming auction.&nbsp;

Check out David Warner's reply:

<img alt="David Warner on IPL mega auction" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b421dadc-f26d-48a6-9a78-e970387bcb26" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Warner%20IPL%20auction.png" />

Warner was sacked from captaincy by SRH midway through the IPL 2021 season after a poor start by the team in the first leg of the tournament. He was later dropped completely from the playing XI after the first game of the second leg of the season in the UAE and managed to make only eight appearances for the team.

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It was one of the worst seasons in the history of IPL for Warner, who remains the only captain to have led SRH to an IPL title. He is likely to trigger a bidding war at the auction table if Warner enters the mega auction as a number of teams will be on the lookout for a captaincy candidate.

Australian star batter David Warner has hinted at entering the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction ahead of the 2022 season after being released by Surisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Australian star batter David Warner has hinted at entering the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction ahead of the 2022 season after being released by Surisers Hyderabad (SRH). Warner had a fall out with SRH during IPL 2021 which culminated in his exit from the franchise as they decided to retain skipper Kane Williamson, and uncapped players Abdul Samad and Umran Malik. Warner has been one of the best overseas batters in the IPL over the years and has notched up runs consistently one season after another. He is currently the top run-getter among overseas batters and the 5th highest run-getter overall in the history of IPL with 5449 runs from 150 matches at a stunning average of over 41. The Aussie batter is also coming off a brilliant campaign for Australia in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2021 where he had notched up 289 runs in seven matches to bag the Player of the Tournament award. Considering his experience and recent form, Warner was expected to be picked by one of the two new IPL teams - Ahmedabad and Lucknow - who are both allowed to pick a maximum of three players from the pool of non-retained players ahead of the mega auction. The two new teams can retain a maximum of two Indians and one overseas player. However, Warner has hinted that he will not be joining any of the two new teams and is likely to head into the mega auction. Replying to a fan on Instagram, he hinted at entering the upcoming auction. Check out David Warner's reply: Warner was sacked from captaincy by SRH midway through the IPL 2021 season after a poor start by the team in the first leg of the tournament. He was later dropped completely from the playing XI after the first game of the second leg of the season in the UAE and managed to make only eight appearances for the team. Also Read: From Rs 20 lakh to 8 crore! Indian youngsters who earned massive salary hikes ahead of IPL mega auction It was one of the worst seasons in the history of IPL for Warner, who remains the only captain to have led SRH to an IPL title. He is likely to trigger a bidding war at the auction table if Warner enters the mega auction as a number of teams will be on the lookout for a captaincy candidate.

'Auction I guess': David Warner unlikely to be picked by two new IPL teams, hints at entering mega auction

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has still not given the Letter of Intent to American company Irelia Co Pvt Ltd (CVC Capital Partners), who were awarded the franchise rights of the newly inducted Ahmedabad team for the next season of the Indian Premier League. 
 
IPL will be a ten-team affair from the 2022 season with the introduction of two new teams based at Ahmedabad and Lucknow. RPSG, made the winning bid of Rs 7,090 crore to acquire the Lucknow franchise while CVC Capital Partners was awarded the Ahmedabad franchise for a bid of Rs. 5,625 crore. 
 
However, questions are being raised about CVC for its business interests in betting firms in the international market.

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According to past press statements issued by CVC Capital Partners, it acquired a majority stake in Malta-headquartered betting operators Tipico, which has a major base in Germany too, in 2016 after taking a controlling stake in UK`s Sky Betting and Gaming in 2014. Notably, betting is legal in those regions. But, none of these entities have business operations in India, where betting is illegal. 
 
In the latest development, CVC`s successful bid to win the Ahmedabad franchise of the IPL has gone into negotiations with the company trying to explain to the BCCI officials that its investment in a UK betting firm, which has become a bone of contention, is not illegal. 
 
As a result, there has been a delay in BCCI giving the Letter of Intent, which has already been submitted to the RPSG Group of Sanjiv Goenka, who has successfully bagged the Lucknow franchise.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-confirms-retention-policy-for-ipl-2022-existing-teams-can-retain-4-3-picks-for-new-sides-report-425350">BCCI confirms retention policy for IPL 2022: Existing teams can retain 4, 3 picks for new sides - Report</a> 
 
According to a report in Cricbuzz, the top CVC officials have flown to India and to Dubai as well, to have talks with the BCCI office-bearers and officials. The legal team of the BCCI is also looking into the CVC files and there is a chance that a committee could be formed to adjudicate on the matter. 
 
The report further stated that the bidding parties were told on October 25, when the auction had taken place in Dubai, that there may be a full-scale study of their business roots as it was not possible to go through all the papers on that day itself. The BCCI had given itself time up to December 31 for the second round of due diligence, if needed. 
 
Meanwhile, CVC is confident that the matter will be settled in their favour. The people close to the American company claim that most major foreign companies, including one of the stakeholders of the BCCI, may have made investments in the betting companies and that is not unusual.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has still not given the Letter of Intent to American company Irelia Co Pvt Ltd (CVC Capital Partners), who were awarded the franchise rights of the newly inducted Ahmedabad team for the next season of the Indian Premier League.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has still not given the Letter of Intent to American company Irelia Co Pvt Ltd (CVC Capital Partners), who were awarded the franchise rights of the newly inducted Ahmedabad team for the next season of the Indian Premier League. IPL will be a ten-team affair from the 2022 season with the introduction of two new teams based at Ahmedabad and Lucknow. RPSG, made the winning bid of Rs 7,090 crore to acquire the Lucknow franchise while CVC Capital Partners was awarded the Ahmedabad franchise for a bid of Rs. 5,625 crore. However, questions are being raised about CVC for its business interests in betting firms in the international market. ALSO READ: Former Aussie spin wizard predicts next IPL franchise for David Warner post his T20 WC blitz According to past press statements issued by CVC Capital Partners, it acquired a majority stake in Malta-headquartered betting operators Tipico, which has a major base in Germany too, in 2016 after taking a controlling stake in UK`s Sky Betting and Gaming in 2014. Notably, betting is legal in those regions. But, none of these entities have business operations in India, where betting is illegal. In the latest development, CVC`s successful bid to win the Ahmedabad franchise of the IPL has gone into negotiations with the company trying to explain to the BCCI officials that its investment in a UK betting firm, which has become a bone of contention, is not illegal. As a result, there has been a delay in BCCI giving the Letter of Intent, which has already been submitted to the RPSG Group of Sanjiv Goenka, who has successfully bagged the Lucknow franchise. ALSO READ: BCCI confirms retention policy for IPL 2022: Existing teams can retain 4, 3 picks for new sides - Report According to a report in Cricbuzz, the top CVC officials have flown to India and to Dubai as well, to have talks with the BCCI office-bearers and officials. The legal team of the BCCI is also looking into the CVC files and there is a chance that a committee could be formed to adjudicate on the matter. The report further stated that the bidding parties were told on October 25, when the auction had taken place in Dubai, that there may be a full-scale study of their business roots as it was not possible to go through all the papers on that day itself. The BCCI had given itself time up to December 31 for the second round of due diligence, if needed. Meanwhile, CVC is confident that the matter will be settled in their favour. The people close to the American company claim that most major foreign companies, including one of the stakeholders of the BCCI, may have made investments in the betting companies and that is not unusual.

BCCI yet to give Letter of Intent to Ahmedabad IPL franchise owners over association with betting firm

India head coach Ravi Shastri is all set to step down from his post after the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. With Rahul Dravid already named his successor as the new head coach of the Indian team, Shastri might continue in a coaching role in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Though he has not coached an IPL team before, Shastri has reportedly been approached by the Ahmedabad franchise for the 2022 season.

The Ahmedabad franchise will be one of the two new teams who will be included in the competition from next year making IPL a ten-team affair. As per a report in Cricbuzz, CVC Capitals, the owners of the Ahmedabad franchise are likely to rope in Shastri and two other members of his current support staff in the Indian team - bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar.

The report stated that the owners of the Ahmedabad team approached Shastri recently in Dubai. However, the India head coach is currently focused on the Virat Kohli-led side's campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 and will take a decision only after the conclusion of the showpiece event. He has sought time till the end of the World Cup to decide if he wants a coaching role in the IPL.

A noted commentator, Shastri reportedly also has offers from major broadcasters over a return to commentary. However, he will not be able to work as a commentator for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) if he accepts an offer from an IPL team. He can work with a broadcaster despite being associated with an IPL side.

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Shastri was appointed as the full-time head coach of the Indian team on an initial contract of two years. His contract was renewed till the T20 World Cup 2021 after the conclusion of the ODI World Cup in 2019. Under Shastri, India are yet to win a major ICC trophy but have registered some memorable series wins both at home and away from home, including back-to-back Test series wins in Australia.

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India head coach Ravi Shastri is all set to step down from his post after the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. With Rahul Dravid already named his successor as the new head coach of the Indian team, Shastri might continue in a coaching role in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

India head coach Ravi Shastri is all set to step down from his post after the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. With Rahul Dravid already named his successor as the new head coach of the Indian team, Shastri might continue in a coaching role in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Though he has not coached an IPL team before, Shastri has reportedly been approached by the Ahmedabad franchise for the 2022 season. The Ahmedabad franchise will be one of the two new teams who will be included in the competition from next year making IPL a ten-team affair. As per a report in Cricbuzz, CVC Capitals, the owners of the Ahmedabad franchise are likely to rope in Shastri and two other members of his current support staff in the Indian team - bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar. The report stated that the owners of the Ahmedabad team approached Shastri recently in Dubai. However, the India head coach is currently focused on the Virat Kohli-led side's campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 and will take a decision only after the conclusion of the showpiece event. He has sought time till the end of the World Cup to decide if he wants a coaching role in the IPL. A noted commentator, Shastri reportedly also has offers from major broadcasters over a return to commentary. However, he will not be able to work as a commentator for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) if he accepts an offer from an IPL team. He can work with a broadcaster despite being associated with an IPL side. Also Read: 'Checked for sandpaper': Barmy Army takes a dig at Warner as Gayle touches his pocket Shastri was appointed as the full-time head coach of the Indian team on an initial contract of two years. His contract was renewed till the T20 World Cup 2021 after the conclusion of the ODI World Cup in 2019. Under Shastri, India are yet to win a major ICC trophy but have registered some memorable series wins both at home and away from home, including back-to-back Test series wins in Australia. ×

Ravi Shastri to coach an IPL team? Ahmedabad franchise approach outgoing India head coach - Report

The 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a 10-team affair and the two new inducted teams, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, are likely to target T20 stars -- David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya and Surya Kumar Yadav, among others to make a solid team and loyal fan base. 
 
The Lucknow IPL team was bought by RPSG Group for Rs. 7,090 crore, while CVC Capital Partners paid Rs 5,625 cr for the Ahmedabad team. 
 
Though it's not official yet, the eight existing IPL teams are likely to retain a maximum of four players and the two new franchises will be able to acquire three players from the rest of the player pool via drafts before the 2022 auction. Also, unlike the previous big auction ahead of the 2018 season, there could be no right-to-match cards (RTM) at the auction. 
 
As per ESPNCricinfo, these were among the rules discussed informally this week between the IPL organisers and the franchises. 
 
As far as the three players going to the two new franchises, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, is concerned, the IPL is mulling over a combination of two Indian players and one overseas. However, it is still not clear whether these players will need to be picked strictly from the group of players not retained by the existing franchises, or can be from the larger auction pool -- which will have new additions -- ahead of the 2022 auction.

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If the two new franchises are allowed to pick only from the group of players not retained by the other eight, then a player-draft system is likely to be put in place. 
 
Notably, which cricketers plays for whom could make or break the franchises` fan base as well as the team combination. And there is a strong possibility of some big names such as David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Surya Kumar Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar being up for grabs via drafts this time. 
 
Lucknow: 
 
David Warner: RPSG Group, who now owns Lucknow, had bought the Pune franchise for two years in 2016. In those two years, they had appointed experienced captains in MS Dhoni and Steve Smith for one year each. 
 
An attacking opener as well as an experienced captain like Warner could be a perfect choice for the owners to lead Lucknow. And, considering the short boundaries and flat pitch of the Ekana Stadium, the Australian could be a sure-shot match-winner for the franchise. 
 
Surya Kumar Yadav: Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Kieron Pollard will be the three automatic picks for retention for Mumbai Indians. There could be a discussion between Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan for the fourth slot. With Kishan being the wicketkeeper-batsman and age also on his side, Surya Kumar could be left out of the Mumbai team. 
 
If Surya becomes a free agent, Lucknow owners can convince him to be a part of the franchise. Though he plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket, the batsman`s father belongs to Varanasi, UP. Lucknow can also make him the captain, considering his cool and composed nature as well as his ability to bat at different positions.

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar &amp; Suresh Raina: Though Raina and Bhuvi are not in their prime in terms of performance, they are still bankable players, especially in Indian conditions and the IPL. Raina has been an IPL legend and all his success has come at the Chennai Super Kings. But, the MS Dhoni-led team is unlikely to retain him this time. On the other hand, SRH is also likely to part ways with Bhuvneshwar considering a dip in his bowling form. 
 
In that case, both Raina and Bhuvi, who belong to UP, can also be seen playing from the home state franchise. Apart from their on-field performance, both can be an asset for the franchise in terms of their fan base, and marketing as locals will have a deep connection with state boys. 
 
Ahmedabad: 
 
Hardik Pandya: Given his lacklustre performance and fitness concern, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely to be sent back into the IPL auction pool by Mumbai Indians. In that case, Ahmedabad owners can latch onto the opportunity and bring Pandya in their team.

Hardik, a Gujarat boy, will bring all the flamboyance, his all-rounder ability and a lot of eye-balls for the franchise as well. 
 
Shreyas Iyer: The Gujarat-based franchise will need a captain to lead and they may approach and target Shreyas Iyer for that role. Iyer is unlikely to be a part of the Delhi Capitals set-up in IPL 2022 and a young talented India batter and captain will be a perfect billing for Ahmedabad. Notably, Iyer led Delhi to the play-offs twice, including its maiden final appearance during the 2020 season.

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KL Rahul: Rahul was sensational for Punjab Kings in IPL 2021, finishing as its highest run-scorer. Despite his dominating performance with the bat, he has failed to lead the side to playoffs since taking the captaincy role. As of now, there is no clarity if he would be retained by the side. If Rahul is not retained by Punjab then Ahmedabad can approach and convince the star opener to play for their franchise.

The 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a 10-team affair and the two new inducted teams, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, are likely to target T20 stars -- David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya and Surya Kumar Yadav, among others to make a solid team and loyal fan base.

The 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a 10-team affair and the two new inducted teams, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, are likely to target T20 stars -- David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya and Surya Kumar Yadav, among others to make a solid team and loyal fan base. The Lucknow IPL team was bought by RPSG Group for Rs. 7,090 crore, while CVC Capital Partners paid Rs 5,625 cr for the Ahmedabad team. Though it's not official yet, the eight existing IPL teams are likely to retain a maximum of four players and the two new franchises will be able to acquire three players from the rest of the player pool via drafts before the 2022 auction. Also, unlike the previous big auction ahead of the 2018 season, there could be no right-to-match cards (RTM) at the auction. As per ESPNCricinfo, these were among the rules discussed informally this week between the IPL organisers and the franchises. As far as the three players going to the two new franchises, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, is concerned, the IPL is mulling over a combination of two Indian players and one overseas. However, it is still not clear whether these players will need to be picked strictly from the group of players not retained by the existing franchises, or can be from the larger auction pool -- which will have new additions -- ahead of the 2022 auction. Also Read: Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's record to achieve massive T20I milestone If the two new franchises are allowed to pick only from the group of players not retained by the other eight, then a player-draft system is likely to be put in place. Notably, which cricketers plays for whom could make or break the franchises` fan base as well as the team combination. And there is a strong possibility of some big names such as David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Surya Kumar Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar being up for grabs via drafts this time. Lucknow: David Warner: RPSG Group, who now owns Lucknow, had bought the Pune franchise for two years in 2016. In those two years, they had appointed experienced captains in MS Dhoni and Steve Smith for one year each. An attacking opener as well as an experienced captain like Warner could be a perfect choice for the owners to lead Lucknow. And, considering the short boundaries and flat pitch of the Ekana Stadium, the Australian could be a sure-shot match-winner for the franchise. Surya Kumar Yadav: Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Kieron Pollard will be the three automatic picks for retention for Mumbai Indians. There could be a discussion between Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan for the fourth slot. With Kishan being the wicketkeeper-batsman and age also on his side, Surya Kumar could be left out of the Mumbai team. If Surya becomes a free agent, Lucknow owners can convince him to be a part of the franchise. Though he plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket, the batsman`s father belongs to Varanasi, UP. Lucknow can also make him the captain, considering his cool and composed nature as well as his ability to bat at different positions. Also Read: 'Can we talk about cricket': Nabi tells reporter on being asked if Taliban will question Afghanistan Bhuvneshwar Kumar & Suresh Raina: Though Raina and Bhuvi are not in their prime in terms of performance, they are still bankable players, especially in Indian conditions and the IPL. Raina has been an IPL legend and all his success has come at the Chennai Super Kings. But, the MS Dhoni-led team is unlikely to retain him this time. On the other hand, SRH is also likely to part ways with Bhuvneshwar considering a dip in his bowling form. In that case, both Raina and Bhuvi, who belong to UP, can also be seen playing from the home state franchise. Apart from their on-field performance, both can be an asset for the franchise in terms of their fan base, and marketing as locals will have a deep connection with state boys. Ahmedabad: Hardik Pandya: Given his lacklustre performance and fitness concern, all-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely to be sent back into the IPL auction pool by Mumbai Indians. In that case, Ahmedabad owners can latch onto the opportunity and bring Pandya in their team. Hardik, a Gujarat boy, will bring all the flamboyance, his all-rounder ability and a lot of eye-balls for the franchise as well. Shreyas Iyer: The Gujarat-based franchise will need a captain to lead and they may approach and target Shreyas Iyer for that role. Iyer is unlikely to be a part of the Delhi Capitals set-up in IPL 2022 and a young talented India batter and captain will be a perfect billing for Ahmedabad. Notably, Iyer led Delhi to the play-offs twice, including its maiden final appearance during the 2020 season. ALSO READ: Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli's record to become fastest captain to score 1000 runs in T20Is KL Rahul: Rahul was sensational for Punjab Kings in IPL 2021, finishing as its highest run-scorer. Despite his dominating performance with the bat, he has failed to lead the side to playoffs since taking the captaincy role. As of now, there is no clarity if he would be retained by the side. If Rahul is not retained by Punjab then Ahmedabad can approach and convince the star opener to play for their franchise.

IPL: Lucknow, Ahmedabad likely to target David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Pandya via draft system

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced that CVC Capitals and RPSG Group have emerged as the winners of the bidding for two new teams set to be introduced in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from the 2022 season.

BCCI confirmed that the RPSG Group clinched the ownership rights of the Lucknow franchise with a winning bid of INR 70.09 billion (Rs 7090 crore), and Irelia Company Pte Ltd. (CVC Capital) won the bod for the Ahmedabad franchise for INR 56.25 billion (Rs 5625 crore).

However, CVC Capital's alleged investments in betting companies outside India have put them in a spot of bother. The BCCI is reportedly looking into the company's investments in betting firms and will wait till the board's legal team has dome a complete check. The formalities are expected to be completed after Diwali.

“The formalities haven’t yet been completed, the BCCI legal team is going through it and we are expecting them to revert us post-Diwali,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by the&nbsp;Indian Express.

“The BCCI has full rights on whom they will allot the team, it’s the board’s discretion and we can only decide on a new IPL franchise (CVC) when the legal team reverts to us," he added.

BCCI is discouraged to form associations with companies in the betting business. Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was one of the first to question BCCI's decision to hand the ownership rights of an IPL team to an organisation that has investments in betting companies.

“I guess betting companies can buy an IPL team. must be a new rule. Apparently, one qualified bidder also owns a big betting company. what next? does BCCI not do their homework? what can Anti-corruption do in such a case? #cricket,” Lalit Modi has said in a tweet.

Several others have also questioned CVC Capital's investments in betting firms which has prompted the BCCI to run a legal check.CVC Capital's fate as the new owners of the Ahmedabad franchise in IPL will be decided by the BCCI after the legal investigation is done.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-adani-group-to-the-glazers-a-look-at-full-list-of-bidders-and-their-amounts-for-two-new-ipl-teams-424254">From Adani Group to The Glazers: A look at full list of bidders and their amounts for two new IPL teams</a>

What if CVC Capital are not allowed to continue as owners?

In case, the BCCI decides to take away the ownership rights from CVC Capital owning to its investments in betting companies, the next best bidder - Adani Group will come into the picture. Adani Group had bid INR 51 billion (Rs 5100 crores) for the Ahmedabad franchise but were left behind by CVC Capital's bid of&nbsp;INR 56.25 billion (Rs 5625 crore).

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced that CVC Capitals and RPSG Group have emerged as the winners of the bidding for two new teams set to be introduced in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from the 2022 season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced that CVC Capitals and RPSG Group have emerged as the winners of the bidding for two new teams set to be introduced in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from the 2022 season. BCCI confirmed that the RPSG Group clinched the ownership rights of the Lucknow franchise with a winning bid of INR 70.09 billion (Rs 7090 crore), and Irelia Company Pte Ltd. (CVC Capital) won the bod for the Ahmedabad franchise for INR 56.25 billion (Rs 5625 crore). However, CVC Capital's alleged investments in betting companies outside India have put them in a spot of bother. The BCCI is reportedly looking into the company's investments in betting firms and will wait till the board's legal team has dome a complete check. The formalities are expected to be completed after Diwali. “The formalities haven’t yet been completed, the BCCI legal team is going through it and we are expecting them to revert us post-Diwali,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. “The BCCI has full rights on whom they will allot the team, it’s the board’s discretion and we can only decide on a new IPL franchise (CVC) when the legal team reverts to us," he added. BCCI is discouraged to form associations with companies in the betting business. Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was one of the first to question BCCI's decision to hand the ownership rights of an IPL team to an organisation that has investments in betting companies. “I guess betting companies can buy an IPL team. must be a new rule. Apparently, one qualified bidder also owns a big betting company. what next? does BCCI not do their homework? what can Anti-corruption do in such a case? #cricket,” Lalit Modi has said in a tweet. Several others have also questioned CVC Capital's investments in betting firms which has prompted the BCCI to run a legal check.CVC Capital's fate as the new owners of the Ahmedabad franchise in IPL will be decided by the BCCI after the legal investigation is done. Also Read: From Adani Group to The Glazers: A look at full list of bidders and their amounts for two new IPL teams What if CVC Capital are not allowed to continue as owners? In case, the BCCI decides to take away the ownership rights from CVC Capital owning to its investments in betting companies, the next best bidder - Adani Group will come into the picture. Adani Group had bid INR 51 billion (Rs 5100 crores) for the Ahmedabad franchise but were left behind by CVC Capital's bid of INR 56.25 billion (Rs 5625 crore).

BCCI investigating new IPL franchise owners CVC Capital's investments in betting companies - Report

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will see the eight existing franchises being allowed to retain a maximum of four players. Whereas, the two new teams &nbsp;Lucknow and Ahmedabad - will be able to acquire three players from the rest of the player pool ahead of the auction, a report said. 
 
However, the official date for the IPL 2022 auction is yet to be announced by the Indian cricket board (BCCI).

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rpsg-group-cvc-capital-beat-glazers-adani-group-to-win-bids-for-ahmedabad-lucknow-ipl-teams-423920">RPSG group, CVC Capital beat Glazers, Adani Group to win bids for Ahmedabad, Lucknow IPL teams</a>

According to ESPNcricinfo, these rules were clarified by the IPL in informal discussions this week with the franchises. 
 
"The purse for the IPL 2022 auction is likely to be Rs 90 crore (USD 12 million approx)? it was Rs 85 crore in the 2021 auction. In the 2018 mega auction, the teams had Rs 80 crore, of which they could spend a maximum of Rs 33 crore on retained players the teams were then allowed to buy back five players through a combination of retention and two right-to-match (RTM) cards. 
 
"There will be no RTM cards next year. The franchises will be able to apply two different combinations while picking the four players they want to retain: three Indians and one overseas, or two Indians and two overseas," the report further read.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-adani-group-to-the-glazers-a-look-at-full-list-of-bidders-and-their-amounts-for-two-new-ipl-teams-424254">From Adani Group to The Glazers: A look at full list of bidders and their amounts for two new IPL teams</a>

Retention will ultimately be the player`s choice, as he can decide to go back into the auction pool or a change in franchise, even if his current team wants to retain him. The deadline for retaining players is likely to be the end of November, it added.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will see the eight existing franchises being allowed to retain a maximum of four players. Whereas, the two new teams Lucknow and Ahmedabad - will be able to acquire three players from the rest of the player pool ahead of the auction, a report said.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will see the eight existing franchises being allowed to retain a maximum of four players. Whereas, the two new teams Lucknow and Ahmedabad - will be able to acquire three players from the rest of the player pool ahead of the auction, a report said. However, the official date for the IPL 2022 auction is yet to be announced by the Indian cricket board (BCCI). ALSO READ: RPSG group, CVC Capital beat Glazers, Adani Group to win bids for Ahmedabad, Lucknow IPL teams According to ESPNcricinfo, these rules were clarified by the IPL in informal discussions this week with the franchises. "The purse for the IPL 2022 auction is likely to be Rs 90 crore (USD 12 million approx)? it was Rs 85 crore in the 2021 auction. In the 2018 mega auction, the teams had Rs 80 crore, of which they could spend a maximum of Rs 33 crore on retained players the teams were then allowed to buy back five players through a combination of retention and two right-to-match (RTM) cards. "There will be no RTM cards next year. The franchises will be able to apply two different combinations while picking the four players they want to retain: three Indians and one overseas, or two Indians and two overseas," the report further read. ALSO READ: From Adani Group to The Glazers: A look at full list of bidders and their amounts for two new IPL teams Retention will ultimately be the player`s choice, as he can decide to go back into the auction pool or a change in franchise, even if his current team wants to retain him. The deadline for retaining players is likely to be the end of November, it added.

IPL 2022 auction: Old teams can retain 4 players; Lucknow, Ahmedabad can get 3 early picks

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to become a ten-team tournament from the 2022 season with the addition of two new teams to the league. The two new franchises will be based out in Ahmedabad and Lucknow and their respective owners were confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (October 25).

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to become a ten-team tournament from the 2022 season with the addition of two new teams to the league. The two new franchises will be based out in Ahmedabad and Lucknow and their respective owners were confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday (October 25). After an intense bidding war that took place in Dubai on Monday, Sanjeev Goenka's RPSG Group clinched the ownership rights of the Lucknow franchise with a winning bid of a staggering INR 70.09 billion (Rs 7090 crore) while Irelia Company Pte Ltd. (CVC Capital) bagged the Ahmedabad franchise with a bid of a whopping INR 56.25 billion (Rs 5625 crore). RPSG Group were the highest bidder with their Rs 70.09 billion bid which was INR 14.65 billion (1465 crore) more than the second-best bod which came from CVC Capital and saw them get the Ahmedabad team for the new season. There were a total of nine bidders in the fray in the final round of the action with RPSG Group and CVC Capital coming out on top. There were some big names competing as Adani Group and The Glazers also battled till the end to become the owners of the new IPL teams. While Adani Group's bid was the third-highest each for the Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchise at INR 51 billion (Rs 5100 crore) each, Glazers had the lowest bid for both teams at 4128 crore for the Ahmedabad team and 4023 crore for the Lucknow team. Also Read: 7 home, 7 away! How many matches will IPL 2022 have after addition of Lucknow, Ahmedabad franchises? Here is a look at the final bids of all nine parties for the two IPL teams: S.No. Bidders Group Ahmedabad Lucknow 1 Adani Sportsline Pvt. Ltd. Adani Group 5100 5100 2 Amrit Lila Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Kotak 4513 4512 3 Avashya Corporation Pvt. Ltd. All Cargo Logistics 4140 4304 4 Capri Global 4204 4204 5 Championship Cricket LLC Lancer Capital - Avram Glazer 4128 4023 6 Hindustan Media Ventures Limited 4275 4510 7 Irelia Company Pvt. Ltd. CVC 5625 5166 8 RPSG Ventures Ltd. 7090 7090 9 Torrent Sports Ventures Pvt. Ltd. 4653 4356 Also Read: Terrible! Harsha Bhogle slams Waqar Younis for calling Rizwan's on-field namaz in front of Hindus 'special' Welcoming the two new teams to the IPL, BCCI confirmed that the 2022 edition will have ten teams competing and will consist of a total of 74 matches. A mega auction is all set to be conducted ahead of the new season which will give a proper chance to all ten teams to build their squads from scratch to challenge for the title.

From Adani Group to The Glazers: A look at full list of bidders and their amounts for two new IPL teams