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

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

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

Lucknow Super Giants have been handed a huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as England pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the upcoming season. Wood had picked up an elbow injury during the recently-concluded first Test between England and West Indies.

Wood injured his right elbow while fielding and had walked out during the first Test against West Indies last week after bowling just 17 overs. He had bowled just five overs on Day 3 before exiting the field as the Test match ended in a draw. The pacer will not feature for his side Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022.

As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the Lucknow Super Giants have received a medical update from the England Cricket Board (ECB) confirming that Wood has been ruled out from bowling for the time being and will not be able to take part in IPL 2022. Wood was picked by Lucknow Super Giants for a sum of Rs 7.5 crore (INR 75 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month.

He was expected to play a key role for the franchise in their debut season in the IPL, pairing up with the likes of Avesh Khan, Jason Holder and Marcus Stoinis among others. However, Lucknow are now set to miss out on his services and have not yet decided on a replacement for the England fast bowler.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-does-ms-dhoni-don-no-7-jersey-csk-veteran-answers-the-big-question-ahead-of-ipl-2022-463195">Why does MS Dhoni don No. 7 jersey? CSK veteran answers the big question ahead of IPL 2022</a>

Wood's absence throughout the season is expected to heavily impact the plans of Lucknow Super Giants as they have limited overseas pace options in their squad. In the England fast bowler's absence, the likes of Holder and Stoinis will be expected to shoulder more responsibility in the powerplay and the death overs for the franchise.

KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants will be opening their IPL 2022 campaign against debutants Gujarat Titans on March 28 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. They will face defending champions Chennai Super Kings in their next game on March 31.

&nbsp;

Lucknow Super Giants have been handed a huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as England pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the upcoming season.

Lucknow Super Giants have been handed a huge blow ahead of the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as England pacer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the upcoming season. Wood had picked up an elbow injury during the recently-concluded first Test between England and West Indies. Wood injured his right elbow while fielding and had walked out during the first Test against West Indies last week after bowling just 17 overs. He had bowled just five overs on Day 3 before exiting the field as the Test match ended in a draw. The pacer will not feature for his side Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022. As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the Lucknow Super Giants have received a medical update from the England Cricket Board (ECB) confirming that Wood has been ruled out from bowling for the time being and will not be able to take part in IPL 2022. Wood was picked by Lucknow Super Giants for a sum of Rs 7.5 crore (INR 75 million) at the IPL 2022 mega auction last month. He was expected to play a key role for the franchise in their debut season in the IPL, pairing up with the likes of Avesh Khan, Jason Holder and Marcus Stoinis among others. However, Lucknow are now set to miss out on his services and have not yet decided on a replacement for the England fast bowler. Also Read: Why does MS Dhoni don No. 7 jersey? CSK veteran answers the big question ahead of IPL 2022 Wood's absence throughout the season is expected to heavily impact the plans of Lucknow Super Giants as they have limited overseas pace options in their squad. In the England fast bowler's absence, the likes of Holder and Stoinis will be expected to shoulder more responsibility in the powerplay and the death overs for the franchise. KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants will be opening their IPL 2022 campaign against debutants Gujarat Titans on March 28 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. They will face defending champions Chennai Super Kings in their next game on March 31.

Huge blow for Lucknow Super Giants as Mark Wood ruled out of IPL 2022 due to elbow injury

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the complete schedule of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

This time around the Indian Premier League is all set to have ten instead of eight teams but each team will play 14 league games like before. The ten teams have been divided into two groups of five each with Mumbai Indians and CSK headlining Group A and B respectively.

Here is a look at the two groups for IPL 2022:

Group A&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Group B 
Mumbai Indians&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Chennai Super Kings 
Kolkata Knight Riders&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Sunrisers Hyderabad&nbsp; 
Rajasthan Royals&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Royal Challengers Bangalore 
Delhi Capitals&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Punjab Kings 
Lucknow Super Giants&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Gujarat Titans

As per the new format of the IPL, each team will play twice against the other four teams in their respective groups and against the team who are placed in the same row in the other group. For an example, CSK will play twice against Mumbai Indians and the remaining four teams in Group B, while KKR will play twice against Sunrisers Hyderabad and the remaining four teams in Group A.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explained-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">&nbsp;IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

Check out the complete schedule of IPL 2022:

<img alt="IPL schedule" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d0f999d-36c7-478a-b1de-38e2f2cce7c5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/IPL%20schedule%201.png" />

<img alt="IPL schedule" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="becffb85-f81e-462b-bf1b-0f32c1a1f6c2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/IPL%20schedule%202.jpg" />

Debutants Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants will play their respective first game of the season when they lock horns against each other at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians will take on Rishabh Pant's Delhi Capitals in the second game of the season on March 27, which will see the first double-header of the season with Punjab Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore on the same day.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/deepak-chahar-to-liam-livingstone-5-players-who-earned-biggest-pay-rise-at-ipl-mega-auction-453828">Deepak Chahar to Liam Livingstone: 5 players who earned biggest pay rise at IPL mega auction</a>

There will be a total of 12 double headers in IPL 2022 with six on Saturdays and six on Sundays. The BCCI is so far announced the schedule for only the league stage of the competition featuring 70 matches in total. The venue and dates for the playoffs are yet to be announced while the final is confirmed to be played on May 29.

The final league game of the season will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings on May 22. The playoffs are expected to get underway from May 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The entire legaue stage will be hosted by four venues in Maharashtra.

The Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will host 20 matches each during the league stage while the Brabourne Stadium and the MCA Stadium in Pune will host 15 matches apiece.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the complete schedule of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the complete schedule of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. IPL 2022 is all set to get underway from March 26 with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locking horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This time around the Indian Premier League is all set to have ten instead of eight teams but each team will play 14 league games like before. The ten teams have been divided into two groups of five each with Mumbai Indians and CSK headlining Group A and B respectively. Here is a look at the two groups for IPL 2022: Group A Group B Mumbai Indians Chennai Super Kings Kolkata Knight Riders Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bangalore Delhi Capitals Punjab Kings Lucknow Super Giants Gujarat Titans As per the new format of the IPL, each team will play twice against the other four teams in their respective groups and against the team who are placed in the same row in the other group. For an example, CSK will play twice against Mumbai Indians and the remaining four teams in Group B, while KKR will play twice against Sunrisers Hyderabad and the remaining four teams in Group A. Also Read: IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups Check out the complete schedule of IPL 2022: Debutants Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants will play their respective first game of the season when they lock horns against each other at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28. Five-time champions Mumbai Indians will take on Rishabh Pant's Delhi Capitals in the second game of the season on March 27, which will see the first double-header of the season with Punjab Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore on the same day. Also Read: Deepak Chahar to Liam Livingstone: 5 players who earned biggest pay rise at IPL mega auction There will be a total of 12 double headers in IPL 2022 with six on Saturdays and six on Sundays. The BCCI is so far announced the schedule for only the league stage of the competition featuring 70 matches in total. The venue and dates for the playoffs are yet to be announced while the final is confirmed to be played on May 29. The final league game of the season will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings on May 22. The playoffs are expected to get underway from May 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The entire legaue stage will be hosted by four venues in Maharashtra. The Wankhede Stadium and DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will host 20 matches each during the league stage while the Brabourne Stadium and the MCA Stadium in Pune will host 15 matches apiece.

IPL 2022 complete schedule announced: MS Dhoni's CSK to take on KKR in season-opener

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a much-awaited affair. The two-day event was held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. During the course of the auction, as many as 590 players went under the hammer. Many marquee players earned whopping deals whereas some uncapped and inexperienced cricketers also returned with&nbsp;big-fat cheques.

On the other hand, some iconic and popular T20 players went unsold. The auction saw bidding wars for many players as the ten IPL franchises fought hard as the eight existing teams had to revamp whereas the two new additions -- in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) -- build their sides from scratch.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-jason-holder-to-tim-david-5-underrated-overseas-stars-who-fetched-big-fat-cheques-at-mega-auction-454108">From Jason Holder to Tim David: 5 underrated overseas stars who fetched big-fat cheques at mega auction</a>

Here's the maximum number of players bid by IPL franchises at mega auction (as per a report in ESPNCricinfo):

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) - 50 
Delhi Capitals (DC) - 49 
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)&nbsp;-&nbsp;48 
Rajasthan Royals (RR) -&nbsp;45 
Mumbai Indians (MI) -&nbsp;45 
LSG -&nbsp;44 
Punjab Kings (PBKS) -&nbsp;43 
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - 38 
GT -&nbsp;37 
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) - 35

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-top-5-players-who-failed-to-draw-a-single-bid-and-went-unsold-at-mega-auction-453287">IPL 2022 Unsold Players' List: Top 5 stars who failed to draw a single bid at mega auction</a>

CSK topping the list might surprise many as there were quite a few occasions when they had not bid for any player. On the other hand, the Rishabh Pant-led DC camp were on a roll, joining the bidding war on many occasions. Nonetheless, they are just one behind the defending champions on the list.

The IPL 2022 edition is set to be held in India, starting in late March. BCCI will host the group stage in Maharashtra whereas a call on the venues for the knockouts is yet to be revealed.

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a much-awaited affair. The two-day event was held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. During the course of the auction, as many as 590 players went under the hammer.

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a much-awaited affair. The two-day event was held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. During the course of the auction, as many as 590 players went under the hammer. Many marquee players earned whopping deals whereas some uncapped and inexperienced cricketers also returned with big-fat cheques. On the other hand, some iconic and popular T20 players went unsold. The auction saw bidding wars for many players as the ten IPL franchises fought hard as the eight existing teams had to revamp whereas the two new additions -- in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) -- build their sides from scratch. ALSO READ | From Jason Holder to Tim David: 5 underrated overseas stars who fetched big-fat cheques at mega auction Here's the maximum number of players bid by IPL franchises at mega auction (as per a report in ESPNCricinfo): Chennai Super Kings (CSK) - 50 Delhi Capitals (DC) - 49 Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) - 48 Rajasthan Royals (RR) - 45 Mumbai Indians (MI) - 45 LSG - 44 Punjab Kings (PBKS) - 43 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - 38 GT - 37 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) - 35 ALSO READ | IPL 2022 Unsold Players' List: Top 5 stars who failed to draw a single bid at mega auction CSK topping the list might surprise many as there were quite a few occasions when they had not bid for any player. On the other hand, the Rishabh Pant-led DC camp were on a roll, joining the bidding war on many occasions. Nonetheless, they are just one behind the defending champions on the list. The IPL 2022 edition is set to be held in India, starting in late March. BCCI will host the group stage in Maharashtra whereas a call on the venues for the knockouts is yet to be revealed.

DC, CSK, MI or RCB? Here's which franchise bid for maximum players at IPL 2022 mega auction

IPL 2022: All teams and their squad list

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a star-studded two-day affair, which took place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. The ten IPL franchises took part in the auction proceedings with an aim to build their respective squads. The two new IPL teams -- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) -- had a tougher task in&nbsp;developing a formidable unit from scratch.

Talking about the KL Rahul-led LSG franchise, they impressed one and all with their smart buying skills. Heading into the mega auction with INR 590 million -- after acquiring the services of Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi -- the Sanjiv Goenka-owned team roped in some big names as well as plenty of youngsters in the mega auction.

Lucknow roped in the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Mark Wood, Evin Lewis, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Manish Pandey, etc. to form a strong line-up before the upcoming season, set to be held in March-May. Thus, the new franchise impressed many, including former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra.

Lucknow's shopping at the mega auction was rated highly by many, with some terming it better than veteran franchises Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), etc., as they were left with not a single penny in their purse. Thus, Chopra has lauded the new IPL team.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lucknow-super-giants-complete-squad-for-ipl-2022-de-kock-holder-and-avesh-among-best-buys-for-debutants-453060">Lucknow Super Giants complete squad for IPL 2022: De Kock, Holder and Avesh among best buys for debutants</a>

Chopra said on his Youtube channel, "I have given the Lucknow Super Giants the second-most numbers. I have given them 9/10. First, they spent all the money they had; even one rupee was not left. They are phenomenal; how can someone do it with so much precision. They bought 21 players, and there are some outstanding buys.

“They had Rahul, Stoinis and Bishnoi. If you have Stoinis, you think if you can get Jason Holder. Generally, teams think if they can get Stoinis or Mitchell Marsh or Jason Holder. You don't get all three together, they have got two already,” he explained further.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-who-is-pbkss-benny-howell-first-french-born-cricketer-to-feature-in-indias-cash-rich-league-453247">IPL 2022: Who is PBKS's Benny Howell? First French-born cricketer to feature in India's cash-rich league</a>

"In Quinton de Kock, you have got a player who is 29 years old, and plays just white-ball cricket. You got him for 6.75 crores; he will open and hit, and he is left-handed. Phenomenal buy. You see Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda, and then you think Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi - they were all expensive; Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda seem to be a steal. After that, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya and Jason Holder. They also have Krishnappa Gowtham. No team has so many all-rounders. I mean go to this team if you want to make a list of multi-faceted cricketers," Chopra added.

Complete squad of Lucknow SG:

KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi, Quinton de Kock, Manish Pandey, Manan Vohra,&nbsp;Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham, Ayush Badoni, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ankit Rajpoot, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a star-studded two-day affair, which took place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. The ten IPL franchises took part in the auction proceedings with an aim to build their respective squads.

The IPL 2022 mega auction was a star-studded two-day affair, which took place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. The ten IPL franchises took part in the auction proceedings with an aim to build their respective squads. The two new IPL teams -- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) -- had a tougher task in developing a formidable unit from scratch. Talking about the KL Rahul-led LSG franchise, they impressed one and all with their smart buying skills. Heading into the mega auction with INR 590 million -- after acquiring the services of Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi -- the Sanjiv Goenka-owned team roped in some big names as well as plenty of youngsters in the mega auction. Lucknow roped in the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Mark Wood, Evin Lewis, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Manish Pandey, etc. to form a strong line-up before the upcoming season, set to be held in March-May. Thus, the new franchise impressed many, including former Indian opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra. Lucknow's shopping at the mega auction was rated highly by many, with some terming it better than veteran franchises Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), etc., as they were left with not a single penny in their purse. Thus, Chopra has lauded the new IPL team. ALSO READ | Lucknow Super Giants complete squad for IPL 2022: De Kock, Holder and Avesh among best buys for debutants Chopra said on his Youtube channel, "I have given the Lucknow Super Giants the second-most numbers. I have given them 9/10. First, they spent all the money they had; even one rupee was not left. They are phenomenal; how can someone do it with so much precision. They bought 21 players, and there are some outstanding buys. “They had Rahul, Stoinis and Bishnoi. If you have Stoinis, you think if you can get Jason Holder. Generally, teams think if they can get Stoinis or Mitchell Marsh or Jason Holder. You don't get all three together, they have got two already,” he explained further. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Who is PBKS's Benny Howell? First French-born cricketer to feature in India's cash-rich league "In Quinton de Kock, you have got a player who is 29 years old, and plays just white-ball cricket. You got him for 6.75 crores; he will open and hit, and he is left-handed. Phenomenal buy. You see Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda, and then you think Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi - they were all expensive; Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda seem to be a steal. After that, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya and Jason Holder. They also have Krishnappa Gowtham. No team has so many all-rounders. I mean go to this team if you want to make a list of multi-faceted cricketers," Chopra added. Complete squad of Lucknow SG: KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi, Quinton de Kock, Manish Pandey, Manan Vohra, Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham, Ayush Badoni, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ankit Rajpoot, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav

Not CSK or MI! Aakash Chopra impressed with new franchise for superb show at IPL 2022 mega auction

Indian Premier League - the world's richest cricket league just got bigger and better after the addition of two new teams, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT), to the existing eight franchises.

Indian Premier League - the world's richest cricket league just got bigger and better after the addition of two new teams, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT), to the existing eight franchises. Decoding the spending narratives of both new teams is slightly difficult as they have built a team from scratch. However, if we talk about Lucknow Super Giant (LSG), they have acquired some top-class players to build a strong team in the leadership of India's star batter KL Rahul. For LSG, the pre-auction picks were KL Rahul (Rs 17 cr), Marcus Stoinis (Rs 9.2 cr) and Ravi Bishnoi (Rs 4 cr) and if we see their full squad, it appears they have opted for batting all-rounders, meaning a batting heavy side. Still, they might fall short of names when it comes to batting reserves. ALSO READ | Punjab Kings break the bank for Livingstone. PBKS squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow The Playing XI of the side is quite good, however, they might struggle when it will come to bench strength. For the Playing XI, they have KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stonis, Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder, Mark Wood and Avesh Khan. There are lesser options for backup in terms of batting reserves for the first three playing spots. The first five batters in Playing XI are expected to be KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stonis, Manish Pandey, Evin Lewis (not in playing order). In the bowling department, LSG have Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ankit Rajpoot, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav. ALSO READ | Prodigal son returns to Delhi Capitals: Complete squad of DC for IPL 2022 with Warner, Marsh, Shardul in camp After the IPL 2020 Auction, here's how the squad of Lucknow Super Giants looks like: Pre-auction picks: KL Rahul (17 Cr), Marcus Stoinis (9.2 Cr), Ravi Bishnoi (4 Cr) Players acquired at IPL 2022 auction: Batters: Quinton de Kock (wk) (Rs 6.75 cr), Manish Pandey (Rs 4.60 cr), Manan Vohra (Rs 0.20 cr), Evin Lewis (Rs 2 cr). Allrounders: Jason Holder (Rs 8.75 cr), Deepak Hooda (Rs 5.75 cr), Krunal Pandya (Rs 8.25 cr), K Gowtham (Rs 0.90 cr), Ayush Badoni (Rs 0.20 cr), Kyle Mayers (Rs 0.50 cr), Karan Sharma (Rs 0.20 cr) Bowlers: Mark Wood (Rs 7.5 cr), Avesh Khan (Rs 10 cr), Ankit Rajpoot (Rs 0.50 cr), Dushmantha Chameera (Rs 2 cr), Shahbaz Nadeem (Rs 0.50 cr), Mohsin Khan (Rs 0.20 cr), Mayank Yadav (Rs 0.20 cr)

Lucknow Super Giants complete squad for IPL 2022: De Kock, Holder and Avesh among best buys for debutants

All eyes were on the newly-formed IPL team, i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in the two-day IPL 2022 mega auction, held in Bengaluru. Having picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi as their top three picks ahead of the mega auction proceedings, the Lucknow IPL team made heads turn by going all-out in buying the likes of Quinton de Kock,&nbsp;Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda on Day 1 on Saturday (February 12).

On Day 2, Lucknow mentor Gautam Gambhir named a 'steal deal' for the&nbsp;franchise which they roped in on Sunday (February 13). Lucknow bought&nbsp;former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spin-bowling all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham for INR 9 million (INR 90 lakhs). For the unversed, the MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army broke the bank for the Karnataka player in the IPL 2021 auction, buying him for INR 92.5 million (INR 9.25 crore). Hence, Gambhir called him&nbsp;a 'steal deal'.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nothing-more-dangerous-twitter-explodes-as-mi-include-jofra-archer-in-jasprit-bumrah-starrer-pace-attack-452996">Nothing more dangerous: Twitter explodes as MI include Jofra Archer in Jasprit Bumrah-starrer pace attack</a>

Speaking to official broadcaster Star Sports, on Sunday (February 13), the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gambhir firstly shared his experience of building a squad from scratch. "I have been at the auction table before but never have a built a squad from scratch as there was always a core team around which we built the squad," he said.

Gambhir then highlighted a signing from Day 2 which&nbsp;was a steal deal, as per him, for the&nbsp;franchise. "I think getting Krishnappa Gautham for 90 lakhs was a steal deal. He went for 9.25 crore last time around. We were looking for somebody to add firepower at No. 8 and with Krunal Pandya already a part of the squad, we were very happy to buy Gowtham as well," he asserted.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mega-auction-faf-du-plessis-emotional-message-for-dhonis-csk-after-joining-rcb-watch-452969">IPL 2022 mega auction: Faf du Plessis' emotional message for Dhoni's CSK after joining RCB - WATCH</a>

LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had stated after&nbsp;Day 1 of the IPL mega auction during a virtual press conference, "We are very happy with the way it's gone so far. We have got our top preferences as of now and it's gone well so far for us. We have got a great opener in Quinton, a very good all-rounder in Jason Holder. We have two quality Indian batsmen. Out of the seven people we had in the squad so far, I think there is a balance beginning to emerge. So far, it is very much on track for us."

All eyes were on the newly-formed IPL team, i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in the two-day IPL 2022 mega auction, held in Bengaluru. Having picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi as their top three picks ahead of the mega auction proceedings, the Lucknow IPL team made heads turn by going all-out in buying the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda on Day 1 on Saturday (February 12).

All eyes were on the newly-formed IPL team, i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in the two-day IPL 2022 mega auction, held in Bengaluru. Having picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi as their top three picks ahead of the mega auction proceedings, the Lucknow IPL team made heads turn by going all-out in buying the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda on Day 1 on Saturday (February 12). On Day 2, Lucknow mentor Gautam Gambhir named a 'steal deal' for the franchise which they roped in on Sunday (February 13). Lucknow bought former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spin-bowling all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham for INR 9 million (INR 90 lakhs). For the unversed, the MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army broke the bank for the Karnataka player in the IPL 2021 auction, buying him for INR 92.5 million (INR 9.25 crore). Hence, Gambhir called him a 'steal deal'. ALSO READ | Nothing more dangerous: Twitter explodes as MI include Jofra Archer in Jasprit Bumrah-starrer pace attack Speaking to official broadcaster Star Sports, on Sunday (February 13), the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gambhir firstly shared his experience of building a squad from scratch. "I have been at the auction table before but never have a built a squad from scratch as there was always a core team around which we built the squad," he said. Gambhir then highlighted a signing from Day 2 which was a steal deal, as per him, for the franchise. "I think getting Krishnappa Gautham for 90 lakhs was a steal deal. He went for 9.25 crore last time around. We were looking for somebody to add firepower at No. 8 and with Krunal Pandya already a part of the squad, we were very happy to buy Gowtham as well," he asserted. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 mega auction: Faf du Plessis' emotional message for Dhoni's CSK after joining RCB - WATCH LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had stated after Day 1 of the IPL mega auction during a virtual press conference, "We are very happy with the way it's gone so far. We have got our top preferences as of now and it's gone well so far for us. We have got a great opener in Quinton, a very good all-rounder in Jason Holder. We have two quality Indian batsmen. Out of the seven people we had in the squad so far, I think there is a balance beginning to emerge. So far, it is very much on track for us."

IPL 2022 mega auction: Gautam Gambhir names ex-CSK player as 'steal deal' for Lucknow Super Giants

Shreyas Iyer, the former Delhi Capitals (DC) captain, has gone for a whopping sum at the ongoing IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12). Iyer, who led the DC franchise to their maiden and only final in 2020 season, has been sold to the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 122.5 million (Rs 12.25 crore).

Iyer was expected to be in huge demand in the mega auction. As expected, the 27-year-old youngster triggered a bidding war between DC and the KKR franchise before the latter had the last laugh in the auction proceedings. The Delhi camp bid aggressively for him before the KKR unit jumped in at INR 70 million (Rs 7 crore) and bought Iyer for a humongous sum.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-has-kept-whopping-amount-aside-for-shreyas-iyer-in-ipl-2022-mega-auction-reveals-aakash-chopra-449807">RCB has kept whopping amount aside for Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2022 mega auction, reveals Aakash Chopra</a>

Iyer had only represented the Delhi franchise -- debuting in 2015 season -- and revamped the franchise under his leadership. He, however, lost the top job to Rishabh Pant after missing the first leg of IPL 2021 edition and played under the keeper-batter in the second and final leg of IPL 14 last year. After not being retained by the DC franchise, the right-hander has been roped in by the KKR dugout as he will now look to lead the Kolkata-based team to their third title in the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, to be held in India.

Iyer has&nbsp;amassed&nbsp;2,375 in 87 games at a strike-rate of&nbsp;123.96.

Shreyas Iyer, the former Delhi Capitals (DC) captain, has gone for a whopping sum at the ongoing IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12).

Shreyas Iyer, the former Delhi Capitals (DC) captain, has gone for a whopping sum at the ongoing IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12). Iyer, who led the DC franchise to their maiden and only final in 2020 season, has been sold to the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 122.5 million (Rs 12.25 crore). Iyer was expected to be in huge demand in the mega auction. As expected, the 27-year-old youngster triggered a bidding war between DC and the KKR franchise before the latter had the last laugh in the auction proceedings. The Delhi camp bid aggressively for him before the KKR unit jumped in at INR 70 million (Rs 7 crore) and bought Iyer for a humongous sum. ALSO READ | RCB has kept whopping amount aside for Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2022 mega auction, reveals Aakash Chopra Iyer had only represented the Delhi franchise -- debuting in 2015 season -- and revamped the franchise under his leadership. He, however, lost the top job to Rishabh Pant after missing the first leg of IPL 2021 edition and played under the keeper-batter in the second and final leg of IPL 14 last year. After not being retained by the DC franchise, the right-hander has been roped in by the KKR dugout as he will now look to lead the Kolkata-based team to their third title in the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, to be held in India. Iyer has amassed 2,375 in 87 games at a strike-rate of 123.96.

New KKR captain? Shreyas Iyer roped in by two-time champions for whopping INR 122.5 million

Avesh Khan, who had a memorable run for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2021, has made heads turn by becoming the highest-ever uncapped player&nbsp;during Day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12). He, thus, went&nbsp;past K Gowtham’s 9.25 cr in 2021 (CSK) to create a new record among uncapped players.

When broadcaster Charu Sharma announced the players from the uncapped list, Avesh's name attracted quite a lot of franchises as he saw several teams bidding for him. The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Mumbai Indians (MI) and the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were engaged in an intense bidding war for the 25-year-old pacer, who eventually went to the KL Rahul-led Lucknow franchise for a whopping price of INR 100 million (INR 10 crore).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-aakash-chopra-names-virat-kohlis-successor-as-rcb-pick-star-players-in-mega-auction-452770">IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra names Virat Kohli's successor as RCB pick star players in mega auction</a>

For the unversed, Avesh had a breath-through season in IPL 2021 edition, accounting for a total of 24 wickets -- second-most overall --&nbsp;at an average of 18.75. He, thus, played a key role in taking Pant &amp; Co. to the playoffs. He, however, wasn't retained by Delhi camp as they went ahead and retained Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel and Anrich Nortje.

DC, surprisingly, also didn't bid for Avesh; having already invested a huge sum on several players.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-stalwart-suresh-raina-goes-unsold-at-ipl-2022-mega-auction-452593">CSK stalwart Suresh Raina goes UNSOLD at IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Prior to the mega auction proceedings, R Ashwin -- Avesh's ex-DC teammate -- had predicted a huge bidding war for the young speedster.&nbsp;"There is definitely going to be a bidding war for Avesh Khan. No doubt about that. Guarantee. Just like how Vijay Mallya fought for me with CSK in 2010, I can picture a Parth Jindal or a Kiran Rao fighting it out for Avesh Khan this year. With whom will they fight? Well, that might be any team," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Surely, many are highly&nbsp;impressed with Avesh as he will now look to replicate his previous season's performance in the Rahul-led Lucknow franchise.

Avesh Khan, who had a memorable run for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2021, has made heads turn by becoming the highest-ever uncapped player during Day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12).

Avesh Khan, who had a memorable run for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2021, has made heads turn by becoming the highest-ever uncapped player during Day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12). He, thus, went past K Gowtham’s 9.25 cr in 2021 (CSK) to create a new record among uncapped players. When broadcaster Charu Sharma announced the players from the uncapped list, Avesh's name attracted quite a lot of franchises as he saw several teams bidding for him. The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Mumbai Indians (MI) and the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were engaged in an intense bidding war for the 25-year-old pacer, who eventually went to the KL Rahul-led Lucknow franchise for a whopping price of INR 100 million (INR 10 crore). ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra names Virat Kohli's successor as RCB pick star players in mega auction For the unversed, Avesh had a breath-through season in IPL 2021 edition, accounting for a total of 24 wickets -- second-most overall -- at an average of 18.75. He, thus, played a key role in taking Pant & Co. to the playoffs. He, however, wasn't retained by Delhi camp as they went ahead and retained Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel and Anrich Nortje. DC, surprisingly, also didn't bid for Avesh; having already invested a huge sum on several players. ALSO READ | CSK stalwart Suresh Raina goes UNSOLD at IPL 2022 mega auction Prior to the mega auction proceedings, R Ashwin -- Avesh's ex-DC teammate -- had predicted a huge bidding war for the young speedster. "There is definitely going to be a bidding war for Avesh Khan. No doubt about that. Guarantee. Just like how Vijay Mallya fought for me with CSK in 2010, I can picture a Parth Jindal or a Kiran Rao fighting it out for Avesh Khan this year. With whom will they fight? Well, that might be any team," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. Surely, many are highly impressed with Avesh as he will now look to replicate his previous season's performance in the Rahul-led Lucknow franchise.

IPL 2022 mega auction: Avesh Khan becomes highest-ever uncapped pick, sold for Rs 10 crore

Ishan Kishan has created a huge storm. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was expected to make heads turn in the IPL 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12). As expected, he&nbsp;attracted quite a lot of bids as soon as broadcaster Charu Sharma announced his name in the middle.&nbsp;

Mumbai Indians (MI), Gujarat Titans (GT), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS) were involved in an intense bidding war for the youngster before the five-time champions Rohit Sharma-led MI camp regained Ishan's services for INR 152.5 million (INR 15.25 crore).&nbsp;The swashbuckling keeper-batter has a strike-rate of&nbsp;136.34 and has been groomed in the MI setup. In IPL 2020, he returned with 516 runs at 145.76 and played a key role in the Men in Blue's title win.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-kkr-captain-shreyas-iyer-roped-in-by-two-time-champions-for-whopping-inr-1225-million-452572">New KKR captain? Shreyas Iyer roped in by two-time champions for whopping INR 122.5 million</a>

Ishan has now become the costliest buy on Day 1 of the two-day mega auction in Bengaluru. He has also shattered record by being the most expensive player bought by the Mumbai-based franchise in the auction proceedings.&nbsp;

So far, Ishan has amassed&nbsp;1,452 runs in 61 IPL games at a strike-rate of 136.34 with a high score of 99. He has been hailed by many former cricketers and experts of the game for his wide range of shots and also being a gun fielder if not given the keeper's gloves. Deemed to be the next-big-thing, Ishan has surely made heads turn by going at a whopping price in the two-day mega auction.

Ishan Kishan has created a huge storm. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was expected to make heads turn in the IPL 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12).

Ishan Kishan has created a huge storm. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was expected to make heads turn in the IPL 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12). As expected, he attracted quite a lot of bids as soon as broadcaster Charu Sharma announced his name in the middle. Mumbai Indians (MI), Gujarat Titans (GT), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS) were involved in an intense bidding war for the youngster before the five-time champions Rohit Sharma-led MI camp regained Ishan's services for INR 152.5 million (INR 15.25 crore). The swashbuckling keeper-batter has a strike-rate of 136.34 and has been groomed in the MI setup. In IPL 2020, he returned with 516 runs at 145.76 and played a key role in the Men in Blue's title win. ALSO READ | New KKR captain? Shreyas Iyer roped in by two-time champions for whopping INR 122.5 million Ishan has now become the costliest buy on Day 1 of the two-day mega auction in Bengaluru. He has also shattered record by being the most expensive player bought by the Mumbai-based franchise in the auction proceedings. So far, Ishan has amassed 1,452 runs in 61 IPL games at a strike-rate of 136.34 with a high score of 99. He has been hailed by many former cricketers and experts of the game for his wide range of shots and also being a gun fielder if not given the keeper's gloves. Deemed to be the next-big-thing, Ishan has surely made heads turn by going at a whopping price in the two-day mega auction.

IPL 2022 mega auction: Mumbai Indians go all out to buy back Ishan Kishan for Rs 15.25 crore

Debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) went bonkers on Day 1 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12) as they broke the bank to secure the signings of the likes of Jason Holder, Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda.

Lucknow Super Giants made their first signing at the IPL mega auction in the form of South Africa wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock for a sum of Rs&nbsp;Rs 6.25 crore (INR 62.5 million). De Kock was part of the Mumbai Indians squad last season and has been a consistent run-getter in the IPL over the years.

He is likely to open the batting with KL Rahul for the Super Giants, who fended off competition from the likes of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings to secure the signing of the Proteas star at the mega auction. De Kock has so far played 77 matches in his IPL career and has amassed 2256 runs at a strike rate of over 130.

Lucknow Super Giants spend big on Jason Holder, Deepak Hooda&nbsp;

After securing the signing of De Kock, Lucknow were quick to move into action yet again as they went after West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder. Holder was expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the IPL 2022 mega auction and he turned out to be one as several teams joined the bidding war for him.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-beat-csk-and-dc-to-rope-in-faf-du-plessis-for-a-whopping-rs-70-million-at-ipl-2022-mega-auction-452582">RCB beat CSK and DC to rope in Faf du Plessis for a whopping Rs 70 million at IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

The likes of Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals all joined the race for his signing before Lucknow eventually managed to get him for Rs 8.75 crore (INR 87.5 million). Lucknow also roped in Indian all-rounder Deepak Hooda after spending a whopping Rs&nbsp;Rs 5.75 crore (INR 57.5 million) on him at the mega auction.

Debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) went bonkers on Day 1 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12) as they broke the bank to secure the signings of the likes of Jason Holder, Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda.

Debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) went bonkers on Day 1 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12) as they broke the bank to secure the signings of the likes of Jason Holder, Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda. Lucknow Super Giants made their first signing at the IPL mega auction in the form of South Africa wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock for a sum of Rs Rs 6.25 crore (INR 62.5 million). De Kock was part of the Mumbai Indians squad last season and has been a consistent run-getter in the IPL over the years. He is likely to open the batting with KL Rahul for the Super Giants, who fended off competition from the likes of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings to secure the signing of the Proteas star at the mega auction. De Kock has so far played 77 matches in his IPL career and has amassed 2256 runs at a strike rate of over 130. Lucknow Super Giants spend big on Jason Holder, Deepak Hooda After securing the signing of De Kock, Lucknow were quick to move into action yet again as they went after West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder. Holder was expected to be one of the most sought-after players in the IPL 2022 mega auction and he turned out to be one as several teams joined the bidding war for him. Also Read: RCB beat CSK and DC to rope in Faf du Plessis for a whopping Rs 70 million at IPL 2022 mega auction The likes of Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals all joined the race for his signing before Lucknow eventually managed to get him for Rs 8.75 crore (INR 87.5 million). Lucknow also roped in Indian all-rounder Deepak Hooda after spending a whopping Rs Rs 5.75 crore (INR 57.5 million) on him at the mega auction.

KL Rahul's Lucknow Super Giants spend big on Jason Holder, Quinton de Kock at IPL 2022 mega auction

Less than 24 hours are left for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction to get underway in Bengaluru. The two-day event will be held on February 12 and 13 with all ten teams looking to rope in the best of talents from across the globe. As many as 590 players are set to go under the hammer at the IPL 2022 mega auction.

This year's mega auction will see the debut of the Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, which are the two new teams to have been introduced to the IPL roster from the 2022 season. While the existing eight teams had been given an option to retain a maximum of four players each, the two new teams were allowed to pick at least three players from the players draft ahead of the mega auction.

All ten teams have been given a total purse of Rs 90 crore (INR 900 million) to&nbsp;spend at the mega auction and have to build their respective squads within the allotted budget. While some teams have retained four players, spending a sum of Rs 42 crore in total, some have retained only three players and have spent a lesser amount.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ms-dhoni-to-virat-kohli-a-look-at-first-ipl-salaries-of-superstar-cricketers-450783">MS Dhoni to Virat Kohli: A look at first IPL salaries of superstar cricketers</a>

While Punjab Kings have the highest amount remaining in their purse at Rs 72 crore (INR 720 crore), Delhi Capitals have the lowest remaining amount in their purse with Rs 47.5 crore (INR 475 million).&nbsp;Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, here is a look at the remaining purse of all ten teams:

Punjab Kings - Rs 72 crore (INR 720 million)

Players retained -&nbsp;Arshdeep Singh,&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Mayank Agarwal&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals - ₹62 crore (INR 620 million)

Players retained -&nbsp;Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal

Lucknow Super Giants - ₹58 crore (INR 580 million)

Players retained - KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi

Royal Challengers Bangalore - ₹57 crore (INR 570 million)

Players retained - Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj

Gujarat Titans - ₹52 crore (INR 520 million)

Players retained -&nbsp;Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill

Chennai Super Kings - ₹48 crore (INR 480 million)

Players retained -&nbsp;Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad

Mumbai Indians - ₹48 crore (INR 480 million)

Players retained - Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, Suryakumar Yadav

Kolkata Knight Riders - ₹48 crore (INR 480 million)

Players retained -&nbsp;Andre Russell, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine

Delhi Capitals - ₹47.5 crore&nbsp;(INR 475&nbsp;million)

Players retained -&nbsp;Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Anrich Nortje

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Less than 24 hours are left for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction to get underway in Bengaluru. The two-day event will be held on February 12 and 13 with all ten teams looking to rope in the best of talents from across the globe.

Less than 24 hours are left for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction to get underway in Bengaluru. The two-day event will be held on February 12 and 13 with all ten teams looking to rope in the best of talents from across the globe. As many as 590 players are set to go under the hammer at the IPL 2022 mega auction. This year's mega auction will see the debut of the Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, which are the two new teams to have been introduced to the IPL roster from the 2022 season. While the existing eight teams had been given an option to retain a maximum of four players each, the two new teams were allowed to pick at least three players from the players draft ahead of the mega auction. All ten teams have been given a total purse of Rs 90 crore (INR 900 million) to spend at the mega auction and have to build their respective squads within the allotted budget. While some teams have retained four players, spending a sum of Rs 42 crore in total, some have retained only three players and have spent a lesser amount. Also Read: MS Dhoni to Virat Kohli: A look at first IPL salaries of superstar cricketers While Punjab Kings have the highest amount remaining in their purse at Rs 72 crore (INR 720 crore), Delhi Capitals have the lowest remaining amount in their purse with Rs 47.5 crore (INR 475 million). Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, here is a look at the remaining purse of all ten teams: Punjab Kings - Rs 72 crore (INR 720 million) Players retained - Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Agarwal Rajasthan Royals - ₹62 crore (INR 620 million) Players retained - Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal Lucknow Super Giants - ₹58 crore (INR 580 million) Players retained - KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi Royal Challengers Bangalore - ₹57 crore (INR 570 million) Players retained - Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj Gujarat Titans - ₹52 crore (INR 520 million) Players retained - Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill Chennai Super Kings - ₹48 crore (INR 480 million) Players retained - Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Moeen Ali, Ruturaj Gaikwad Mumbai Indians - ₹48 crore (INR 480 million) Players retained - Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, Suryakumar Yadav Kolkata Knight Riders - ₹48 crore (INR 480 million) Players retained - Andre Russell, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine Delhi Capitals - ₹47.5 crore (INR 475 million) Players retained - Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel Anrich Nortje

CSK to RCB: A look at the remaining purse of all ten teams ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has defended KL Rahul after intense criticism over his poor captaincy in the recently-concluded ODI series between India and South Africa. Rahul-led India suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the three-match series against the hosts. Rahul had been asked to lead the side against the Proteas in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who was out injured.

Gambhir said it is too early to judge Rahul as a leader on the basis of just four matches that he has led India in so far. Rahul had earlier led India in the second Test of the three-match series against South Africa which the visitors lost before losing all three ODIs on the tour. In four matches that he has led India in, Rahul has failed to inspire his side to even a single win.

Rahul has been facing intense criticism for his poor captaincy in the series with many questioning his leadership credentials. However, Gambhir has responded to the star batter's critics and said it is unfair to judge Rahul so early.&nbsp;

"Sometimes we start relating someone just with performances and the results. It's too early to judge someone by just captaining 4 games," Gambhir was quoted as saying by India Today.

While Rahul is yet to win a game as the captain of the Indian team, he led Punjab Kings for two seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he failed to take the team to the playoffs in both seasons. Rahul has now left Punjab to join the Lucknow Super Giants team ahead of the new season and Gambhir has been roped in as the mentor of the Lucknow franchise.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/370-indians-220-overseas-stars-up-for-grabs-complete-list-of-590-players-for-ipl-2022-mega-auction-">370 Indians, 220 overseas stars up for grabs: Complete list of 590 players for IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Gambhir believes Rahul has the attributes of a great captain and has a bright future as a leader in the game. Rahul will lead Lucknow Super Giants in their debut season in the IPL this year. Though Gambhir admitted Rahul is a work in progress as captain, he believes the star batter has the qualities to become a successful captain.

"But the most important attribute a leader should have is he doesn't fly too high that he doesn't go down too deep either. That is probably the best quality KL Rahul has. Always captaincy is a work in progress. You can never say, as a player or as a leader, that you have achieved everything. You want to keep improving every day. You got to be the best of yourself till the last day of your career," said Gambhir.

"Whatever I have seen of KL, he has a great, great future ahead not only as a batter but as a leader as well. Because that is a quality that very few people have - being calm and composed. When you start doing that, that reflects on the entire team as well.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/warner-iyer-rabada-and-7-others-part-of-marquee-set-at-ipl-2022-mega-auction-see-full-list-449521">Warner, Iyer, Rabada and 7 others part of marquee set at IPL 2022 mega auction, see full list</a>

"When you have that kind of leader, the entire squad will benefit a lot. And I am sure he is going to do that, knowing the kind of person that he is," added the Lucknow Super Giants mentor.

Rahul, who has not had great campaign as captain in the IPL in the last two seasons, will be hoping to spark a turnaround this year as the skipper of the Lucknow Super Giants. The newly-introduced franchise has roped in Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.

&nbsp;

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has defended KL Rahul after intense criticism over his poor captaincy in the recently-concluded ODI series between India and South Africa.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has defended KL Rahul after intense criticism over his poor captaincy in the recently-concluded ODI series between India and South Africa. Rahul-led India suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the three-match series against the hosts. Rahul had been asked to lead the side against the Proteas in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, who was out injured. Gambhir said it is too early to judge Rahul as a leader on the basis of just four matches that he has led India in so far. Rahul had earlier led India in the second Test of the three-match series against South Africa which the visitors lost before losing all three ODIs on the tour. In four matches that he has led India in, Rahul has failed to inspire his side to even a single win. Rahul has been facing intense criticism for his poor captaincy in the series with many questioning his leadership credentials. However, Gambhir has responded to the star batter's critics and said it is unfair to judge Rahul so early. "Sometimes we start relating someone just with performances and the results. It's too early to judge someone by just captaining 4 games," Gambhir was quoted as saying by India Today. While Rahul is yet to win a game as the captain of the Indian team, he led Punjab Kings for two seasons in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he failed to take the team to the playoffs in both seasons. Rahul has now left Punjab to join the Lucknow Super Giants team ahead of the new season and Gambhir has been roped in as the mentor of the Lucknow franchise. Also Read: 370 Indians, 220 overseas stars up for grabs: Complete list of 590 players for IPL 2022 mega auction Gambhir believes Rahul has the attributes of a great captain and has a bright future as a leader in the game. Rahul will lead Lucknow Super Giants in their debut season in the IPL this year. Though Gambhir admitted Rahul is a work in progress as captain, he believes the star batter has the qualities to become a successful captain. "But the most important attribute a leader should have is he doesn't fly too high that he doesn't go down too deep either. That is probably the best quality KL Rahul has. Always captaincy is a work in progress. You can never say, as a player or as a leader, that you have achieved everything. You want to keep improving every day. You got to be the best of yourself till the last day of your career," said Gambhir. "Whatever I have seen of KL, he has a great, great future ahead not only as a batter but as a leader as well. Because that is a quality that very few people have - being calm and composed. When you start doing that, that reflects on the entire team as well. Also Read: Warner, Iyer, Rabada and 7 others part of marquee set at IPL 2022 mega auction, see full list "When you have that kind of leader, the entire squad will benefit a lot. And I am sure he is going to do that, knowing the kind of person that he is," added the Lucknow Super Giants mentor. Rahul, who has not had great campaign as captain in the IPL in the last two seasons, will be hoping to spark a turnaround this year as the skipper of the Lucknow Super Giants. The newly-introduced franchise has roped in Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction.

'Too early to judge': Gautam Gambhir responds to KL Rahul's critics after his poor captaincy vs South Africa

The Lucknow-based Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise announced its name on Monday (January 24), ending weeks of speculation. The RPSG Group-owned franchise will be called the Lucknow Super Giants. The team will be led by India's vice-captain KL Rahul, who has been roped in by the franchise for a whopping sum of Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million) making him the joint-highest earner in an IPL season.

Lucknow franchise is owned by the RPSG Group, which had bought the now-defunct IPL team Rising Pune Supergiant. The Pune-based franchise had taken part in the IPL for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 along with Gujarat Lions. RPSG Group owner Sanjeev Goenka while revealing the name of the Lucknow team, said it was picked after a vote from fans.

However, fans on Twitter were&nbsp;quick to come up with hilarious reactions to the franchise owners making a bare minimum effort in terms of naming their new franchise which is heavily inspired by the name of their erstwhile Pune team. IPL teams also joined the bandwagon and reacted to Pune's name reveal with cheeky tweets.

Rajasthan Royals came up with a hilarious response to the name reveal as they tweeted&nbsp;"Pun(e) intended," while reacting to Team Lucknow's tweet. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) also welcomed the new franchise to the IPL and wrote - "Super' Name Machi!"

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'Super' Name Machi! <a href="https://t.co/RoWqWWrTRJ">https://t.co/RoWqWWrTRJ</a>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-shreyas-iyer-aakash-chopra-names-west-indies-all-rounder-who-should-replace-virat-kohli-as-rcb-captain-447439">Not Shreyas Iyer!&nbsp;Chopra names West Indies all-rounder who should replace Virat Kohli as RCB captain</a>

The Rising Pune Super Giants have roped in Rahul, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi as the three picks from players draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction next month. The new franchise will be focused on building a strong squad to challenge for the title in their debut season.

Ahmedabad IPL team, which is the other team all set to debut in the competition this year, has roped in star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya as captain while Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan and Indian batter Shubman Gill are their other two picks ahead of the auction.

&nbsp;

The Lucknow-based Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise announced its name on Monday (January 24), ending weeks of speculation. The RPSG Group-owned franchise will be called the Lucknow Super Giants.

The Lucknow-based Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise announced its name on Monday (January 24), ending weeks of speculation. The RPSG Group-owned franchise will be called the Lucknow Super Giants. The team will be led by India's vice-captain KL Rahul, who has been roped in by the franchise for a whopping sum of Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million) making him the joint-highest earner in an IPL season. Lucknow franchise is owned by the RPSG Group, which had bought the now-defunct IPL team Rising Pune Supergiant. The Pune-based franchise had taken part in the IPL for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 along with Gujarat Lions. RPSG Group owner Sanjeev Goenka while revealing the name of the Lucknow team, said it was picked after a vote from fans. However, fans on Twitter were quick to come up with hilarious reactions to the franchise owners making a bare minimum effort in terms of naming their new franchise which is heavily inspired by the name of their erstwhile Pune team. IPL teams also joined the bandwagon and reacted to Pune's name reveal with cheeky tweets. Rajasthan Royals came up with a hilarious response to the name reveal as they tweeted "Pun(e) intended," while reacting to Team Lucknow's tweet. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) also welcomed the new franchise to the IPL and wrote - "Super' Name Machi!" 'Super' Name Machi! https://t.co/RoWqWWrTRJ — Chennai Super Kings - Mask Pdu Whistle Pdu! (@ChennaiIPL) January 25, 2022 × Pun(e) intended https://t.co/0BSl8twqat pic.twitter.com/yqujgBr5cJ — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) January 24, 2022 × Also Read: Not Shreyas Iyer! Chopra names West Indies all-rounder who should replace Virat Kohli as RCB captain The Rising Pune Super Giants have roped in Rahul, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi as the three picks from players draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction next month. The new franchise will be focused on building a strong squad to challenge for the title in their debut season. Ahmedabad IPL team, which is the other team all set to debut in the competition this year, has roped in star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya as captain while Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan and Indian batter Shubman Gill are their other two picks ahead of the auction.

'Pun(e) intended': How CSK, Rajasthan Royals reacted to Lucknow Super Giants' name announcement

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has issued a warning to the Lucknow Super Giants players ahead of their debut season in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir, a two-time IPL-winning captain will be serving as the mentor of the newly-integrated franchise in IPL 2022. The former India opener is known for his outspoken nature and never shies away from putting his message across loud and clear.

Gambhir will be returning to the Indian Premier League for the first time since his retirement as a player and will be taking up the role of a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants. Lucknow are one of the two new teams who are set to make their debut in the IPL this year. Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction which is all set to take place next month, Gambhir has sent a stern message to the current players and the probable players of the franchise.

Gambhir has said he would not want players in his team who are playing in the IPL with the ultimate aim of playing for India. The former opener believes playing for India is a byproduct of the player's performances in the league and that if a player is using the IPL as a platform to play for India in future then he is being dishonest to the franchise.

"When I’ve captained, I have always said I don’t want players thinking of playing for India. I want players thinking of playing for the franchise. Playing for India is just the byproduct," Gambhir said on the show Backstage with Boria.

"If you think of playing for India and you start saying that Lucknow gives me that platform to play for India, then you are being dishonest to the franchise. But if you were to play for Lucknow and deliver it for Lucknow, eventually you will end up playing for India."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lucknow-super-giants-rpsg-group-owned-ipl-franchise-unveil-their-name-ahead-of-debut-season-447209">Lucknow Super Giants! RPSG Group-owned IPL franchise unveil their name ahead of debut season</a>

Gambhir believes the players' ultimate aim should not be to use IPL as a platform t relaise their dream of playing for India but to make sure they give their hundred percent in delivering for the franchise and win the tournament for them. The former India opener said players should take IPL as a platform to showcase their talent.

"So probably in those two months, I would not want any of the players saying or thinking that my job or my ultimate aim is to play for India. Their ultimate aim for those two months is to win the tournament for the franchise. And if they look to do that with their performances, they will eventually go on to play for India," said Gambhir.

"And IPL is not a platform to go on to play for India. IPL is a platform to showcase your talent to the world, and that is how players should think about it," he added.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has issued a warning to the Lucknow Super Giants players ahead of their debut season in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir, a two-time IPL-winning captain will be serving as the mentor of the newly-integrated franchise in IPL 2022.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has issued a warning to the Lucknow Super Giants players ahead of their debut season in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Gambhir, a two-time IPL-winning captain will be serving as the mentor of the newly-integrated franchise in IPL 2022. The former India opener is known for his outspoken nature and never shies away from putting his message across loud and clear. Gambhir will be returning to the Indian Premier League for the first time since his retirement as a player and will be taking up the role of a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants. Lucknow are one of the two new teams who are set to make their debut in the IPL this year. Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction which is all set to take place next month, Gambhir has sent a stern message to the current players and the probable players of the franchise. Gambhir has said he would not want players in his team who are playing in the IPL with the ultimate aim of playing for India. The former opener believes playing for India is a byproduct of the player's performances in the league and that if a player is using the IPL as a platform to play for India in future then he is being dishonest to the franchise. "When I’ve captained, I have always said I don’t want players thinking of playing for India. I want players thinking of playing for the franchise. Playing for India is just the byproduct," Gambhir said on the show Backstage with Boria. "If you think of playing for India and you start saying that Lucknow gives me that platform to play for India, then you are being dishonest to the franchise. But if you were to play for Lucknow and deliver it for Lucknow, eventually you will end up playing for India." Also Read: Lucknow Super Giants! RPSG Group-owned IPL franchise unveil their name ahead of debut season Gambhir believes the players' ultimate aim should not be to use IPL as a platform t relaise their dream of playing for India but to make sure they give their hundred percent in delivering for the franchise and win the tournament for them. The former India opener said players should take IPL as a platform to showcase their talent. "So probably in those two months, I would not want any of the players saying or thinking that my job or my ultimate aim is to play for India. Their ultimate aim for those two months is to win the tournament for the franchise. And if they look to do that with their performances, they will eventually go on to play for India," said Gambhir. "And IPL is not a platform to go on to play for India. IPL is a platform to showcase your talent to the world, and that is how players should think about it," he added.

Mentor Gambhir issues warning to Lucknow players: If you think of playing for India, you are being dishonest

After several weeks of speculation, the Lucknow Indian Premier League (IPL) side has finally announced their name ahead of their debut season in the tournament. The franchise which is owned by Sanjeev Goenka-led RPSG Group will be called the Lucknow Super Giants.

The RPSG Group bought the franchise after a successful bid of a whopping Rs 7090 Crore (INR 70.09 billion) last year. Lucknow Super Giants are one of the two new teams who will be making their IPL debut this year. The other team which is all set to make its debut in the competition this year is the Ahmedabad IPL side which is yet to confirm its official name.

Lucknow Super Giants have roped in India's limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul as their skipper. The team has also picked Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi from the players draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction next month.

While Rahul was roped in for a sum of Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million), Stoinis was picked for Rs 9.2 crore (INR 92 million) and Bishnoi will be earning Rs 4 crore (INR 40 million) per season. Lucknow Super Giants will be looking to build their squad around the three players in the upcoming mega auction.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lucknow-franchise-rope-in-kl-rahul-marcus-stoinis-and-ravi-bishnoi-ahead-of-ipl-2022-mega-auction-446565">Lucknow franchise rope in KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Ahmedabad IPL franchise, on the other hand, has picked star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan and Indian batter Shubman Gill as their picks ahead of the mega auction. Hardik, who was part of the Mumbai Indians squad from the 2015 to 2021 season, will lead the Ahmedabad franchise in their debut season this year.

The IPL 2022 mega auction will be conducted in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13.

After several weeks of speculation, the Lucknow Indian Premier League (IPL) side has finally announced their name ahead of their debut season in the tournament. The franchise which is owned by Sanjeev Goenka-led RPSG Group will be called the Lucknow Super Giants.

After several weeks of speculation, the Lucknow Indian Premier League (IPL) side has finally announced their name ahead of their debut season in the tournament. The franchise which is owned by Sanjeev Goenka-led RPSG Group will be called the Lucknow Super Giants. The RPSG Group bought the franchise after a successful bid of a whopping Rs 7090 Crore (INR 70.09 billion) last year. Lucknow Super Giants are one of the two new teams who will be making their IPL debut this year. The other team which is all set to make its debut in the competition this year is the Ahmedabad IPL side which is yet to confirm its official name. Lucknow Super Giants have roped in India's limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul as their skipper. The team has also picked Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and young Indian spinner Ravi Bishnoi from the players draft ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction next month. While Rahul was roped in for a sum of Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million), Stoinis was picked for Rs 9.2 crore (INR 92 million) and Bishnoi will be earning Rs 4 crore (INR 40 million) per season. Lucknow Super Giants will be looking to build their squad around the three players in the upcoming mega auction. Also Read: Lucknow franchise rope in KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction Ahmedabad IPL franchise, on the other hand, has picked star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan and Indian batter Shubman Gill as their picks ahead of the mega auction. Hardik, who was part of the Mumbai Indians squad from the 2015 to 2021 season, will lead the Ahmedabad franchise in their debut season this year. The IPL 2022 mega auction will be conducted in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13.

Lucknow Super Giants! RPSG Group-owned IPL franchise unveil their name ahead of debut season

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