Kolkata Knight Riders have made a smart buy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction 2022 in the form of Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. The veteran, who captains Afghanistan in T20 internationals, is no stranger to the tournament and he will be looking to reach a huge personal milestone when KKR faces defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the opener on March 26.<o:p></o:p>

Nabi is currently just four runs away from completing 5000 runs in T20s. If he can do it, he will become just the fifth cricketer in history to score 5000 runs and take 300 wickets in the shortest format of the game. He already has 302 wickets to his name for country and other franchises.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-hands-over-csk-captaincy-to-ravindra-jadeja-ahead-of-ipl-2022-465123">MS Dhoni hands over CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2022</a>

A look at the all-rounders who have taken 300+ wickets and 5000+ runs -<o:p></o:p>

Kieron Pollard (West Indies) – 11,427 runs; 304 wickets<o:p></o:p>

Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) – 6747 runs; 571 wickets<o:p></o:p>

Andre Russell (West Indies) – 6574 runs; 354 wickets<o:p></o:p>

Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 5872 runs; 416 wickets <o:p></o:p>

Nabi, who represented Sunrisers Hyderabad till the same season, has taken 13 wickets and has scored 180 runs in the IPL till now. He also has an impressive strike rate of 151.26.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-a-look-at-the-veterans-captaincy-record-for-chennai-super-kings-465141" hreflang="en">MS Dhoni: A look at the veteran's captaincy record for Chennai Super Kings</a>

KKR produced a brilliant run of form in the latter half of IPL 2021 but it was not enough to win the title as they were comprehensively defeated by CSK in the final.

With new talent like Aaron Finch, Sam Billings and Ajinkya Rahane joining the ranks, the two-time champions will look to start the new season positively and Nabi can be a key figure in the side as a back-up for Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.<o:p></o:p>

Kolkata Knight Riders have made a smart buy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction 2022 in the form of Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. The veteran, who captains Afghanistan in T20 internationals, is no stranger to the tournament and he will be looking to reach a huge personal milestone when KKR faces defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the opener on March 26.

Kolkata Knight Riders have made a smart buy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction 2022 in the form of Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. The veteran, who captains Afghanistan in T20 internationals, is no stranger to the tournament and he will be looking to reach a huge personal milestone when KKR faces defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the opener on March 26. Nabi is currently just four runs away from completing 5000 runs in T20s. If he can do it, he will become just the fifth cricketer in history to score 5000 runs and take 300 wickets in the shortest format of the game. He already has 302 wickets to his name for country and other franchises. Also read | MS Dhoni hands over CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2022 A look at the all-rounders who have taken 300+ wickets and 5000+ runs - Kieron Pollard (West Indies) – 11,427 runs; 304 wickets Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) – 6747 runs; 571 wickets Andre Russell (West Indies) – 6574 runs; 354 wickets Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 5872 runs; 416 wickets Nabi, who represented Sunrisers Hyderabad till the same season, has taken 13 wickets and has scored 180 runs in the IPL till now. He also has an impressive strike rate of 151.26. Also read | MS Dhoni: A look at the veteran's captaincy record for Chennai Super Kings KKR produced a brilliant run of form in the latter half of IPL 2021 but it was not enough to win the title as they were comprehensively defeated by CSK in the final. With new talent like Aaron Finch, Sam Billings and Ajinkya Rahane joining the ranks, the two-time champions will look to start the new season positively and Nabi can be a key figure in the side as a back-up for Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.

IPL 2022: KKR's Mohammad Nabi just four runs away from impressive feat

MS Dhoni has a constant presence in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team as the skipper and thanks to his side’s brilliant performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years, the veteran holds an impressive captaincy record in the tournament. <o:p></o:p>

However, things will be a bit different in the 2022 season as Dhoni stepped down from captaincy and handed over the baton to Ravindra Jadeja. Dhoni will continue to play for the franchise, but he will not be leading the side this season.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-hands-over-csk-captaincy-to-ravindra-jadeja-ahead-of-ipl-2022-465123">MS Dhoni hands over CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2022</a>

A quick look at the statistics and it is clear why Dhoni is considered one of the best skippers in IPL history. In the 204 matches where he has led the CSK side, the team has won 121 times with a commendable winning percentage of 59.60. While 82 matches ended up defeat for the Chennai Super Kings, one match did not yield any result.<o:p></o:p>

When it comes to trophies, Dhoni has won the IPL title four times with CSK – the second highest after Rohit Sharma who has won five as the Mumbai Indians skipper. <o:p></o:p>

CSK were runners-up thrice with the latest one being 2020 when the team came close to winning the title but were beaten by MI in the final. Dhoni has also won the Champions League T20 title twice in 2010 and 2014.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-lucknow-super-giants-rope-in-aussie-pacer-andrew-tye-as-replacement-for-injured-mark-wood-464946" hreflang="en">LSG rope in Andrew Tye as replacement for injured Mark Wood</a>

During the IPL 2021 final against Kolkata Knight Riders, Dhoni became the first ever cricketer to play 300 T20 matches as captain and also the oldest skipper to win the tournament. <o:p></o:p>

The 40-year-old edged past Shane Warne had won the inaugural edition with Rajasthan Royals at the age of 39 and Adam Gilchrist who guided Deccan Chargers to IPL victory in the 2009 season at the age of 37. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

MS Dhoni has a constant presence in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team as the skipper and thanks to his side’s brilliant performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years, the veteran holds an impressive captaincy record in the tournament.

MS Dhoni has a constant presence in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team as the skipper and thanks to his side’s brilliant performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years, the veteran holds an impressive captaincy record in the tournament. However, things will be a bit different in the 2022 season as Dhoni stepped down from captaincy and handed over the baton to Ravindra Jadeja. Dhoni will continue to play for the franchise, but he will not be leading the side this season. Also read | MS Dhoni hands over CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2022 A quick look at the statistics and it is clear why Dhoni is considered one of the best skippers in IPL history. In the 204 matches where he has led the CSK side, the team has won 121 times with a commendable winning percentage of 59.60. While 82 matches ended up defeat for the Chennai Super Kings, one match did not yield any result. When it comes to trophies, Dhoni has won the IPL title four times with CSK – the second highest after Rohit Sharma who has won five as the Mumbai Indians skipper. CSK were runners-up thrice with the latest one being 2020 when the team came close to winning the title but were beaten by MI in the final. Dhoni has also won the Champions League T20 title twice in 2010 and 2014. Also read | LSG rope in Andrew Tye as replacement for injured Mark Wood During the IPL 2021 final against Kolkata Knight Riders, Dhoni became the first ever cricketer to play 300 T20 matches as captain and also the oldest skipper to win the tournament. The 40-year-old edged past Shane Warne had won the inaugural edition with Rajasthan Royals at the age of 39 and Adam Gilchrist who guided Deccan Chargers to IPL victory in the 2009 season at the age of 37.

MS Dhoni: A look at the veteran's captaincy record for Chennai Super Kings

KL Rahul is all set to embark on a new journey in his Indian Premier League (IPL) career as he will lead debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming season. Rahul captained Punjab Kings for two seasons and was also their leading run-getter in both the editions before deciding to leave the franchise to join Lucknow Super Giants this year.

At Punjab Kings, the expectations were high from Rahul when he was appointed as the leader of the side ahead of IPL 2020. However, he failed to impress as a captain as Punjab failed to make it to the playoffs in two seasons under his leadership. The imbalance in Punjab's squad and an inconsistent middle-order were seen as two of the major reasons behind the team's struggles under Rahul.

As an opener, Rahul would lead from the front and score heap of runs for his franchise but the lack of support in the middle-order often hampered his strike rate and aggressive instincts while batting. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who will be the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022, wants Rahul to not repeat the mistakes from his time at Punjab Kings.

Gambhir said he would like Rahul the batter to take charge and take calculated risks in order to improve his and his team's performances on the pitch. Gambhir also confirmed that Rahul will not have to keep wickets for LSG to ensure he has less pressure and is&nbsp;relaxed as captain.

"Ultimately, it is the leader who is the flag-bearer of a team and so it's Rahul who will lead Lucknow Super Giants on and off the field. For me, it is important to have KL Rahul the batter, who is also the captain of the team rather than KL Rahul, the captain, who also bats. I hope I am able to make you understand the difference,” Gambhir said in a&nbsp;conversation with PTI.

"Any captain should learn to take risks. I would want Rahul to take risks and unless you take calculated risks, you won't know if you would succeed or not. Also this time, Quinton de Kock will be our wicketkeeper, so with no keeping duties, he can be free and relaxed, concentrating on his batting and leadership,” he explained.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-one-of-the-greatest-physios-in-the-world-gets-everyone-fit-before-auction-ravi-shastri-464769">IPL one of the greatest physios in the world, gets everyone fit before auction: Ravi Shastri</a>

Gambhir also issued a warning to Rahul in regards to his India captaincy aspirations. The stylish right-hander is currently the vice-captain of the Indian team across formats and is seen as one of the future leaders of the Indian team. He has also captained the Indian team in a few matches in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma.

When asked if there will be additional pressure on Rahul to prove his captaincy credentials in the IPL keeping the India job in mind, Gambhir said no one should play in the IPL looking at the national team. The Lucknow Super Giants mentor believes IPl performances will not guarantee India captaincy for Rahul.

"Know one thing. There is a difference between being talked up as a future India captain and ultimately being appointed India captain. I have never believed that you should play IPL looking at the national team. IPL is a platform to express one's self. One can grow as a leader but there are no guarantees that there is a time period that IPL will help you become India captain," said Gambhir.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/despite-bccis-intervention-moeen-ali-stranded-in-uk-due-to-visay-delay-likely-to-miss-csks-opener-vs-kkr-464759">Despite BCCI's intervention Moeen Ali stranded in UK due to visa delay, likely to miss CSK's opener vs KKR</a>

Lucknow Super Giants have managed to assemble a brilliant squad for their debut season in the IPL this year. Their squad features the likes of Rahul, De Kock, Manish Pandey, Avesh Khan, Jason Holder and Krunal Pandya among others who can all be game-changers on their day.

Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2022 campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Titans on Monday (March 28). 
&nbsp;

KL Rahul is all set to embark on a new journey in his Indian Premier League (IPL) career as he will lead debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming season.

KL Rahul is all set to embark on a new journey in his Indian Premier League (IPL) career as he will lead debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming season. Rahul captained Punjab Kings for two seasons and was also their leading run-getter in both the editions before deciding to leave the franchise to join Lucknow Super Giants this year. At Punjab Kings, the expectations were high from Rahul when he was appointed as the leader of the side ahead of IPL 2020. However, he failed to impress as a captain as Punjab failed to make it to the playoffs in two seasons under his leadership. The imbalance in Punjab's squad and an inconsistent middle-order were seen as two of the major reasons behind the team's struggles under Rahul. As an opener, Rahul would lead from the front and score heap of runs for his franchise but the lack of support in the middle-order often hampered his strike rate and aggressive instincts while batting. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who will be the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022, wants Rahul to not repeat the mistakes from his time at Punjab Kings. Gambhir said he would like Rahul the batter to take charge and take calculated risks in order to improve his and his team's performances on the pitch. Gambhir also confirmed that Rahul will not have to keep wickets for LSG to ensure he has less pressure and is relaxed as captain. "Ultimately, it is the leader who is the flag-bearer of a team and so it's Rahul who will lead Lucknow Super Giants on and off the field. For me, it is important to have KL Rahul the batter, who is also the captain of the team rather than KL Rahul, the captain, who also bats. I hope I am able to make you understand the difference,” Gambhir said in a conversation with PTI. "Any captain should learn to take risks. I would want Rahul to take risks and unless you take calculated risks, you won't know if you would succeed or not. Also this time, Quinton de Kock will be our wicketkeeper, so with no keeping duties, he can be free and relaxed, concentrating on his batting and leadership,” he explained. Also Read: IPL one of the greatest physios in the world, gets everyone fit before auction: Ravi Shastri Gambhir also issued a warning to Rahul in regards to his India captaincy aspirations. The stylish right-hander is currently the vice-captain of the Indian team across formats and is seen as one of the future leaders of the Indian team. He has also captained the Indian team in a few matches in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma. When asked if there will be additional pressure on Rahul to prove his captaincy credentials in the IPL keeping the India job in mind, Gambhir said no one should play in the IPL looking at the national team. The Lucknow Super Giants mentor believes IPl performances will not guarantee India captaincy for Rahul. "Know one thing. There is a difference between being talked up as a future India captain and ultimately being appointed India captain. I have never believed that you should play IPL looking at the national team. IPL is a platform to express one's self. One can grow as a leader but there are no guarantees that there is a time period that IPL will help you become India captain," said Gambhir. Also Read: Despite BCCI's intervention Moeen Ali stranded in UK due to visa delay, likely to miss CSK's opener vs KKR Lucknow Super Giants have managed to assemble a brilliant squad for their debut season in the IPL this year. Their squad features the likes of Rahul, De Kock, Manish Pandey, Avesh Khan, Jason Holder and Krunal Pandya among others who can all be game-changers on their day. Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2022 campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Titans on Monday (March 28).

Gautam Gambhir issues warning to KL Rahul: No guarantee that IPL will help you become India captain

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes the Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the best physiotherapists in the world as the tournament manages to get players fit just before the auction. Shastri, who is known to not sugarcoat his words, said all injured players recover before IPL as they want to land a deal at the auction and be a part of&nbsp;the cash-rich league.

Shastri will be making his comeback in the commentary box for the first time since leaving the India head coach post in the upcoming IPL 2022. Shastri will be part of the star-studded commentary panel for the official broadcaster Star Sports. He will be making his return in the commentary box after a gap of almost seven years having served as the head coach of the Indian team from 2017 to 2021.

"IPL is one of the greatest leagues in the world, and it's also one of the greatest physios in the world, because, before the IPL auction everyone wants to get fit because everyone wants to play in the IPL," Shastri said during a press conference organised by Star Sports on Tuesday.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravindra-jadeja-can-be-ms-dhonis-successor-at-csk-suresh-raina-makes-big-claim-before-ipl-2022-464646">Ravindra Jadeja can be MS Dhoni's successor at CSK: Suresh Raina makes big claim before IPL 2022</a>

Shastri was part of the IPL commentary team for the first eleven editions of the tournament. However, he had to step away from the commentary box after becoming the head coach of the Indian team. Shastri stated that he wanted to continue commentating during matches but was not able to do so because of a 'stupid clause' in BCCI's constitution.

"This is the 15th edition of the IPL. I did the first 11 years and then, thanks to some stupid conflict of interest clause that exists in some stupid constitution that binds us, you could not do the last few seasons," said Shastri during the presser.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/despite-bccis-intervention-moeen-ali-stranded-in-uk-due-to-visay-delay-likely-to-miss-csks-opener-vs-kkr-464759">Despite BCCI's intervention Moeen Ali stranded in UK due to visa&nbsp;delay, likely to miss CSK's opener vs KKR</a>

Shastri, who will be part of the Hindi commentary team for IPL 2022, will be joined by the likes of Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel among others in an elite line-up of commentators. The IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes the Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the best physiotherapists in the world as the tournament manages to get players fit just before the auction.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes the Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the best physiotherapists in the world as the tournament manages to get players fit just before the auction. Shastri, who is known to not sugarcoat his words, said all injured players recover before IPL as they want to land a deal at the auction and be a part of the cash-rich league. Shastri will be making his comeback in the commentary box for the first time since leaving the India head coach post in the upcoming IPL 2022. Shastri will be part of the star-studded commentary panel for the official broadcaster Star Sports. He will be making his return in the commentary box after a gap of almost seven years having served as the head coach of the Indian team from 2017 to 2021. "IPL is one of the greatest leagues in the world, and it's also one of the greatest physios in the world, because, before the IPL auction everyone wants to get fit because everyone wants to play in the IPL," Shastri said during a press conference organised by Star Sports on Tuesday. Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja can be MS Dhoni's successor at CSK: Suresh Raina makes big claim before IPL 2022 Shastri was part of the IPL commentary team for the first eleven editions of the tournament. However, he had to step away from the commentary box after becoming the head coach of the Indian team. Shastri stated that he wanted to continue commentating during matches but was not able to do so because of a 'stupid clause' in BCCI's constitution. "This is the 15th edition of the IPL. I did the first 11 years and then, thanks to some stupid conflict of interest clause that exists in some stupid constitution that binds us, you could not do the last few seasons," said Shastri during the presser. Also Read: Despite BCCI's intervention Moeen Ali stranded in UK due to visa delay, likely to miss CSK's opener vs KKR Shastri, who will be part of the Hindi commentary team for IPL 2022, will be joined by the likes of Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel among others in an elite line-up of commentators. The IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

IPL one of the greatest physios in the world, gets everyone fit before auction: Ravi Shastri

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been handed another huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as England all-rounder Moeen Ali is likely to miss the opening clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26. Moeen is currently stranded in London due to a delay in his visa for India.

After losing star pace Deepak Chahar's services for at least a couple of weeks at the start of the season, CSK's troubles have intensified over Moeen's visa delay. Moeen was one of CSK's best players in their title-winning campaign last year and can contribute equally well with the bat and the ball.

Despite having applied for his visa quite some time ago and BCCI also intervening in the matter, Moeen is currently stranded in London waiting for his visa approval to catch a flight to India. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said the franchise had expected Moeen to land in India by Monday this week but there has been a delay due to the verification process.

"We were expecting Moeen to join us by Monday but because of the delay in issuing a visa, it is not clear when he will leave for Mumbai. He submitted the visa application on February 28, but because of the verification process, there has been a delay. Unless he enters the bubble by Wednesday noon, it won't be possible for him to play against Kolkata," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

Moeen was roped in by CSK ahead of IPL 2021 last year and went on to revive the team's top-order with his brilliant performances at number three. Moeen notched up 357 runs and picked up six wickets in 15 games to help CSK win their fourth title after a win against Kolkata Knight Riders in the final.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravindra-jadeja-can-be-ms-dhonis-successor-at-csk-suresh-raina-makes-big-claim-before-ipl-2022-464646">Ravindra Jadeja can be MS Dhoni's successor at CSK: Suresh Raina makes big claim before IPL 2022</a>

His absence will leave a huge void in CSK's batting line-up and the spin attack. While New Zealand batter Devon Conway is likely to open the batting with Ruturaj Gaikwad in Moeen's absence, the other overseas slots can be taken by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and fast bowlers Adam Milne, Chris Jordan.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suresh-raina-returns-to-ipl-former-csk-star-set-to-don-a-new-role-in-upcoming-season-464600">Suresh Raina returns to IPL! Former CSK star set to don a new role in upcoming season</a>

CSK can also bring in Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana in the playing XI and use him in the powerplay in the absence of both Chahar and Ali.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been handed another huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as England all-rounder Moeen Ali is likely to miss the opening clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been handed another huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as England all-rounder Moeen Ali is likely to miss the opening clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26. Moeen is currently stranded in London due to a delay in his visa for India. After losing star pace Deepak Chahar's services for at least a couple of weeks at the start of the season, CSK's troubles have intensified over Moeen's visa delay. Moeen was one of CSK's best players in their title-winning campaign last year and can contribute equally well with the bat and the ball. Despite having applied for his visa quite some time ago and BCCI also intervening in the matter, Moeen is currently stranded in London waiting for his visa approval to catch a flight to India. CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said the franchise had expected Moeen to land in India by Monday this week but there has been a delay due to the verification process. "We were expecting Moeen to join us by Monday but because of the delay in issuing a visa, it is not clear when he will leave for Mumbai. He submitted the visa application on February 28, but because of the verification process, there has been a delay. Unless he enters the bubble by Wednesday noon, it won't be possible for him to play against Kolkata," CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. Moeen was roped in by CSK ahead of IPL 2021 last year and went on to revive the team's top-order with his brilliant performances at number three. Moeen notched up 357 runs and picked up six wickets in 15 games to help CSK win their fourth title after a win against Kolkata Knight Riders in the final. Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja can be MS Dhoni's successor at CSK: Suresh Raina makes big claim before IPL 2022 His absence will leave a huge void in CSK's batting line-up and the spin attack. While New Zealand batter Devon Conway is likely to open the batting with Ruturaj Gaikwad in Moeen's absence, the other overseas slots can be taken by all-rounder Dwayne Bravo and fast bowlers Adam Milne, Chris Jordan. Also Read: Suresh Raina returns to IPL! Former CSK star set to don a new role in upcoming season CSK can also bring in Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana in the playing XI and use him in the powerplay in the absence of both Chahar and Ali.

Despite BCCI's intervention Moeen Ali stranded in UK due to visa delay, likely to miss CSK's opener vs KKR

The IPL 2022 edition is nearing its commencement and the excitement is on another level. With two more teams joining the cash-rich league, the upcoming season is expected to raise the bar and also further increase the popularity of the T20 league worldwide.

Ahead of the first ball of the 2022 edition, which will be played between defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary&nbsp;Jay Shah&nbsp;has confirmed that the revenue from sponsorships for the 15th&nbsp;season is all set to surpass&nbsp;the INR 1000 crore mark (INR 10 billion).

For the unversed, IPL 2022 will also be the first-ever season where the cash-rich league&nbsp;will see sponsorship for the Purple Cap and Orange Cap. In fact, the BCCI has&nbsp;sold as many as 9 sponsorship slots for the forthcoming season.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-virat-kohli-to-ab-de-villiers-superstar-batters-with-most-ipl-hundreds-463535">From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds</a>

“This clearly shows the value of IPL as a brand. We are absolutely delighted with these new sponsorship deals. This year we have clocked the highest ever sponsorship revenues. For the record for the 1st time, we will be crossing the 1000 cr revenue mark from&nbsp;IPL Sponsorships&nbsp;for a single season," Shah said while speaking to Inside Sport.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-jasprit-bumrah-to-kagiso-rabada-a-look-at-five-players-who-might-win-purple-cap-in-ipl-2022-464084">From Jasprit Bumrah to Kagiso Rabada: A look at five players who might win Purple Cap in IPL 2022</a>

In a chat with the&nbsp;Times of India, the BCCI secretary had stated that such an influx of money is good for the sport in India. In addition, he&nbsp;assured that&nbsp;the earnings will be meant for the upliftment of Indian cricket.

<section>
"Doing our best to acquire the justified value that a brand like IPL warrants is definitely on top of my mind. At the same time, we will also maintain complete transparency and that is one of the reasons why the media rights will be awarded through an e-auction," Shah told&nbsp;TOI. "You can gauge the popularity of the league and the confidence of the investors from the interest it generated and the valuation that the two teams attracted".

Thus, it seems that IPL 2022 is already headed to be a blockbuster season even ahead of its commencement.
</section>

The IPL 2022 edition is nearing its commencement and the excitement is on another level. With two more teams joining the cash-rich league, the upcoming season is expected to raise the bar and also further increase the popularity of the T20 league worldwide.

The IPL 2022 edition is nearing its commencement and the excitement is on another level. With two more teams joining the cash-rich league, the upcoming season is expected to raise the bar and also further increase the popularity of the T20 league worldwide. Ahead of the first ball of the 2022 edition, which will be played between defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 26, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that the revenue from sponsorships for the 15th season is all set to surpass the INR 1000 crore mark (INR 10 billion). For the unversed, IPL 2022 will also be the first-ever season where the cash-rich league will see sponsorship for the Purple Cap and Orange Cap. In fact, the BCCI has sold as many as 9 sponsorship slots for the forthcoming season. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds “This clearly shows the value of IPL as a brand. We are absolutely delighted with these new sponsorship deals. This year we have clocked the highest ever sponsorship revenues. For the record for the 1st time, we will be crossing the 1000 cr revenue mark from IPL Sponsorships for a single season," Shah said while speaking to Inside Sport. ALSO READ | From Jasprit Bumrah to Kagiso Rabada: A look at five players who might win Purple Cap in IPL 2022 In a chat with the Times of India, the BCCI secretary had stated that such an influx of money is good for the sport in India. In addition, he assured that the earnings will be meant for the upliftment of Indian cricket. "Doing our best to acquire the justified value that a brand like IPL warrants is definitely on top of my mind. At the same time, we will also maintain complete transparency and that is one of the reasons why the media rights will be awarded through an e-auction," Shah told TOI. "You can gauge the popularity of the league and the confidence of the investors from the interest it generated and the valuation that the two teams attracted". Thus, it seems that IPL 2022 is already headed to be a blockbuster season even ahead of its commencement.

IPL revenue to cross INR 10-billion mark for first time ever, confirms BCCI Secretary Jay Shah

In what comes as a huge blow for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the start of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) the Shreyas Iyer-led side is all set to miss the services of two of their overseas stars Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins for the start of the season. The duo Aussie duo are confirmed to miss at least the first five of KKR's matches in the upcoming IPL 2022.

Both Cummins and Finch are currently part of the Australia squad for their ongoing tour of Pakistan. KKR mentor David Huddey confirmed that the Aussie duo will miss the franchise's first five games this season due to international duty. KKR are set to open their IPL 2022 campaign against defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26.

"Well, it is a concern, you want your best players available, but international cricket should be the para-limit. Every cricketer should want to play international cricket for their countries so they have commitments that way. I think Cummins and Finch will miss the first five games but they will be cricket fit and cricket ready," Hussey said in a virtual presser.

"So, once they hit the ground running, both quality people and they will fit into the dressing room perfectly well," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/moeen-ali-likely-to-miss-ipl-2022-opener-3-csk-players-who-can-replace-england-all-rounder-against-kkr-464849">Moeen Ali likely to miss IPL 2022 opener: 3 CSK players who can replace England all-rounder against KKR</a>

Cummins's absence in particular is a big blow for KKR as the Australian Test skipper was set to spearhead their pace attack in the upcoming season. In his absence, KKR will rely heavily on the likes of Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell to lead their pace attack. Meanwhile, Finch was roped in as a replacement for Alex Hales, who pulled out of the tournament.

Australia's ongoing tour of Pakitan is set to end on April 05 but both Cummins and Finch will have to serve mandatory three-day isolation in which case they are likely to miss KKR's fifth game of the season which is scheduled to take place on April 10. In the duo's absence, it remains to be seen what combination will KKR opt for at the start of the season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-issues-warning-to-kl-rahul-no-guarantee-that-ipl-will-help-you-become-india-captain-464781">Gautam Gambhir issues warning to KL Rahul: No guarantee that IPL will help you become India captain</a>

While all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are likely to be their two first-choice overseas players, there will be a battle betweem Sam Billings, Mohammad Nabi and Chamika Karunaratne for the remaining two slots.

 
&nbsp;

In what comes as a huge blow for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the start of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) the Shreyas Iyer-led side is all set to miss the services of two of their overseas stars Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins for the start of the season.

In what comes as a huge blow for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the start of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) the Shreyas Iyer-led side is all set to miss the services of two of their overseas stars Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins for the start of the season. The duo Aussie duo are confirmed to miss at least the first five of KKR's matches in the upcoming IPL 2022. Both Cummins and Finch are currently part of the Australia squad for their ongoing tour of Pakistan. KKR mentor David Huddey confirmed that the Aussie duo will miss the franchise's first five games this season due to international duty. KKR are set to open their IPL 2022 campaign against defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 26. "Well, it is a concern, you want your best players available, but international cricket should be the para-limit. Every cricketer should want to play international cricket for their countries so they have commitments that way. I think Cummins and Finch will miss the first five games but they will be cricket fit and cricket ready," Hussey said in a virtual presser. "So, once they hit the ground running, both quality people and they will fit into the dressing room perfectly well," he added. Also Read: Moeen Ali likely to miss IPL 2022 opener: 3 CSK players who can replace England all-rounder against KKR Cummins's absence in particular is a big blow for KKR as the Australian Test skipper was set to spearhead their pace attack in the upcoming season. In his absence, KKR will rely heavily on the likes of Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell to lead their pace attack. Meanwhile, Finch was roped in as a replacement for Alex Hales, who pulled out of the tournament. Australia's ongoing tour of Pakitan is set to end on April 05 but both Cummins and Finch will have to serve mandatory three-day isolation in which case they are likely to miss KKR's fifth game of the season which is scheduled to take place on April 10. In the duo's absence, it remains to be seen what combination will KKR opt for at the start of the season. Also Read: Gautam Gambhir issues warning to KL Rahul: No guarantee that IPL will help you become India captain While all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are likely to be their two first-choice overseas players, there will be a battle betweem Sam Billings, Mohammad Nabi and Chamika Karunaratne for the remaining two slots.

Huge blow for KKR as Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch to miss first 5 games for Shreyas Iyer & Co. in IPL 2022

Fans will be allowed to attend matches during the Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts on Saturday, with COVID-19 restrictions easing in the country, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday.

The Chennai Super Kings will face the Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match of the popular Twenty20 league at the Wankhede Stadium with a 25% occupancy limit.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/faf-du-plessis-as-captain-a-good-decision-but-rcb-might-replace-him-with-virat-kohli-next-year-r-ashwin-464817">Faf du Plessis as captain a good decision but RCB might replace him with Virat Kohli next year: R Ashwin</a>

"This match will be a momentous occasion as&nbsp;the 15th&nbsp;edition of the IPL&nbsp;will welcome the fans back to the stadiums after a brief hiatus owing to the pandemic," the BCCI said in a statement.

Infections in India have fallen to their lowest in more than a year in recent days. The country has seen more than 43 million infections, with over 516,500 deaths.

Fans will be allowed to attend matches during the Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts on Saturday, with COVID-19 restrictions easing in the country, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday.

Fans will be allowed to attend matches during the Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts on Saturday, with COVID-19 restrictions easing in the country, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Wednesday. The Chennai Super Kings will face the Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match of the popular Twenty20 league at the Wankhede Stadium with a 25% occupancy limit. ALSO READ: Faf du Plessis as captain a good decision but RCB might replace him with Virat Kohli next year: R Ashwin "This match will be a momentous occasion as the 15th edition of the IPL will welcome the fans back to the stadiums after a brief hiatus owing to the pandemic," the BCCI said in a statement. Infections in India have fallen to their lowest in more than a year in recent days. The country has seen more than 43 million infections, with over 516,500 deaths.

IPL 2022 set to welcome 25 percent spectators back to stadiums as per COVID-19 protocols

Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of IPL 2021 last year and is all set to play under another captain for the franchise for the first time since 2013. Kohli, who led RCB for eight seasons from 2013 to 2021, is the only player in the league to have represented only one franchise so far in his career.

Kohli was appointed as RCB's permanent captain in 2013 and came close to inspiring the side to their first IPL title in 2016. However, RCB lost against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final to miss out on the trophy. Kohli has been replaced by former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as RCB's new captain ahead of IPL 2022.

Du Plessis was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month and will be leading a team for the first time in his IPL career. Du Plessis played under MS Dhoni's captaincy in his former side Chennai Super Kings and has won the IPL title twice as a player.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-kl-rahul-to-ruturaj-gaikwad-top-five-contenders-for-orange-cap-in-ipl-2022-464619">From KL Rahul to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Top five contenders for Orange Cap in IPL 2022</a>

Veteran Indian spinner R Ashwin, who will be playing for Rajasthan Royals this year in the IPL, believes RCB have made a good decision by appointing Du Plessis as captain but the franchise might re-appoint Kohli next year. Ashwin believes RCB have handed over the leadership role to experienced Du Plessis only to give Kohli a break and take some responsibilities off his shoulders.

“Faf is more like towards the end of his IPL career. Maybe, he has two-three years left with him. And they have made him the captain, which is quite a good decision. He brings in a lot of experience and in fact, he has himself said that we can see a bit of MS Dhoni’s touch in his captaincy skills,” Ashwin said in a video on his Youtube channel.

“I feel that since Virat Kohli has undergone a lot of stress as a captain in the last few years, this year will be like a break for him and they might appoint him as a captain next year is my guess," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-issues-warning-to-kl-rahul-no-guarantee-that-ipl-will-help-you-become-india-captain-464781">Gautam Gambhir issues warning to KL Rahul: No guarantee that IPL will help you become India captain</a>

It remains to be seen if Kohli, who has also left Indian team's captaincy across all formats, will return as RCB captain next year. Kohli has so far led RCB in a total of 140 matches and has 64 wins to his name. RCB are yet to win their maiden IPL title and will hope for a change in fortunes this time around.

Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of IPL 2021 last year and is all set to play under another captain for the franchise for the first time since 2013.

Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of IPL 2021 last year and is all set to play under another captain for the franchise for the first time since 2013. Kohli, who led RCB for eight seasons from 2013 to 2021, is the only player in the league to have represented only one franchise so far in his career. Kohli was appointed as RCB's permanent captain in 2013 and came close to inspiring the side to their first IPL title in 2016. However, RCB lost against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final to miss out on the trophy. Kohli has been replaced by former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis as RCB's new captain ahead of IPL 2022. Du Plessis was roped in by RCB for a sum of Rs 7 crore (INR 70 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month and will be leading a team for the first time in his IPL career. Du Plessis played under MS Dhoni's captaincy in his former side Chennai Super Kings and has won the IPL title twice as a player. Also Read: From KL Rahul to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Top five contenders for Orange Cap in IPL 2022 Veteran Indian spinner R Ashwin, who will be playing for Rajasthan Royals this year in the IPL, believes RCB have made a good decision by appointing Du Plessis as captain but the franchise might re-appoint Kohli next year. Ashwin believes RCB have handed over the leadership role to experienced Du Plessis only to give Kohli a break and take some responsibilities off his shoulders. “Faf is more like towards the end of his IPL career. Maybe, he has two-three years left with him. And they have made him the captain, which is quite a good decision. He brings in a lot of experience and in fact, he has himself said that we can see a bit of MS Dhoni’s touch in his captaincy skills,” Ashwin said in a video on his Youtube channel. “I feel that since Virat Kohli has undergone a lot of stress as a captain in the last few years, this year will be like a break for him and they might appoint him as a captain next year is my guess," he added. Also Read: Gautam Gambhir issues warning to KL Rahul: No guarantee that IPL will help you become India captain It remains to be seen if Kohli, who has also left Indian team's captaincy across all formats, will return as RCB captain next year. Kohli has so far led RCB in a total of 140 matches and has 64 wins to his name. RCB are yet to win their maiden IPL title and will hope for a change in fortunes this time around.

Faf du Plessis as captain a good decision but RCB might replace him with Virat Kohli next year: R Ashwin

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has not enjoyed the best of form in the past couple of seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The lack of cricket throughout the year has clearly been reflected in Dhoni's performances for CSK ever since his retirement from international cricket in August 2020.

Dhoni last played an international game for India during the 2019 ODI World Cup and has since played no competitive cricket apart from the IPL. The lack of competitive cricket has taken a severe toll on his performances in the league and his waning prowess with the willow has been quite evident.

As CSK gear up to defend their title this year with a slightly revamped batting line-up compared to their title-winning campaign last year, former India cricketer Reetinder Sodhi has urged Dhoni to bat up the order for his team. Sodhi believes Dhoni is no more the finisher he once was and needs to come up in&nbsp;the order for the Men in Yellow.

"MS Dhoni has to bat up the order because he is no longer the same finisher that he was known to be a few years back. If he takes his time, comes in the 10th or 11th over, he can hit the lusty blows later. MS Dhoni knows that he is the key to CSK's prospects," Sodhi said on India News.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/zimbabwe-pacer-blessing-muzarabani-all-set-to-join-lucknow-super-giants-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464470">Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani all set to join Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2022</a>

Dhoni has massively struggled to score runs consistently in the IPL over the last two seasons. He could only manage 200 runs at an average of just 25 in the 2020 season before scoring 114 runs last season at an average of just 16.28. In IPL 2021, Dhoni was seen demoting himself in the batting order on a number of occasions to give the other batters a chance.

While Dhoni's return to some sort of form will act as a huge boost for CSK, Sodhi believes CSK's chances will also rely heavily on the kind of season star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has for the franchise. Jadeja is one of the most important members of the CSK squad and has been in brilliant form with the bat and ball recently.

"Ravindra Jadeja's form will be very important. The way he batted in the Mohali Test match, the way he is bowling, these are great signs for Chennai that if he picks form, he can take Chennai to the IPL final. Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni - all these big players have to take a lot of responsibility," said Sodhi.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-a-tough-call-kl-rahul-explains-why-he-decided-to-leave-punjab-kings-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464307">'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022</a>

CSK will open their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has not enjoyed the best of form in the past couple of seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The lack of cricket throughout the year has clearly been reflected in Dhoni's performances for CSK ever since his retirement from international cricket in August 2020.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni has not enjoyed the best of form in the past couple of seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The lack of cricket throughout the year has clearly been reflected in Dhoni's performances for CSK ever since his retirement from international cricket in August 2020. Dhoni last played an international game for India during the 2019 ODI World Cup and has since played no competitive cricket apart from the IPL. The lack of competitive cricket has taken a severe toll on his performances in the league and his waning prowess with the willow has been quite evident. As CSK gear up to defend their title this year with a slightly revamped batting line-up compared to their title-winning campaign last year, former India cricketer Reetinder Sodhi has urged Dhoni to bat up the order for his team. Sodhi believes Dhoni is no more the finisher he once was and needs to come up in the order for the Men in Yellow. "MS Dhoni has to bat up the order because he is no longer the same finisher that he was known to be a few years back. If he takes his time, comes in the 10th or 11th over, he can hit the lusty blows later. MS Dhoni knows that he is the key to CSK's prospects," Sodhi said on India News. Also Read: Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani all set to join Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2022 Dhoni has massively struggled to score runs consistently in the IPL over the last two seasons. He could only manage 200 runs at an average of just 25 in the 2020 season before scoring 114 runs last season at an average of just 16.28. In IPL 2021, Dhoni was seen demoting himself in the batting order on a number of occasions to give the other batters a chance. While Dhoni's return to some sort of form will act as a huge boost for CSK, Sodhi believes CSK's chances will also rely heavily on the kind of season star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has for the franchise. Jadeja is one of the most important members of the CSK squad and has been in brilliant form with the bat and ball recently. "Ravindra Jadeja's form will be very important. The way he batted in the Mohali Test match, the way he is bowling, these are great signs for Chennai that if he picks form, he can take Chennai to the IPL final. Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni - all these big players have to take a lot of responsibility," said Sodhi. Also Read: 'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022 CSK will open their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29.

MS Dhoni no longer the finisher he once was, has to bat up the order for CSK, says ex-India cricketer

Shane Warne passed away early this month, to leave a huge void in the cricketing fraternity. The former Aussie spin wizard died due to a suspected heart attack in Thailand and his passing away left many shellshocked. During his illustrious international career, Warne returned with 708 Test wickets and 293 ODI scalps.

Apart from this, Warne also left his mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to the championship in the inaugural edition in 2008. Being a part of RR's victorious run, Shane Watson recalled his days under Warne's leadership and hailed him in Delhi Capitals' (DC) virtual press conference.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-quite-shocking-for-me-indias-youngster-recalls-his-frustrating-injury-before-england-tests-464608">It was quite shocking for me: India's youngster recalls his frustrating injury before England Tests</a>

''The thing that stood out for me was that Rajasthan were written off because we didn't have big names as compared to the other teams. The advantage that Rajasthan had was the ability to pull the team together very quickly,'' DC's assistant coach Watson said.

He further opined, ''The incredible skill that Shane Warne had was seeing what people's roles were and then tapping into that role. For me, that was why he was an incredible leader, because he knew how to tap into a player's best version. He believed in the players, knew their skill set and where they fit in. For me, that's why Rajasthan did so well in the first season. He pulled all these from different cultures and different phases of their careers and led from the front."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wont-be-surprised-if-delhi-capitals-dont-make-it-to-playoffs-in-ipl-2022-aakash-chopra-464342">Won't be surprised if Delhi Capitals don't make it to playoffs in IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra</a>

On the other hand, Gujarat Titans' (GT) spin-bowling all-rounder Rashid Khan also shared his reaction to Warne's tragic and sudden demise. He said in a virtual presser,&nbsp;''It was a huge shock. I had a great time with him. It was a huge honour for me that he called me to the MCG to have that 15-minute session with him during the lunch (break) of the Australia-New Zealand match. I was so lucky, I learned so much from him. We had a discussion on how I can be more effective in a long format. He happily shared his experience with me.

''He shared those key points, the mindset, the skill set.' Only thing he said is that 'you don't need to change your speed or action, that is something unique you have, you just need to be consistent, need to be more patient. Sometimes you won't get a wicket, but that is the time you will be tested mentally and also physically. You have to fit in for those big games. I&nbsp;was looking forward to having him as head coach and playing with him, spending more time with him. That was a dream. We discussed that. He said hopefully we will be in a Hundred ball competition in the UK,'' Rashid added.

Warne, at 52, has shattered many's hearts with his sudden demise. As a result, the whole of Victoria will get to pay its tributes to the spin wizard in Melbourne on March 30, 2022. It will be held at the&nbsp;Melbourne Cricket Ground, Brunton Avenue, Richmond.

Shane Warne passed away early this month, to leave a huge void in the cricketing fraternity. The former Aussie spin wizard died due to a suspected heart attack in Thailand and his passing away left many shellshocked.

Shane Warne passed away early this month, to leave a huge void in the cricketing fraternity. The former Aussie spin wizard died due to a suspected heart attack in Thailand and his passing away left many shellshocked. During his illustrious international career, Warne returned with 708 Test wickets and 293 ODI scalps. Apart from this, Warne also left his mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading the Rajasthan Royals (RR) to the championship in the inaugural edition in 2008. Being a part of RR's victorious run, Shane Watson recalled his days under Warne's leadership and hailed him in Delhi Capitals' (DC) virtual press conference. ALSO READ | It was quite shocking for me: India's youngster recalls his frustrating injury before England Tests ''The thing that stood out for me was that Rajasthan were written off because we didn't have big names as compared to the other teams. The advantage that Rajasthan had was the ability to pull the team together very quickly,'' DC's assistant coach Watson said. He further opined, ''The incredible skill that Shane Warne had was seeing what people's roles were and then tapping into that role. For me, that was why he was an incredible leader, because he knew how to tap into a player's best version. He believed in the players, knew their skill set and where they fit in. For me, that's why Rajasthan did so well in the first season. He pulled all these from different cultures and different phases of their careers and led from the front." ALSO READ | Won't be surprised if Delhi Capitals don't make it to playoffs in IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra On the other hand, Gujarat Titans' (GT) spin-bowling all-rounder Rashid Khan also shared his reaction to Warne's tragic and sudden demise. He said in a virtual presser, ''It was a huge shock. I had a great time with him. It was a huge honour for me that he called me to the MCG to have that 15-minute session with him during the lunch (break) of the Australia-New Zealand match. I was so lucky, I learned so much from him. We had a discussion on how I can be more effective in a long format. He happily shared his experience with me. ''He shared those key points, the mindset, the skill set.' Only thing he said is that 'you don't need to change your speed or action, that is something unique you have, you just need to be consistent, need to be more patient. Sometimes you won't get a wicket, but that is the time you will be tested mentally and also physically. You have to fit in for those big games. I was looking forward to having him as head coach and playing with him, spending more time with him. That was a dream. We discussed that. He said hopefully we will be in a Hundred ball competition in the UK,'' Rashid added. Warne, at 52, has shattered many's hearts with his sudden demise. As a result, the whole of Victoria will get to pay its tributes to the spin wizard in Melbourne on March 30, 2022. It will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Brunton Avenue, Richmond.

IPL 2022: Shane Watson lauds Shane Warne, explains how he was a stand-out RR captain

From KL Rahul to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Top five contenders for Orange Cap in IPL 2022

After going unsold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) superstar Suresh Raina is all set to make his comeback to the league in a completely new role. Raina will be making his commentary debut in the upcoming IPL 2022 and will be looking to make his presence felt in the commentary box during the season.

Raina, who is regarded as one of the best players in IPL history, is the leading run-getter of all time for Chennai Super Kings. Raina played an instrumental role in CSK's success over the years before being released by the franchise ahead of the upcoming season. Once the leading run-getter of all time in the IPL, Raina has 5528 runs in 205 matches to his name in the league.

While many had expected CSK to buy Raina back at the IPL 2022 mega auction, the four-time champions decided against roping him back. His final appearance for CSK came during IPL 2021 last year. Raina will now be seen in the commentary box along with some of the legends of the game.

Apart from Raina, former India head coach Ravi Shastri is also part of the star-studded commentary panel for IPL 2022 announced by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the league. Shastri, whose contract as the head coach of the Indian team expired last year, will make his return to the commentary box after a long gap.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-no-longer-the-finisher-he-once-was-has-to-bat-up-the-order-for-csk-says-ex-india-cricketer-464474">MS Dhoni no longer the finisher he once was, has to bat up the order for CSK, says ex-India cricketer</a>

Both Raina and Shastri are part of Star Sports'&nbsp;Hindi commentary panel for IPL along with the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Aakash Chopra, Parthiv Patel and others. The English commentary team for IPL 2022 will be headlined by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle, Matthew Hayden, Simon Doull and Kevin Pietersen among others.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-jasprit-bumrah-to-kagiso-rabada-a-look-at-five-players-who-might-win-purple-cap-in-ipl-2022-464084">From Jasprit Bumrah to Kagiso Rabada: A look at five players who might win Purple Cap in IPL 2022</a>

IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of the season at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While Raina has opted for commentary, he has not yet announced his retirement from IPL and can be roped in by any franchise as a replacement player.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

After going unsold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) superstar Suresh Raina is all set to make his comeback to the league in a completely new role.

After going unsold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction last month, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) superstar Suresh Raina is all set to make his comeback to the league in a completely new role. Raina will be making his commentary debut in the upcoming IPL 2022 and will be looking to make his presence felt in the commentary box during the season. Raina, who is regarded as one of the best players in IPL history, is the leading run-getter of all time for Chennai Super Kings. Raina played an instrumental role in CSK's success over the years before being released by the franchise ahead of the upcoming season. Once the leading run-getter of all time in the IPL, Raina has 5528 runs in 205 matches to his name in the league. While many had expected CSK to buy Raina back at the IPL 2022 mega auction, the four-time champions decided against roping him back. His final appearance for CSK came during IPL 2021 last year. Raina will now be seen in the commentary box along with some of the legends of the game. Apart from Raina, former India head coach Ravi Shastri is also part of the star-studded commentary panel for IPL 2022 announced by Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the league. Shastri, whose contract as the head coach of the Indian team expired last year, will make his return to the commentary box after a long gap. Also Read: MS Dhoni no longer the finisher he once was, has to bat up the order for CSK, says ex-India cricketer Both Raina and Shastri are part of Star Sports' Hindi commentary panel for IPL along with the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Aakash Chopra, Parthiv Patel and others. The English commentary team for IPL 2022 will be headlined by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle, Matthew Hayden, Simon Doull and Kevin Pietersen among others. Also Read: From Jasprit Bumrah to Kagiso Rabada: A look at five players who might win Purple Cap in IPL 2022 IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of the season at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While Raina has opted for commentary, he has not yet announced his retirement from IPL and can be roped in by any franchise as a replacement player.

Suresh Raina returns to IPL! Former CSK star set to don a new role in upcoming season

Every youngster desires to play under MS Dhoni. The IPL is such a platform where a youngster, from any country, can get a chance to represent the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and better their skills and temparement by playing under the stalwart and former Indian captain.

Shivam Dube, who has earlier represented the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), has shown his hitting prowess and can bowl few overs of medium pace. However, his IPL career hasn't been flourished as yet and, hence, he has had limited appearances for Team India (1 ODI, 13 T20Is). Thus, he will like to turn things around emphatically in the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition by playing under Dhoni's leadership.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-virat-kohli-reveals-chat-with-faf-du-plessis-after-he-got-picked-by-rcb-in-mega-auction-464543">IPL 2022: Virat Kohli reveals chat with Faf du Plessis after he got picked by RCB in mega auction</a>

Ahead of the IPL 15 season, all-rounder Dube dwelled on his interaction with Dhoni so far. "I think you can still see the goosebumps coming out because always I'm a big fan of Mahi bhai and, especially CSK. I had a chat with Mahi bhai as recently as yesterday. He asked me to do a few things and I told him I'll definitely get it done. When Mahi bhai asks you to do something, consider it done," Dube told CSK.

Dube was roped in by the CSK franchise for INR 40 million (INR 4 crore). The swashbuckling left-hander&nbsp;shared his reaction and revealed, "I was very surprised that I have got a baby boy and become a father. The 2nd big thing, again, after 4 days, I got picked by Chennai. I was dancing a bit in my room, I was really happy. I called my wife and my family. I don't dance often but because I was happy, I was dancing."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-virat-kohli-or-kl-rahul-rcbs-dinesh-karthik-picks-player-to-watch-out-for-in-ipl-2022-464521">Not Virat Kohli or KL Rahul! RCB's Dinesh Karthik picks 'player to watch out for' in IPL 2022</a>

"It was a big deal for me to get picked by Chennai. I was feeling great. I can't express my excitement in words but I was pleasantly surprised by having been picked by CSK. Although it is a different franchise for me, attitude will remain the same. I have to do my best for the team's cause, which has always been my mission as a player and will always be that way going forward as well. I'm more confident now," he further added.

Dube has&nbsp;399 runs at a strike-rate of&nbsp;120.54 along with 4 wickets. He will be desperate to repay the faith shown by Dhoni &amp; Co. in the CSK dugout and return with a dream season in the forthcoming edition.

CSK squad for IPL 2022

Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c &amp; wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

Every youngster desires to play under MS Dhoni. The IPL is such a platform where a youngster, from any country, can get a chance to represent the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and better their skills and temparement by playing under the stalwart and former Indian captain.

Every youngster desires to play under MS Dhoni. The IPL is such a platform where a youngster, from any country, can get a chance to represent the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and better their skills and temparement by playing under the stalwart and former Indian captain. Shivam Dube, who has earlier represented the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), has shown his hitting prowess and can bowl few overs of medium pace. However, his IPL career hasn't been flourished as yet and, hence, he has had limited appearances for Team India (1 ODI, 13 T20Is). Thus, he will like to turn things around emphatically in the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition by playing under Dhoni's leadership. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Virat Kohli reveals chat with Faf du Plessis after he got picked by RCB in mega auction Ahead of the IPL 15 season, all-rounder Dube dwelled on his interaction with Dhoni so far. "I think you can still see the goosebumps coming out because always I'm a big fan of Mahi bhai and, especially CSK. I had a chat with Mahi bhai as recently as yesterday. He asked me to do a few things and I told him I'll definitely get it done. When Mahi bhai asks you to do something, consider it done," Dube told CSK. Dube was roped in by the CSK franchise for INR 40 million (INR 4 crore). The swashbuckling left-hander shared his reaction and revealed, "I was very surprised that I have got a baby boy and become a father. The 2nd big thing, again, after 4 days, I got picked by Chennai. I was dancing a bit in my room, I was really happy. I called my wife and my family. I don't dance often but because I was happy, I was dancing." ALSO READ | Not Virat Kohli or KL Rahul! RCB's Dinesh Karthik picks 'player to watch out for' in IPL 2022 "It was a big deal for me to get picked by Chennai. I was feeling great. I can't express my excitement in words but I was pleasantly surprised by having been picked by CSK. Although it is a different franchise for me, attitude will remain the same. I have to do my best for the team's cause, which has always been my mission as a player and will always be that way going forward as well. I'm more confident now," he further added. Dube has 399 runs at a strike-rate of 120.54 along with 4 wickets. He will be desperate to repay the faith shown by Dhoni & Co. in the CSK dugout and return with a dream season in the forthcoming edition. CSK squad for IPL 2022 Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Subhranshu Senapati, Hari Nishaanth, N Jagadeesan, Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Milne, Mukesh Choudhary, Dwayne Bravo, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki

When MS Dhoni asks you to do something, consider it done, says Shivam Dube ahead of IPL 2022 opener

KL Rahul, who will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, said that the last few months have been quite difficult as he was restricted in the bio bubble but he also believes that the bubble life has brought the team together in a very short time.<o:p></o:p>

"I think the bubbles have brought the team together. We`ve gotten to know each other a lot better. We end up spending a lot of time with each other," said KL Rahul on Red Bull Cricket on Clubhouse.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/stephen-fleming-explains-reason-behind-chennai-super-kings-camp-in-surat-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464371" hreflang="en">Fleming explains reason behind CSK camp in Surat ahead of IPL 2022</a>

Rahul was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2022 auctions. He was picked by the Lucknow side before the auctions and he will be opening the batting for his franchise this season.<o:p></o:p>

"I think the last series and the West Indies series at home really got to me. It became very difficult for me to keep myself motivated. The first few bubbles I did manage. Because I kept asking myself, ‘Where else can I be? What else can I do?’ Nothing. Cricket is the only thing I am good at and this is the thing I have chosen, so I owe it to myself," Rahul said about his experience in the bio bubble.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-a-tough-call-kl-rahul-explains-why-he-decided-to-leave-punjab-kings-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464307" hreflang="en">KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022</a>

"I kept pushing myself that way. But the last couple of months were very difficult. Shreyas and I were chatting about how it`s getting more difficult especially when your families can`t come and be with you. You need your family, your friends to just feel normal. We stopped feeling normal. We had to sleep, wake up, and go to the ground. It just became a routine. It started getting very difficult."<o:p></o:p>

The bio bubble has already caused a lot of fatigue among different players and ahead of the IPL 2022, Jason Roy and Alex Hales both decided to skip the tournament citing personal reasons.<o:p></o:p>

KL Rahul, who will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, said that the last few months have been quite difficult as he was restricted in the bio bubble but he also believes that the bubble life has brought the team together in a very short time.

KL Rahul, who will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, said that the last few months have been quite difficult as he was restricted in the bio bubble but he also believes that the bubble life has brought the team together in a very short time. "I think the bubbles have brought the team together. We`ve gotten to know each other a lot better. We end up spending a lot of time with each other," said KL Rahul on Red Bull Cricket on Clubhouse. Also read | Fleming explains reason behind CSK camp in Surat ahead of IPL 2022 Rahul was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2022 auctions. He was picked by the Lucknow side before the auctions and he will be opening the batting for his franchise this season. "I think the last series and the West Indies series at home really got to me. It became very difficult for me to keep myself motivated. The first few bubbles I did manage. Because I kept asking myself, ‘Where else can I be? What else can I do?’ Nothing. Cricket is the only thing I am good at and this is the thing I have chosen, so I owe it to myself," Rahul said about his experience in the bio bubble. Also read | KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022 "I kept pushing myself that way. But the last couple of months were very difficult. Shreyas and I were chatting about how it`s getting more difficult especially when your families can`t come and be with you. You need your family, your friends to just feel normal. We stopped feeling normal. We had to sleep, wake up, and go to the ground. It just became a routine. It started getting very difficult." The bio bubble has already caused a lot of fatigue among different players and ahead of the IPL 2022, Jason Roy and Alex Hales both decided to skip the tournament citing personal reasons.

KL Rahul points out positive side of bio bubble ahead of IPL 2022

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will kick off on March 26 with previous year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders going head-to-head in the opener. 

This season, the IPL will be played in four venues across Maharashtra. Mumbai's Wankhede and Brabourne Stadium alongside Navi Mumbai and Pune's DY Patil and Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium will be the venues.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shubman-gill-picks-favourite-opening-partner-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464356" hreflang="en">Shubman Gill picks favourite opening partner ahead of IPL 2022</a><o:p></o:p>

Most teams have already reached Mumbai and they are hosting rigorous practice sessions ahead of the start of the season. However, CSK have opted for a different approach in their training as they have travelled to the city of Surat in Gujarat which is a neighbouring state of Maharashtra.<o:p></o:p>

The move has gained a lot of attention on social media with a number of users trying to decode the reason behind this strategy and on Sunday, head coach Stephen Fleming explained the tactic.<o:p></o:p>

"It's good. They've been training well for the last week so it's nice to join them finally. It's good to be out in good facilities... The challenge obviously in Mumbai [is] that all teams are training there," said Fleming in a video posted by CSK's Twitter account.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wont-be-surprised-if-delhi-capitals-dont-make-it-to-playoffs-in-ipl-2022-aakash-chopra-464342" hreflang="en">Won't be surprised if DC don't make it to playoffs in IPL 2022: Chopra</a><o:p></o:p>

"So, we felt coming to Surat and having conditions similar in terms of the red soil and also the climate. It's not too far away and is similar to what Mumbai would be. But to have this ground to ourselves and be able to have open wickets and long net sessions have been very valuable."<o:p></o:p>

CSK will start the season as favourites after winning the last season comfortably after defeating KKR in the final.<o:p></o:p>

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will kick off on March 26 with previous year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders going head-to-head in the opener.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will kick off on March 26 with previous year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders going head-to-head in the opener. This season, the IPL will be played in four venues across Maharashtra. Mumbai's Wankhede and Brabourne Stadium alongside Navi Mumbai and Pune's DY Patil and Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium will be the venues. Also read | Shubman Gill picks favourite opening partner ahead of IPL 2022 Most teams have already reached Mumbai and they are hosting rigorous practice sessions ahead of the start of the season. However, CSK have opted for a different approach in their training as they have travelled to the city of Surat in Gujarat which is a neighbouring state of Maharashtra. The move has gained a lot of attention on social media with a number of users trying to decode the reason behind this strategy and on Sunday, head coach Stephen Fleming explained the tactic. "It's good. They've been training well for the last week so it's nice to join them finally. It's good to be out in good facilities... The challenge obviously in Mumbai [is] that all teams are training there," said Fleming in a video posted by CSK's Twitter account. Also read | Won't be surprised if DC don't make it to playoffs in IPL 2022: Chopra "So, we felt coming to Surat and having conditions similar in terms of the red soil and also the climate. It's not too far away and is similar to what Mumbai would be. But to have this ground to ourselves and be able to have open wickets and long net sessions have been very valuable." CSK will start the season as favourites after winning the last season comfortably after defeating KKR in the final.

Stephen Fleming explains reason behind Chennai Super Kings camp in Surat ahead of IPL 2022

Shubman Gill was the focal point of a lot of discussions when Kolkata Knight Riders decided to release the opener ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auctions. However, he was picked up by Gujarat Lions even before going under the hammer and with the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year, this will be a brilliant chance for Gill to make it case in front of the national selectors.<o:p></o:p>

According to PTI, Gill spoke about the various opening partners he has had during his IPL stint till now and also opened about his recent conversations with India skipper Rohit Sharma.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pat-cummins-opens-up-about-sharing-dressing-room-with-shreyas-iyer-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464329" hreflang="en">Pat Cummins opens up about sharing dressing room with Shreyas Iyer</a><o:p></o:p>

"When I started opening in IPL, my first opening partner was Chris Lynn and we had some good partnerships. I really enjoyed batting with him. For some matches, Sunil Narine opened with me. There is no specific name as such, but the right-left combination works the best."<o:p></o:p>

The young opening batsman also spoke about learning from Rohit Sharma in the recent past.<o:p></o:p>

"Pull shot is one shot that I have always liked. I recently talked to Rohit Sharma, it was about something tactically. I asked him when he hits the ball, what goes in his mind and how does he read the bowlers' mind? There was something particular that I wanted to talk to Rohit Sharma about. It was not about opening the batting," said Shubman during a media interaction as quoted by PTI.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kumar-sangakkara-calls-indian-cricketer-one-of-the-best-t20-players-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464317" hreflang="en">Sangakkara calls Indian cricketer 'one of the best T20 players' ahead of IPL</a><o:p></o:p>

When asked about missing a few matches for India due to injury, Shubman said: "When you miss a tour, it is always disappointing but the injury is something you do not have control over. I am young and I will have opportunities going ahead. But when you miss series against England and South Africa, it is a big thing as you always want to perform as a youngster in overseas Tests."<o:p></o:p>

Shubman Gill was the focal point of a lot of discussions when Kolkata Knight Riders decided to release the opener ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auctions.

Shubman Gill was the focal point of a lot of discussions when Kolkata Knight Riders decided to release the opener ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auctions. However, he was picked up by Gujarat Lions even before going under the hammer and with the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year, this will be a brilliant chance for Gill to make it case in front of the national selectors. According to PTI, Gill spoke about the various opening partners he has had during his IPL stint till now and also opened about his recent conversations with India skipper Rohit Sharma. Also read | Pat Cummins opens up about sharing dressing room with Shreyas Iyer "When I started opening in IPL, my first opening partner was Chris Lynn and we had some good partnerships. I really enjoyed batting with him. For some matches, Sunil Narine opened with me. There is no specific name as such, but the right-left combination works the best." The young opening batsman also spoke about learning from Rohit Sharma in the recent past. "Pull shot is one shot that I have always liked. I recently talked to Rohit Sharma, it was about something tactically. I asked him when he hits the ball, what goes in his mind and how does he read the bowlers' mind? There was something particular that I wanted to talk to Rohit Sharma about. It was not about opening the batting," said Shubman during a media interaction as quoted by PTI. Also read | Sangakkara calls Indian cricketer 'one of the best T20 players' ahead of IPL When asked about missing a few matches for India due to injury, Shubman said: "When you miss a tour, it is always disappointing but the injury is something you do not have control over. I am young and I will have opportunities going ahead. But when you miss series against England and South Africa, it is a big thing as you always want to perform as a youngster in overseas Tests."

Shubman Gill picks favourite opening partner ahead of IPL 2022

Lucknow Super Giants were looking to sign Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed as a replacement for injured Mark Wood ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, the franchise will not be able to rope in the fast bowler as the Bangladesh Cricket Board has refused to grant him a No-Objection Certificate to take part in the tournament.

Lucknow Super Giants had approached Taskin with an offer to play in the IPL 2022 given that he is available for the franchise throughout the season and will miss the two-match Test series against South Africa which is all set to get underway from March 31. Bangladesh are currently touring South Africa and Taskin is with the squad on the tour.

Lucknow Super Giants had contacted the Bangladesh Cricket Board to explore the possibility of signing Taskin as Wood's replacement. However, the board is not ready to provide a NOC to the fast bowler. A BCB official confirmed the same on Monday (March 21) and said Taskin has already informed the Lucknow franchise that he is declining the offer due to international commitments.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-a-tough-call-kl-rahul-explains-why-he-decided-to-leave-punjab-kings-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464307">'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022</a>

''Since we have two important series like the ongoing home tour of South Africa and the home series against India, we feel it won't be right for him to take part in the IPL,'' BCB cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus told reporters on Monday.

''We have spoken with Taskin and he has understood the whole situation. He informed the franchise that he is not playing the IPL and will be available for the South Africa tour and later will return back home," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wont-be-surprised-if-delhi-capitals-dont-make-it-to-playoffs-in-ipl-2022-aakash-chopra-464342">Won't be surprised if Delhi Capitals don't make it to playoffs in IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra</a>

Lucknow Super Giants had shelled out a whopping Rs 7.5 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month to rope in England pacer Mark Wood ahead of the new season. However, Wood has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury, leaving Lucknow panicking for a replacement as the tournament approaches.

Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2022 campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Titans on March 28 before taking on Chennai Super Kings in their next game on March 31.

Lucknow Super Giants were looking to sign Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed as a replacement for injured Mark Wood ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Lucknow Super Giants were looking to sign Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed as a replacement for injured Mark Wood ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, the franchise will not be able to rope in the fast bowler as the Bangladesh Cricket Board has refused to grant him a No-Objection Certificate to take part in the tournament. Lucknow Super Giants had approached Taskin with an offer to play in the IPL 2022 given that he is available for the franchise throughout the season and will miss the two-match Test series against South Africa which is all set to get underway from March 31. Bangladesh are currently touring South Africa and Taskin is with the squad on the tour. Lucknow Super Giants had contacted the Bangladesh Cricket Board to explore the possibility of signing Taskin as Wood's replacement. However, the board is not ready to provide a NOC to the fast bowler. A BCB official confirmed the same on Monday (March 21) and said Taskin has already informed the Lucknow franchise that he is declining the offer due to international commitments. Also Read: 'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022 ''Since we have two important series like the ongoing home tour of South Africa and the home series against India, we feel it won't be right for him to take part in the IPL,'' BCB cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus told reporters on Monday. ''We have spoken with Taskin and he has understood the whole situation. He informed the franchise that he is not playing the IPL and will be available for the South Africa tour and later will return back home," he added. Also Read: Won't be surprised if Delhi Capitals don't make it to playoffs in IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra Lucknow Super Giants had shelled out a whopping Rs 7.5 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month to rope in England pacer Mark Wood ahead of the new season. However, Wood has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury, leaving Lucknow panicking for a replacement as the tournament approaches. Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2022 campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Titans on March 28 before taking on Chennai Super Kings in their next game on March 31.

Taskin Ahmed declines offer to play for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 after BCB refuses NOC

Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals will be hoping to make it to their third straight playoffs this season after impressing in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Delhi Capitals had made it to their maiden final in IPL 2020 and topped the league stage of the tournament last year to make it to the playoffs.&nbsp;

However, they had failed to secure a spot in the final last season after losses against Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in the playoffs. DC have lost a number of superstars ahead of the new season but have also managed to improve their squad with some quality signings at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month.

DC lost the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Shikhar Dhawan, Marcus Stoinis and Shreyas Iyer among others but have signed David Warner, Shardul Thakur, Rovman Powell and Kuldeep Yadav to bolster their squad ahead of IPL 2022. While many believe Delhi Capitals can once again emerge as a strong contender for the title this year, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra thinks otherwise.

With the likes of Warner, Marsh and Mustafizur Rahman likely to miss the start of the tournament and doubts over Anrich Nortje's fitness, Chopra believes Delhi Capitals can easily lose two of their first three matches this season. Delhi Capitals will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Mumbai Indians on Sunday (March 27).

"I am slightly worried about this team. They can easily lose two of the first three matches. If they lose three out of three, there is a possibility, you can't say. Someone might win you a match with a one-man show but as a team, this does not give you a lot of confidence," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-a-tough-call-kl-rahul-explains-why-he-decided-to-leave-punjab-kings-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464307">'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022</a>

While Chopra stated that the unavailability of the players is one of the concerns for DC, the former India cricketer also explained that not much can be expected in terms of consistency and big match temperament from youngsters like Kona Srikar Bharat, &nbsp;Sarfaraz Khan and Rovman Powell. Chopra said he won't be surprised if DC fail to make it to the playoffs this year.

"I will not be surprised if this team does not make it to the playoffs. I feel there is a possibility that this team doesn't qualify because they are going with potential, the performances are just okay, they have availability issues. If they start slowly, you never know which way they will head," Chopra added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-a-fantastic-talent-irfan-pathan-picks-deepak-chahars-replacement-for-ms-dhonis-csk-in-ipl-2022-464295">'He is a fantastic talent': Irfan Pathan picks Chahar's replacement for MS Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022</a>

Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2022:&nbsp;

Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin Hebbar, Abhishek Sharma, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, KS Bharat, Mandeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Vicky Ostwal, Sarfaraz Khan

 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals will be hoping to make it to their third straight playoffs this season after impressing in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals will be hoping to make it to their third straight playoffs this season after impressing in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Delhi Capitals had made it to their maiden final in IPL 2020 and topped the league stage of the tournament last year to make it to the playoffs. However, they had failed to secure a spot in the final last season after losses against Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in the playoffs. DC have lost a number of superstars ahead of the new season but have also managed to improve their squad with some quality signings at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month. DC lost the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Shikhar Dhawan, Marcus Stoinis and Shreyas Iyer among others but have signed David Warner, Shardul Thakur, Rovman Powell and Kuldeep Yadav to bolster their squad ahead of IPL 2022. While many believe Delhi Capitals can once again emerge as a strong contender for the title this year, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra thinks otherwise. With the likes of Warner, Marsh and Mustafizur Rahman likely to miss the start of the tournament and doubts over Anrich Nortje's fitness, Chopra believes Delhi Capitals can easily lose two of their first three matches this season. Delhi Capitals will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Mumbai Indians on Sunday (March 27). "I am slightly worried about this team. They can easily lose two of the first three matches. If they lose three out of three, there is a possibility, you can't say. Someone might win you a match with a one-man show but as a team, this does not give you a lot of confidence," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel. Also Read: 'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022 While Chopra stated that the unavailability of the players is one of the concerns for DC, the former India cricketer also explained that not much can be expected in terms of consistency and big match temperament from youngsters like Kona Srikar Bharat, Sarfaraz Khan and Rovman Powell. Chopra said he won't be surprised if DC fail to make it to the playoffs this year. "I will not be surprised if this team does not make it to the playoffs. I feel there is a possibility that this team doesn't qualify because they are going with potential, the performances are just okay, they have availability issues. If they start slowly, you never know which way they will head," Chopra added. Also Read: 'He is a fantastic talent': Irfan Pathan picks Chahar's replacement for MS Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022 Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2022: Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman, Kuldeep Yadav, Ashwin Hebbar, Abhishek Sharma, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, KS Bharat, Mandeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Chetan Sakariya, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Yash Dhull, Rovman Powell, Pravin Dubey, Lungi Ngidi, Vicky Ostwal, Sarfaraz Khan

Won't be surprised if Delhi Capitals don't make it to playoffs in IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra

Kumar Sangakkara, who is currently the Director of Cricket for Indian Premier League (IPL) side Rajasthan Royals, was all praise for skipper Sanju Samson and called him one of the best T20 batsmen. 

Samson was one of the players retained by the franchise before the mega auction earlier this year and Sangakkara went on to call him an ‘absolute matchwinner’ ahead of the new season.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-a-tough-call-kl-rahul-explains-why-he-decided-to-leave-punjab-kings-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464307" hreflang="en">'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022</a><o:p></o:p>

"Irrespective of him being the captain or the future of RR, he is one of the best T20 players. He is a magnificent player, destructive, match-winner, has every ability that you want in a batter. He was captain before I took over last season. I have come to know him really well and admire him. He’s got such a passion for RR," Sangakkara said during a 'clubhouse conversation' on Red Bull Cricket.<o:p></o:p>

Samson succeeded Australia’s Steve Smith as the Rajasthan Royals captain in 2021. He was one of the best batsmen for the side last season and he will once again be a major asset for the side.<o:p></o:p>

Earlier, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma also welcomed Samson into the national side during the limited overs series against Sri Lanka. 

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-a-fantastic-talent-irfan-pathan-picks-deepak-chahars-replacement-for-ms-dhonis-csk-in-ipl-2022-464295" hreflang="en">Irfan Pathan picks Deepak Chahar's replacement for MS Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022</a>

Samson joined Rajasthan Royals from Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2018 mega auction and the move proved to be a turning point in his career. Samson has performed well at the top of the order and his wicket-keeping skills have improved over time.<o:p></o:p>

Rajasthan Royals will begin their season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 29.<o:p></o:p>

Kumar Sangakkara, who is currently the Director of Cricket for Indian Premier League (IPL) side Rajasthan Royals, was all praise for skipper Sanju Samson and called him one of the best T20 batsmen.

Kumar Sangakkara, who is currently the Director of Cricket for Indian Premier League (IPL) side Rajasthan Royals, was all praise for skipper Sanju Samson and called him one of the best T20 batsmen. Samson was one of the players retained by the franchise before the mega auction earlier this year and Sangakkara went on to call him an ‘absolute matchwinner’ ahead of the new season. Also read | 'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022 "Irrespective of him being the captain or the future of RR, he is one of the best T20 players. He is a magnificent player, destructive, match-winner, has every ability that you want in a batter. He was captain before I took over last season. I have come to know him really well and admire him. He’s got such a passion for RR," Sangakkara said during a 'clubhouse conversation' on Red Bull Cricket. Samson succeeded Australia’s Steve Smith as the Rajasthan Royals captain in 2021. He was one of the best batsmen for the side last season and he will once again be a major asset for the side. Earlier, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma also welcomed Samson into the national side during the limited overs series against Sri Lanka. Also read | Irfan Pathan picks Deepak Chahar's replacement for MS Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022 Samson joined Rajasthan Royals from Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2018 mega auction and the move proved to be a turning point in his career. Samson has performed well at the top of the order and his wicket-keeping skills have improved over time. Rajasthan Royals will begin their season against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 29.

Kumar Sangakkara calls Indian cricketer 'one of the best T20 players' ahead of IPL 2022

Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain.

While he didn't tase success as captain, Rahul was Punjab's best batter since joining the side in 2018. He notched up an impressive 2548 runs in 55 games in four seasons from 2018 to 2021 at an average of over 54 and was always among the runs for his former side.

Rahul was roped in by Lucknow Super Giants in the players'&nbsp;draft ahead of the mega auction for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million), making him the joint highest-paid player alongside Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli. Rahul will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in their debut season in the IPL this year.

Rahul recently opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings and said it was a 'tough call' but he wanted to embark on a new journey and see what was in store for him. &nbsp;

“I have been with them for four years and I’ve had a great run with them. Just wanted to see what’s in store for me and if there’s a new journey for me. It was a tough call obviously. I have been attached to Punjab for a long time. I wanted to see if I can do something else," Rahul said speaking to Red Bull Cricket.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-a-fantastic-talent-irfan-pathan-picks-deepak-chahars-replacement-for-ms-dhonis-csk-in-ipl-2022-464295">'He is a fantastic talent': Irfan Pathan picks Deepak Chahar's replacement for Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022</a>

Rahul was Punjab Kings' highest run-getter and the third-highest run-getter overall in IPL 2021 last year with 626 runs in 13 matches at a stunning average of over 62. In 2020, he had finished as the highest run-getter in the league with 670 runs from 14 games and won the Orange Cap.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-kohli-or-rohit-shreyas-iyer-picks-kl-rahul-as-his-favourite-captain-explains-why-464258">Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain, explains why</a>

After Rahul's departure from the side, Punjab Kings have named Mayank Agarwal as their new captain ahead of IPL 2022. Punjab have also roped in a number of big names in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow among others as they hunt for their maiden IPL title this year.

&nbsp;

Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain.

Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain. While he didn't tase success as captain, Rahul was Punjab's best batter since joining the side in 2018. He notched up an impressive 2548 runs in 55 games in four seasons from 2018 to 2021 at an average of over 54 and was always among the runs for his former side. Rahul was roped in by Lucknow Super Giants in the players' draft ahead of the mega auction for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million), making him the joint highest-paid player alongside Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli. Rahul will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in their debut season in the IPL this year. Rahul recently opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings and said it was a 'tough call' but he wanted to embark on a new journey and see what was in store for him. “I have been with them for four years and I’ve had a great run with them. Just wanted to see what’s in store for me and if there’s a new journey for me. It was a tough call obviously. I have been attached to Punjab for a long time. I wanted to see if I can do something else," Rahul said speaking to Red Bull Cricket. Also Read: 'He is a fantastic talent': Irfan Pathan picks Deepak Chahar's replacement for Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022 Rahul was Punjab Kings' highest run-getter and the third-highest run-getter overall in IPL 2021 last year with 626 runs in 13 matches at a stunning average of over 62. In 2020, he had finished as the highest run-getter in the league with 670 runs from 14 games and won the Orange Cap. Also Read: Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain, explains why After Rahul's departure from the side, Punjab Kings have named Mayank Agarwal as their new captain ahead of IPL 2022. Punjab have also roped in a number of big names in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow among others as they hunt for their maiden IPL title this year.

'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022

From Jasprit Bumrah to Kagiso Rabada: A look at five players who might win Purple Cap in IPL 2022

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer T Natarajan has been breathing fire in the nets ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Natarajan, who recently recovered from an injury, has joined the team's training session and is looking forward to doing well in the upcoming season. Natarajan was bought by SRH for a sum of Rs 4 crore (INR 40 million) after being released last year.

The left-arm pacer had missed the majority of IPL 2021 last year due to a knee injury. He later underwent surgery for the same and will be making his comeback in IPL 2022. Natarajan managed to ply only two games for SRH last season where he picked up two wickets before being sidelined. He will be looking to make a strong comeback for the side this year.

On Sunday, Sunrisers Hyderabad shared a clip of Natrajan bowling in the nets ahead of the new season. The left-arm pacer can be seen breaking a stump into two with one of his fiery deliveries in the nets. “When he isn't crushing your toes, he's breaking the stumps down," SRH captioned the post while sharing the video.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbUbCAElb3N/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:16px;">
<div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbUbCAElb3N/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewbox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></a></div>

<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbUbCAElb3N/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div>
</div>

<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>

<div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbUbCAElb3N/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by SunRisers Hyderabad (@sunrisershyd)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/stephen-fleming-names-three-overseas-stars-who-csk-got-for-cheap-at-ipl-2022-mega-auction-watch-464029">Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

SRH, who are known for maintaining a quality pace attack in the IPL over the years, have once again managed to form a formidable pace unit by roping some quality fast bowlers at the mega auction last month. While veteran India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is all set to spearhead the pace attacj once again, SRH also have the likes of Natarajan, Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi and Marco Jansen among others at their disposal.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-moeen-alis-availability-for-csks-opener-against-kkr-in-doubt-as-vissa-issue-delays-his-arrival-464016">Moeen Ali's availability for CSK's opener against KKR in doubt as visa issue delays his arrival</a>

Natarajan, who has played 24 matches in his IPL career so far, has 20 wickets to his name at an average of 34.40 and an economy rate of just over 8. He has been terrific with the perfect execution of yorkers in the death and can prove to be a game-changer once again for SRH this year.&nbsp;

Sunrisers Hyderabad will be opening their IPL 2022 campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 29 before locking horns with Lucknow Super Giants in their second game of the season on April 04.

&nbsp;

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer T Natarajan has been breathing fire in the nets ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Natarajan, who recently recovered from an injury, has joined the team's training session and is looking forward to doing well in the upcoming season.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pacer T Natarajan has been breathing fire in the nets ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Natarajan, who recently recovered from an injury, has joined the team's training session and is looking forward to doing well in the upcoming season. Natarajan was bought by SRH for a sum of Rs 4 crore (INR 40 million) after being released last year. The left-arm pacer had missed the majority of IPL 2021 last year due to a knee injury. He later underwent surgery for the same and will be making his comeback in IPL 2022. Natarajan managed to ply only two games for SRH last season where he picked up two wickets before being sidelined. He will be looking to make a strong comeback for the side this year. On Sunday, Sunrisers Hyderabad shared a clip of Natrajan bowling in the nets ahead of the new season. The left-arm pacer can be seen breaking a stump into two with one of his fiery deliveries in the nets. “When he isn't crushing your toes, he's breaking the stumps down," SRH captioned the post while sharing the video. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SunRisers Hyderabad (@sunrisershyd) × Also Read: Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction SRH, who are known for maintaining a quality pace attack in the IPL over the years, have once again managed to form a formidable pace unit by roping some quality fast bowlers at the mega auction last month. While veteran India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is all set to spearhead the pace attacj once again, SRH also have the likes of Natarajan, Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi and Marco Jansen among others at their disposal. Also Read: Moeen Ali's availability for CSK's opener against KKR in doubt as visa issue delays his arrival Natarajan, who has played 24 matches in his IPL career so far, has 20 wickets to his name at an average of 34.40 and an economy rate of just over 8. He has been terrific with the perfect execution of yorkers in the death and can prove to be a game-changer once again for SRH this year. Sunrisers Hyderabad will be opening their IPL 2022 campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 29 before locking horns with Lucknow Super Giants in their second game of the season on April 04.

T Natarajan breaks a stump into two as Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer breathes fire ahead of IPL 2022 - WATCH

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming said the IPL 2022 mega auction went as per their plans for the four-time champions. MS Dhoni &amp; Co. roped in a number of their former players back at the auction including the likes of Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa among others. CSK also bought a number of quality Indian youngsters, who are set to be groomed under Dhoni.

While Fleming admitted the franchise was sad about losing a couple of old players who they would have liked having back, the CSK head coach said the squad has a great mix of youth and experience. CSK had tried to get back both Faf du Plessis and Shardul Thakur but ended up missing out on their services at the mega auction.

"We are really happy it went according to plan. We lost a couple of players which we are a bit sad about but we have gained some real talent. We've got, this year, some good blend of experience and youth. So we're really excited about the way the auction went down," Fleming said speaking about CSK's auction in a video shared by the franchise.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-moeen-alis-availability-for-csks-opener-against-kkr-in-doubt-as-vissa-issue-delays-his-arrival-464016">Moeen Ali's availability for CSK's opener against KKR in doubt as visa issue delays his arrival</a> 
&nbsp;

CSK managed to rope in some quality overseas players at nominal prices at the mega auction in the form of the Kiwi trio of Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway and Adam Milne. While all-rounder Santner and fast bowler Milne were&nbsp;bought for Rs 1.9 crore (INR 19 million) each, Conway was a steal for CSK at Rs 1 crore (INR 10 million).

Speaking about the Kiwi trio, Fleming said CSK got them for cheap at the mega auction and that they are all quality players, who can impress for the team this season.

“Well, they came cheap so it was good. They are all very skilful players. Devon Conway has had a great couple of years internationally. Mitch has been a stalwart for us. And in Adam Milne, we have got a bit of pace. So all three of them have great credentials and a good skill set for us,” said the CSK head coach.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-virat-kohli-wasim-jaffer-names-indian-youngster-who-should-open-with-faf-du-plessis-for-rcb-in-ipl-2022-463973">Not Kohli! Wasim Jaffer names Indian youngster who should open with Faf du Plessis for RCB in IPL 2022</a>

While Conway is likely to open for CSK with youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad this season, Milne can be the pace spearhead for the side. Santner has also been a utility player for the Dhoni-led side and is likely to be used as a back-up all-rounder.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming said the IPL 2022 mega auction went as per their plans for the four-time champions. MS Dhoni & Co. roped in a number of their former players back at the auction including the likes of Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa among others.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming said the IPL 2022 mega auction went as per their plans for the four-time champions. MS Dhoni & Co. roped in a number of their former players back at the auction including the likes of Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa among others. CSK also bought a number of quality Indian youngsters, who are set to be groomed under Dhoni. While Fleming admitted the franchise was sad about losing a couple of old players who they would have liked having back, the CSK head coach said the squad has a great mix of youth and experience. CSK had tried to get back both Faf du Plessis and Shardul Thakur but ended up missing out on their services at the mega auction. "We are really happy it went according to plan. We lost a couple of players which we are a bit sad about but we have gained some real talent. We've got, this year, some good blend of experience and youth. So we're really excited about the way the auction went down," Fleming said speaking about CSK's auction in a video shared by the franchise. Also Read: Moeen Ali's availability for CSK's opener against KKR in doubt as visa issue delays his arrival CSK managed to rope in some quality overseas players at nominal prices at the mega auction in the form of the Kiwi trio of Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway and Adam Milne. While all-rounder Santner and fast bowler Milne were bought for Rs 1.9 crore (INR 19 million) each, Conway was a steal for CSK at Rs 1 crore (INR 10 million). Speaking about the Kiwi trio, Fleming said CSK got them for cheap at the mega auction and that they are all quality players, who can impress for the team this season. “Well, they came cheap so it was good. They are all very skilful players. Devon Conway has had a great couple of years internationally. Mitch has been a stalwart for us. And in Adam Milne, we have got a bit of pace. So all three of them have great credentials and a good skill set for us,” said the CSK head coach. Also Read: Not Kohli! Wasim Jaffer names Indian youngster who should open with Faf du Plessis for RCB in IPL 2022 While Conway is likely to open for CSK with youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad this season, Milne can be the pace spearhead for the side. Santner has also been a utility player for the Dhoni-led side and is likely to be used as a back-up all-rounder.

Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction - WATCH

ipl-0

Ipl, News on Ipl, stories on Ipl, articles on Ipl, Ipl stories at Wion, Ipl news, Ipl latest news

ipl 0