The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season kicks off on Saturday with last year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders facing each other. This year, the competition in the tournament has gone up a notch as two new teams joined the fray and a number of franchises have done quite well in the auctions.

However, former Indian cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar has identified one franchise who he thinks will find it difficult to win the tournament this year.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2022-reliving-the-magnanimous-highs-of-ms-dhoni-as-csk-captain-post-his-shocking-resignation-465242">Reliving MS Dhoni's tenure as CSK captain after his resignation</a>

"Punjab Kings is one of those teams that have not managed to win the IPL. This time, I don't think they have an impact player in their squad but this can benefit the team as well. When there are very low expectations, there is very less pressure and when the pressure is less, the players are freer in their approach," Gavaskar told Sports Tak.<o:p></o:p>

"In that aspect, I think Punjab Kings can surprise a few. Will they win the trophy? I doubt that. See, this is a T20 format and you have to be in that consistent cycle of winning," he added.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/a-chapter-fans-will-never-forget-virat-kohli-praises-ms-dhonis-legendary-captaincy-tenure-at-csk-465261" hreflang="en">Kohli lauds Dhoni's 'legendary' captaincy tenure at CSK</a>

Punjab Kings have never won the title but they came very close in 2014. Wriddhiman Saha scored a brilliant century in the final but they were ultimately defeated by the Kolkata Knight Riders.<o:p></o:p>

This season, they will be led by Mayank Agarwal and the auction provided some star additions for them in the form Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan and Shikhar Dhawan to name a few.<o:p></o:p>

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season kicks off on Saturday with last year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders facing each other. This year, the competition in the tournament has gone up a notch as two new teams joined the fray and a number of franchises have done quite well in the auctions.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season kicks off on Saturday with last year’s finalists Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders facing each other. This year, the competition in the tournament has gone up a notch as two new teams joined the fray and a number of franchises have done quite well in the auctions. However, former Indian cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar has identified one franchise who he thinks will find it difficult to win the tournament this year. Also read | Reliving MS Dhoni's tenure as CSK captain after his resignation "Punjab Kings is one of those teams that have not managed to win the IPL. This time, I don't think they have an impact player in their squad but this can benefit the team as well. When there are very low expectations, there is very less pressure and when the pressure is less, the players are freer in their approach," Gavaskar told Sports Tak. "In that aspect, I think Punjab Kings can surprise a few. Will they win the trophy? I doubt that. See, this is a T20 format and you have to be in that consistent cycle of winning," he added. Also read | Kohli lauds Dhoni's 'legendary' captaincy tenure at CSK Punjab Kings have never won the title but they came very close in 2014. Wriddhiman Saha scored a brilliant century in the final but they were ultimately defeated by the Kolkata Knight Riders. This season, they will be led by Mayank Agarwal and the auction provided some star additions for them in the form Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan and Shikhar Dhawan to name a few.

IPL 2022: Sunil Gavaskar identifies one team unlikely to win title this year

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

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

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

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

From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds

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

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26. After much speculation, Mayank won the captaincy race despite the presence of senior pro Shikhar Dhawan in the squad, who was bought by the 2014 runners-up in the mega auction held earlier this month.

Mayank, who will now succeed his good friend and ex-Punjab opener KL Rahul as the captain,&nbsp;has been in the PBKS setup since IPL 2018 and had a wonderful run in the last two editions, amassing 424 runs at a whopping strike-rate of 156.45 in IPL 2020 and&nbsp;441&nbsp;runs, with 4 half-centuries, at a strike-rate of 140.44 in last year's&nbsp;season. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction (for INR 140 million).

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🚨 Attention <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SherSquad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SherSquad</a> 🚨 
 
Our 🆕© ➜ Mayank Agarwal 
 
Send in your wishes for the new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaptainPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CaptainPunjab</a> 🎉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mayankcricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mayankcricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/hkxwzRyOVA">pic.twitter.com/hkxwzRyOVA</a>
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/1498168752134930432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"I have been at Punjab Kings since 2018 and I take a lot of pride in representing this fantastic unit. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the team. I take over this responsibility with utmost sincerity, but at the same time, I believe my job would be made easier with the talent we have at the Punjab Kings squad this season. We have some vastly experienced players in our ranks, along with many talented youngsters who are keen to grab the opportunity and run with it. We have always taken to the field hoping to win the title and as a team we will once again work towards this goal of lifting our maiden IPL trophy. I thank the team management for entrusting me with this new role of leading the side. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges it brings with it,” said Mayank in a statement.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explained-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

Anil Kumble, Head Coach, Punjab Kings said, “Mayank has been an integral part of the side since 2018 and of the leadership group for the last two years. The new squad we selected at the recently concluded auction has exciting young talent and outstanding experienced players. We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm. He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the attributes required of a leader. I look forward to working with him as captain and believe that he will lead this team to a successful campaign."

PBKS squad for IPL 2022

Mayank Agarwal (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Benny Howell

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26. After much speculation, Mayank won the captaincy race despite the presence of senior pro Shikhar Dhawan in the squad, who was bought by the 2014 runners-up in the mega auction held earlier this month. Mayank, who will now succeed his good friend and ex-Punjab opener KL Rahul as the captain, has been in the PBKS setup since IPL 2018 and had a wonderful run in the last two editions, amassing 424 runs at a whopping strike-rate of 156.45 in IPL 2020 and 441 runs, with 4 half-centuries, at a strike-rate of 140.44 in last year's season. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction (for INR 140 million). 🚨 Attention #SherSquad 🚨 Our 🆕© ➜ Mayank Agarwal Send in your wishes for the new #CaptainPunjab 🎉#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPL2022 @mayankcricket pic.twitter.com/hkxwzRyOVA — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 28, 2022 × "I have been at Punjab Kings since 2018 and I take a lot of pride in representing this fantastic unit. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the team. I take over this responsibility with utmost sincerity, but at the same time, I believe my job would be made easier with the talent we have at the Punjab Kings squad this season. We have some vastly experienced players in our ranks, along with many talented youngsters who are keen to grab the opportunity and run with it. We have always taken to the field hoping to win the title and as a team we will once again work towards this goal of lifting our maiden IPL trophy. I thank the team management for entrusting me with this new role of leading the side. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges it brings with it,” said Mayank in a statement. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups Anil Kumble, Head Coach, Punjab Kings said, “Mayank has been an integral part of the side since 2018 and of the leadership group for the last two years. The new squad we selected at the recently concluded auction has exciting young talent and outstanding experienced players. We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm. He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the attributes required of a leader. I look forward to working with him as captain and believe that he will lead this team to a successful campaign." PBKS squad for IPL 2022 Mayank Agarwal (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Benny Howell

Mayank Agarwal wins captaincy race to be named Punjab Kings' skipper ahead of IPL 2022

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the teams which headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking for potential captaincy candidates. Punjab Kings were left without a captain ahead of the new season after KL Rahul decided to part ways with the franchise and join the Lucknow Super Giants. PBKS wanted to retain Rahul but the Indian batter wanted to leave the franchise after failing to guide the team to play-offs for two successive seasons as captain.

Punjab Kings bought some experienced players in the IPL 2022 mega auction as they roped in the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada and Jonny Bairstow among others, They also made England batter Liam Livingstone the costliest overseas buy at the auction this year.

Punjab Kings now have several options to choose from when it comes to deciding their next captain. However, Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal, who was retained by the team, are among favourites to take over as the new captain of the side in IPL 2022. While Dhawan has IPL captaincy experience having led Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past, Agarwal has never been a full-time skipper in the league.

However, Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman recently dropped a major hint regarding the next captain of the franchise. Burman hinted at Agarwal being handed over captaincy as he said it is good to have someone who has been with the team to lead the side in the future as the senior player has a better understanding with&nbsp;the coaches.

"I think it's a big advantage to have a senior player who has played with you before to lead the team. He understands the thinking of the coach. He has a good rapport with the coaches and the idea is to give him a strong bunch of players who fill up all the positions," Burman told News9 Sports.

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>

Agarwal had joined Punjab Kings in 2018 and has since been an integral part of the setup. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction and looks set to become the new captain of the team. Agarwal has so far played 100 matches in his IPL career and has 2131 runs to his name at an average of over 23.

&nbsp;

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the teams which headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking for potential captaincy candidates. Punjab Kings were left without a captain ahead of the new season after KL Rahul decided to part ways with the franchise and join the Lucknow Super Giants.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the teams which headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking for potential captaincy candidates. Punjab Kings were left without a captain ahead of the new season after KL Rahul decided to part ways with the franchise and join the Lucknow Super Giants. PBKS wanted to retain Rahul but the Indian batter wanted to leave the franchise after failing to guide the team to play-offs for two successive seasons as captain. Punjab Kings bought some experienced players in the IPL 2022 mega auction as they roped in the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada and Jonny Bairstow among others, They also made England batter Liam Livingstone the costliest overseas buy at the auction this year. Punjab Kings now have several options to choose from when it comes to deciding their next captain. However, Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal, who was retained by the team, are among favourites to take over as the new captain of the side in IPL 2022. While Dhawan has IPL captaincy experience having led Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past, Agarwal has never been a full-time skipper in the league. However, Punjab Kings co-owner Mohit Burman recently dropped a major hint regarding the next captain of the franchise. Burman hinted at Agarwal being handed over captaincy as he said it is good to have someone who has been with the team to lead the side in the future as the senior player has a better understanding with the coaches. "I think it's a big advantage to have a senior player who has played with you before to lead the team. He understands the thinking of the coach. He has a good rapport with the coaches and the idea is to give him a strong bunch of players who fill up all the positions," Burman told News9 Sports. Also Read: Deepak Chahar to Liam Livingstone: 5 players who earned biggest pay rise at IPL mega auction Agarwal had joined Punjab Kings in 2018 and has since been an integral part of the setup. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction and looks set to become the new captain of the team. Agarwal has so far played 100 matches in his IPL career and has 2131 runs to his name at an average of over 23.

Mayank Agarwal or Shikhar Dhawan? Punjab Kings co-owner hints at team's next captain ahead of IPL 2022

IPL 2022: All teams and their squad list

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the franchises who headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking to rope in a potential captaincy candidate ahead of the new season. KL Rahul parted ways with Punjab Kings last year to join Lucknow Super Giants as their new captain, leaving his former franchise with the tough task of finding a new captain for the team.

Punjab had the largest purse heading into the auction and the franchise was able to rope in some quality Indian and overseas players to form a strong squad at the end. Punjab Kings picked up a total of 23 players at the IPL 2022 mega auction, including the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone among others.

While many believe Dhawan is an ideal captaincy candidate for the Punjab Kings, former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has urged the franchise to look at the future while appointing their next captain. Giving his take on the captaincy debate, Gavaskar said Mayank Agarwal should be handed over the reins as he is 31 and has many years of cricket left in him at the top level, unlike Dhawan, who is 36 and might not be a long-term option for captaincy.

Lauding Mayank, Gavaskar said the right-hand batter is a hard-working athlete and has always been a team man. The batting legend also believes Mayank can be a potential candidate to lead India in the future if he can deliver consistent performances with the bat.

Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/punjab-kings-break-the-bank-for-livingstone-pbks-squad-list-for-ipl-2022-with-signings-of-dhawan-bairstow-453039">Punjab Kings complete&nbsp;squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow</a>

"I will look at the future, and I look at Mayank Agarwal. Because I do believe that Mayank has got leadership qualities. He speaks well, he is a hardworking individual. He wants to get better than yesterday. He is very very very enthusiastic. He is a real team man. We can see that when he is playing for India. He is always ready to hop on to the field, even when he isn't in the XI," Gavaskar told Sports Today.

"So every aspect I think, Mayank Agarwal is somebody Punjab Kings should look as captain. And who knows, he could be considered in the future for national captaincy if he is consistent with his performances," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suresh-raina-lost-ms-dhonis-loyalty-simon-doull-explains-why-csk-didnt-pick-mr-ipl-at-mega-auction-453672">Suresh Raina lost MS Dhoni's loyalty: Simon Doull explains why CSK didn't pick 'Mr IPL' at mega auction</a>

While Dhawan has been a full-time captain in the IPL in the past,&nbsp;Mayank had led Punjab Kings in one game last season after an injury to Rahul. Dhawan has also led the Indian team in a few matches but with age not being on his side, Punjab Kings will have a difficult decision to make in terms of captaincy.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the franchises who headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking to rope in a potential captaincy candidate ahead of the new season.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were one of the franchises who headed into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction looking to rope in a potential captaincy candidate ahead of the new season. KL Rahul parted ways with Punjab Kings last year to join Lucknow Super Giants as their new captain, leaving his former franchise with the tough task of finding a new captain for the team. Punjab had the largest purse heading into the auction and the franchise was able to rope in some quality Indian and overseas players to form a strong squad at the end. Punjab Kings picked up a total of 23 players at the IPL 2022 mega auction, including the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada and Liam Livingstone among others. While many believe Dhawan is an ideal captaincy candidate for the Punjab Kings, former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has urged the franchise to look at the future while appointing their next captain. Giving his take on the captaincy debate, Gavaskar said Mayank Agarwal should be handed over the reins as he is 31 and has many years of cricket left in him at the top level, unlike Dhawan, who is 36 and might not be a long-term option for captaincy. Lauding Mayank, Gavaskar said the right-hand batter is a hard-working athlete and has always been a team man. The batting legend also believes Mayank can be a potential candidate to lead India in the future if he can deliver consistent performances with the bat. Also Read: Punjab Kings complete squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow "I will look at the future, and I look at Mayank Agarwal. Because I do believe that Mayank has got leadership qualities. He speaks well, he is a hardworking individual. He wants to get better than yesterday. He is very very very enthusiastic. He is a real team man. We can see that when he is playing for India. He is always ready to hop on to the field, even when he isn't in the XI," Gavaskar told Sports Today. "So every aspect I think, Mayank Agarwal is somebody Punjab Kings should look as captain. And who knows, he could be considered in the future for national captaincy if he is consistent with his performances," he added. Also Read: Suresh Raina lost MS Dhoni's loyalty: Simon Doull explains why CSK didn't pick 'Mr IPL' at mega auction While Dhawan has been a full-time captain in the IPL in the past, Mayank had led Punjab Kings in one game last season after an injury to Rahul. Dhawan has also led the Indian team in a few matches but with age not being on his side, Punjab Kings will have a difficult decision to make in terms of captaincy.

Not Shikhar Dhawan! Sunil Gavaskar names Indian star who should captain Punjab Kings in IPL 2022

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

The IPL 2022 mega auction was an enthralling two-day affair, which was held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. As many as 590 players went under the hammer in the mega auction, which was held after four years. At the end of the two-day auction, all the ten IPL franchises have added quite a lot of big names to their respective squads before the IPL 2022 edition, which gets underway in late March.&nbsp;

Talking about the Punjab Kings (PBKS), they retained only opener Mayank Agarwal and pacer Arshdeep Singh before heading into the mega auction, with INR 720 million in their purse. As a result of having the highest purse before the auction, the PBKS think-tank went all-out and roped in some big players and relatively experienced as well as uncapped cricketers to the squad.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/livingstone-surpasses-hasarangas-price-tag-to-become-costliest-overseas-buy-at-ipl-2022-mega-auction-452873">Livingstone surpasses Hasaranga's price tag to become costliest overseas buy at IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Along with picking Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, etc. PBKS also roped in all-rounder Benny Howell. The English all-rounder is now the first-ever French-born cricketer to play the IPL.

Here's all you need to know about Howell

Howell entered the auction pool at a base price of INR 4 million (INR 40 lakhs). The French-born player&nbsp;is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm medium-fast.&nbsp;The 33-year-old is an experienced T20 cricketer. He&nbsp;has&nbsp;domestically represented the&nbsp;Hampshire County Cricket Club as well as the&nbsp;Gloucestershire team. In addition, he has&nbsp;been a part of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), playing for the Rangpur Riders for three seasons.

In the BPL, he has played alongside several big T20 players such as AB De Villiers, Ravi Bopara, Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, and Rilee Rossouw.&nbsp;

Howell, thus, is an interesting addition to PBKS' all-round department, also featuring Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar and the likes.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/punjab-kings-break-the-bank-for-livingstone-pbks-squad-list-for-ipl-2022-with-signings-of-dhawan-bairstow-453039">Punjab Kings break the bank for Livingstone. PBKS squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow</a>

Check out Punjab Kings full squad&nbsp;

Mayank Agarwal, Prerak Mankad, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shahrukh Khan, Shikhar Dhawan,&nbsp;Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Benny Howell, Baltej Singh, Ansh Patel, Liam Livingstone, Rishi Dhawan, Atharva Taide, Odean Smith, Raj Bawa, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Writtick Chatterjee, Sandeep Sharma, Nathan Elis, Vaibhav Arora, Ishan Porel, Rahul Chahar

The IPL 2022 mega auction was an enthralling two-day affair, which was held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. As many as 590 players went under the hammer in the mega auction, which was held after four years.

The IPL 2022 mega auction was an enthralling two-day affair, which was held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. As many as 590 players went under the hammer in the mega auction, which was held after four years. At the end of the two-day auction, all the ten IPL franchises have added quite a lot of big names to their respective squads before the IPL 2022 edition, which gets underway in late March. Talking about the Punjab Kings (PBKS), they retained only opener Mayank Agarwal and pacer Arshdeep Singh before heading into the mega auction, with INR 720 million in their purse. As a result of having the highest purse before the auction, the PBKS think-tank went all-out and roped in some big players and relatively experienced as well as uncapped cricketers to the squad. ALSO READ | Livingstone surpasses Hasaranga's price tag to become costliest overseas buy at IPL 2022 mega auction Along with picking Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, etc. PBKS also roped in all-rounder Benny Howell. The English all-rounder is now the first-ever French-born cricketer to play the IPL. Here's all you need to know about Howell Howell entered the auction pool at a base price of INR 4 million (INR 40 lakhs). The French-born player is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm medium-fast. The 33-year-old is an experienced T20 cricketer. He has domestically represented the Hampshire County Cricket Club as well as the Gloucestershire team. In addition, he has been a part of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), playing for the Rangpur Riders for three seasons. In the BPL, he has played alongside several big T20 players such as AB De Villiers, Ravi Bopara, Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, and Rilee Rossouw. Howell, thus, is an interesting addition to PBKS' all-round department, also featuring Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar and the likes. ALSO READ | Punjab Kings break the bank for Livingstone. PBKS squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow Check out Punjab Kings full squad Mayank Agarwal, Prerak Mankad, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shahrukh Khan, Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Benny Howell, Baltej Singh, Ansh Patel, Liam Livingstone, Rishi Dhawan, Atharva Taide, Odean Smith, Raj Bawa, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Writtick Chatterjee, Sandeep Sharma, Nathan Elis, Vaibhav Arora, Ishan Porel, Rahul Chahar

IPL 2022: Who is PBKS's Benny Howell? First French-born cricketer to feature in India's cash-rich league

After Day 1 of the Indian Premier League 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Anil Kumble said that the management was looking to build a "strong core team" around the retained players.&nbsp;

On Saturday, that is the first day of auction proceedings ended with massive reshuffling as several players found new camps to represent from next season.&nbsp;

At the end of the day, Kumble said: "We had a clear vision of who we wanted to bring into our team at the auction. We were looking to build a strong core team around our retained players."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-auction-royal-challengers-bangalore-give-update-on-decision-around-captaincy-452813">IPL 2022 auction: Royal Challengers Bangalore give update on decision around captaincy</a>

He further said that the franchise was looking at players that would add "balance" to the squad. He said, "We got some interesting picks and are looking forward to tomorrow when our squad will be complete."&nbsp;

PBKS had retained Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh. In the auction, they made successful bids for Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar and Shahrukh Khan. They also bought Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Ishan Porel and Jitesh Sharma.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/complete-list-of-players-sold-on-day-1-of-ipl-2022-mega-auction-kishan-chahar-emerge-as-costliest-buys-452791">Complete list of players sold on Day 1 of IPL 2022 mega auction: Kishan, Chahar emerge as costliest buys</a>

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It’s loading… 
 
Suggest the 🦁s that will complete the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaSquad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaSquad</a> ✅👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPLAuction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPLAuction</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLAuction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLAuction</a> <a href="https://t.co/r1sUNNpSbb">pic.twitter.com/r1sUNNpSbb</a>
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/1492548761260011522?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLAuction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLAuction</a> Day 1️⃣ Report 👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPLAuction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPLAuction</a> <a href="https://t.co/WW5mttnN6s">https://t.co/WW5mttnN6s</a>
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Ho gayi saddi 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹-𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹-𝗲 🕺 
 
How was our performance on the opening day of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPLAuction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPLAuction</a>? 🥰<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLAuction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLAuction</a> <a href="https://t.co/nLsqtZuIFA">pic.twitter.com/nLsqtZuIFA</a>
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Satish Menon, CEO, Punjab Kings said, "We went into the auction with a clear strategy in mind. We were looking to forge new partnerships and build a strong group of players that would serve as a stable foundation for years to come."&nbsp;

"We got some great players today and our team is starting to come together and we are sure to get some exceptional players tomorrow as well," Menon added.&nbsp;

After Day 1 of the Indian Premier League 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Anil Kumble said that the management was looking to build a "strong core team" around the retained players.

After Day 1 of the Indian Premier League 2022 mega auction, Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Anil Kumble said that the management was looking to build a "strong core team" around the retained players. On Saturday, that is the first day of auction proceedings ended with massive reshuffling as several players found new camps to represent from next season. At the end of the day, Kumble said: "We had a clear vision of who we wanted to bring into our team at the auction. We were looking to build a strong core team around our retained players." ALSO READ | IPL 2022 auction: Royal Challengers Bangalore give update on decision around captaincy He further said that the franchise was looking at players that would add "balance" to the squad. He said, "We got some interesting picks and are looking forward to tomorrow when our squad will be complete." PBKS had retained Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh. In the auction, they made successful bids for Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar and Shahrukh Khan. They also bought Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Ishan Porel and Jitesh Sharma. ALSO READ | Complete list of players sold on Day 1 of IPL 2022 mega auction: Kishan, Chahar emerge as costliest buys It’s loading… Suggest the 🦁s that will complete the #SaddaSquad ✅👇#TATAIPLAuction #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/r1sUNNpSbb — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 12, 2022 × #IPLAuction Day 1️⃣ Report 👇#PunjabKings #SaddaPunjab #TATAIPLAuction https://t.co/WW5mttnN6s — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 12, 2022 × Ho gayi saddi 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹-𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹-𝗲 🕺 How was our performance on the opening day of #TATAIPLAuction? 🥰#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/nLsqtZuIFA — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 12, 2022 × Satish Menon, CEO, Punjab Kings said, "We went into the auction with a clear strategy in mind. We were looking to forge new partnerships and build a strong group of players that would serve as a stable foundation for years to come." "We got some great players today and our team is starting to come together and we are sure to get some exceptional players tomorrow as well," Menon added.

IPL 2022: Coach Anil Kumble says PBKS looking to build 'strong core' around our retained players

Punjab Kings (PBKS) made crucial signings, roping in some of the big names of the cricketing world, during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction as the team move forward to the post-KL Rahul era.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) made crucial signings, roping in some of the big names of the cricketing world, during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction as the team move forward to the post-KL Rahul era. The two-day long IPL 2022 mega auction took place in an Indian city Bengaluru, where the existing eight and the additional two teams were on a spending spree to build a strong team ahead of the 15th edition of IPL. PBKS have bought India's star player Shikhar Dhawan for Rs 8.25 cr and the team will boast of swashbuckling opening pair as they have also added England's Jonny Bairstow for Rs 6.75 cr. ALSO READ | Prodigal son returns to Delhi Capitals: Complete squad of DC for IPL 2022 with Warner, Marsh, Shardul in camp Punjab Kings paid a staggering amount of Rs 11.50 crore to acquire England's Liam Livingstone, who is often deemed as the T20 specialist. Taking a note of the performance of West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith in the recently concluded ODI series against India, Punjab Kings acquired him for Rs 6.5 cr. ALSO READ | Mumbai Indians complete squad for IPL 2022: Ishan Kishan, Jofra Archer top buys for Rohit Sharma & Co. After the IPL 2020 Mega Auction, here's how the squad of Punjab Kings looks like: Retained players: Mayank Agarwal (Rs 14 cr), Arshdeep Singh (Rs 4 cr) Players acquired during the auction: Batters: Shikhar Dhawan (Rs 8.25 cr), Jonny Bairstow (Rs 6.75 cr), Prabhsimran Singh (Rs 0.60 cr), Jitesh Sharma (Rs 0.20 cr), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Rs 0.50 cr) All-rounders: Shahrukh Khan (Rs 9 cr), Harpreet Brar (Rs 3.8 cr), Liam Livingstone (Rs 11.50 cr), Odean Smith (Rs 6 cr), Raj Angad Bawa (Rs 2 cr), Rishi Dhawan (Rs 0.55 cr), Prerak Mankad (Rs 0.20 cr), Writtick Chatterjee (Rs 0.20 cr), Baltej Dhanda (Rs 0.20 cr), Ansh Patel (Rs 0.20 cr), Atharva Taide (Rs 0.20 cr), Benny Howell (Rs 0.40 cr) Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada (Rs 9.25 cr), Rahul Chahar (Rs 5.25 cr), Ishan Porel (Rs 0.25 cr), Sandeep Sharma (Rs 0.50 cr), Vaibhav Arora (Rs 2 cr), Nathan Ellis (Rs 0.75 cr)

Punjab Kings break the bank for Livingstone. PBKS squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow

England batter Liam Livingstone turned out to be the most expensive overseas buy at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Sunday (February 13). Punjab Kings (PBKS) shelled out a whopping Rs 11.50 crore (INR 115 million) to rope in the England star, who is known for his big-hitting ability and can also be a handy leg-spinner.

Livingstone triggered a bidding war between the teams as soon as his name was announced at the mega auction on Sunday. Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders were locked in a battle for the England star before Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings joined the bidding war. Punjab eventually managed to get the England star for Rs 11.5 crore.

While social media was full of reactions over the move as many lauded Punjab for roping in the hard-hitting English batter, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar labelled the signing a 'gamble'. Manjrekar pointed out Livingstone's struggles in the IPL last season when he was part of the Rajasthan Royals squad.

Livingstone played five matches for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021 and managed to score only 42 runs. He was dropped from the side after a series of disappointing performances before being brought back but failed to showcase his skills and talent in the league.

Manjrekar said Livingstone was a gamble considering the price he went at and his past performance do not instil much confidence. While he praised the Royals for making some great signings at the IPL 2022 mega auction, he insisted Livingstone was a gamble.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/livingstone-surpasses-hasarangas-price-tag-to-become-costliest-overseas-buy-at-ipl-2022-mega-auction-452873">Livingstone surpasses Hasaranga's price tag to become costliest overseas buy at IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

"Before the auction, I said that one of the best performers in the auction have been Punjab Kings. They have got some significant players, Mayank Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, Harpreet Brar was a great selection. They have retained Arshdeep which is a great decision. They have got Rabada and they have got Rahul Chahar. These are formidable proven IPL talents. They had a lot of money left as they didn't spend a lot on their above-mentioned picks," Manjrekar told Star Sports.

"I still maintain that Liam Livingstone is a gamble, considering his previous IPL experience. Odeon Smith is a story that we have seen many times before. Owners get excited about the talent that they see outside and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't," said Manjrekar on Star Sports.

"I was very gung-ho out Liam Livingstone after seeing him play for England against India. I thought he is some guy who will do good in the IPL, he is good against spin and a good bowler as well. But then he had around 6-7 failures for Rajasthan Royals. He was dropped and then brought back. But he just couldn't get back to form.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/went-beyond-our-budget-dc-co-owner-reveals-rishabh-pant-wanted-franchise-to-buy-back-avesh-khan-452897">'Went beyond our budget': DC co-owner reveals Rishabh Pant wanted franchise to buy back Avesh Khan</a>

"That I thought will come into play. i always believe in backing proven materials. He had struggled in the IPL last year. I was a little surprised by the optimism that a lot of teams had for Liam Livingstone. IPL is a unique tournament, the pressure is high and the performances in the other parts of the world don't have a lot of bearing on the buys," he added.

&nbsp;

England batter Liam Livingstone turned out to be the most expensive overseas buy at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Sunday (February 13).

England batter Liam Livingstone turned out to be the most expensive overseas buy at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Sunday (February 13). Punjab Kings (PBKS) shelled out a whopping Rs 11.50 crore (INR 115 million) to rope in the England star, who is known for his big-hitting ability and can also be a handy leg-spinner. Livingstone triggered a bidding war between the teams as soon as his name was announced at the mega auction on Sunday. Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders were locked in a battle for the England star before Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings joined the bidding war. Punjab eventually managed to get the England star for Rs 11.5 crore. While social media was full of reactions over the move as many lauded Punjab for roping in the hard-hitting English batter, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar labelled the signing a 'gamble'. Manjrekar pointed out Livingstone's struggles in the IPL last season when he was part of the Rajasthan Royals squad. Livingstone played five matches for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021 and managed to score only 42 runs. He was dropped from the side after a series of disappointing performances before being brought back but failed to showcase his skills and talent in the league. Manjrekar said Livingstone was a gamble considering the price he went at and his past performance do not instil much confidence. While he praised the Royals for making some great signings at the IPL 2022 mega auction, he insisted Livingstone was a gamble. Also Read: Livingstone surpasses Hasaranga's price tag to become costliest overseas buy at IPL 2022 mega auction "Before the auction, I said that one of the best performers in the auction have been Punjab Kings. They have got some significant players, Mayank Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, Harpreet Brar was a great selection. They have retained Arshdeep which is a great decision. They have got Rabada and they have got Rahul Chahar. These are formidable proven IPL talents. They had a lot of money left as they didn't spend a lot on their above-mentioned picks," Manjrekar told Star Sports. "I still maintain that Liam Livingstone is a gamble, considering his previous IPL experience. Odeon Smith is a story that we have seen many times before. Owners get excited about the talent that they see outside and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't," said Manjrekar on Star Sports. "I was very gung-ho out Liam Livingstone after seeing him play for England against India. I thought he is some guy who will do good in the IPL, he is good against spin and a good bowler as well. But then he had around 6-7 failures for Rajasthan Royals. He was dropped and then brought back. But he just couldn't get back to form. Also Read: 'Went beyond our budget': DC co-owner reveals Rishabh Pant wanted franchise to buy back Avesh Khan "That I thought will come into play. i always believe in backing proven materials. He had struggled in the IPL last year. I was a little surprised by the optimism that a lot of teams had for Liam Livingstone. IPL is a unique tournament, the pressure is high and the performances in the other parts of the world don't have a lot of bearing on the buys," he added.

'Liam Livingstone is a gamble': Sanjay Manjrekar on Punjab Kings spending Rs 11.5 crore on England star

Shikhar Dhawan was the first player sold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12). The veteran Team India batter was roped in by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a whopping sum of Rs 8.25 crore (INR 82.5 million). There was an intense bidding war for Dhawan between his former side Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings, who managed to rope in the senior India batter.

Dhawan has been one of the most consistent performers in the IPL over the years and played an instrumental role in Delhi Capitals' success ever since joining the side in 2018.&nbsp;Dhawan was among the top run-getters in the league last season with 587 runs from 16 matches at a brilliant average of 39.13 and a strike rate close to 125.

Dhawan will be doing the Punjab Kings' jersey in the upcoming IPL 2022 season after he was roped in by the Punjab outfit at the IPL 2022 mega auction. He was the first player to go under the hammer and drew a bidding war for his services at the mega event in Bengaluru.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-will-shake-the-bank-sunil-gavaskar-picks-indian-star-who-can-be-one-of-top-earners-at-ipl-mega-auction-452564">'He will shake the bank': Sunil Gavaskar picks Indian star who can be one of top earners at IPL mega auction</a>

<h3>Kagiso Rabada joins Punjab Kings for Rs 9.25 crore (INR 92.5 million)</h3>

Punjab Kings roped in another former Delhi Capitals star at the IPL 2022 mega auction in the form of South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada. The Proteas fast bowler has been one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the IPL over the years and is regarded as one of the best pacers in international cricket at present.

Rabada was bought by Punjab Kings for a huge sum of Rs 9.25 crore (INR 92.5 million) after an intense bidding war between three teams - Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals. Rabada has so far played 50 matches in his IPl career and has 76 wickets to his name.

&nbsp;

<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

Shikhar Dhawan was the first player sold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12). The veteran Team India batter was roped in by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a whopping sum of Rs 8.

Shikhar Dhawan was the first player sold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12). The veteran Team India batter was roped in by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a whopping sum of Rs 8.25 crore (INR 82.5 million). There was an intense bidding war for Dhawan between his former side Delhi Capitals (DC) and Punjab Kings, who managed to rope in the senior India batter. Dhawan has been one of the most consistent performers in the IPL over the years and played an instrumental role in Delhi Capitals' success ever since joining the side in 2018. Dhawan was among the top run-getters in the league last season with 587 runs from 16 matches at a brilliant average of 39.13 and a strike rate close to 125. Dhawan will be doing the Punjab Kings' jersey in the upcoming IPL 2022 season after he was roped in by the Punjab outfit at the IPL 2022 mega auction. He was the first player to go under the hammer and drew a bidding war for his services at the mega event in Bengaluru. Also Read: 'He will shake the bank': Sunil Gavaskar picks Indian star who can be one of top earners at IPL mega auction Kagiso Rabada joins Punjab Kings for Rs 9.25 crore (INR 92.5 million) Punjab Kings roped in another former Delhi Capitals star at the IPL 2022 mega auction in the form of South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada. The Proteas fast bowler has been one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the IPL over the years and is regarded as one of the best pacers in international cricket at present. Rabada was bought by Punjab Kings for a huge sum of Rs 9.25 crore (INR 92.5 million) after an intense bidding war between three teams - Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals. Rabada has so far played 50 matches in his IPl career and has 76 wickets to his name.

Punjab Kings shell out big money to rope in Kagiso Rabada & Shikhar Dhawan at IPL 2022 mega auction

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

Preity Zinta, who is a Bollywood star and co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings couldn't take part in this year's mega auction.&nbsp;

The Day 1 of the two-day auction took place in an Indian city Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12) with some players finding new homes and some were bought for whopping prices.&nbsp;

During the auction, Zinta kept tweeting about the PBKS team and the players they have bought. She also had a special message for the rival team Mumbai Indians and its owner Nita Ambani.&nbsp;

Taking to her official Twitter handle, Zinta wrote, "Good to see Mumbai Indians are Covid compliant at the IPL auction table. Must confess Nita Ambani has pretty eyes."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mega-auction-avesh-khan-becomes-highest-ever-uncapped-pick-sold-for-rs-10-crore-452779">IPL 2022 mega auction: Avesh Khan becomes highest-ever uncapped pick, sold for Rs 10 crore</a>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Good to see Mumbai Indians are Covid compliant at the IPL auction table👍 Must confess Nita Ambani has pretty eyes 🤩 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tataipl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tataipl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iplauction?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iplauction</a> ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a>⁩ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ting</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y1MLbCkSeg">pic.twitter.com/Y1MLbCkSeg</a>
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) <a href="https://twitter.com/realpreityzinta/status/1492496475594510338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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On Friday, Preity took to Instagram and informed everyone that she will miss the auction as she has to take care of her twins. "This year I'm going to miss the IPL Auction as I cannot leave my little ones and travel to India," she wrote. However, Preity had discussed "all things cricket" with her team ahead of the auction.&nbsp;

She added, "The last couple of days have been hectic discussing the auction and all things cricket with our team. I wanted to reach out to our fans and ask them if they have any player suggestions or recommendations for our new team. I would love to know who you wanna see in the red jersey this year. Bring it on folks... I'm all ears #iplauction #throwback."&nbsp;

Preity Zinta, who is a Bollywood star and co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings couldn't take part in this year's mega auction. The Day 1 of the two-day auction took place in an Indian city Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12) with some players finding new homes and some were bought for whopping prices.

Preity Zinta, who is a Bollywood star and co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings couldn't take part in this year's mega auction. The Day 1 of the two-day auction took place in an Indian city Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12) with some players finding new homes and some were bought for whopping prices. During the auction, Zinta kept tweeting about the PBKS team and the players they have bought. She also had a special message for the rival team Mumbai Indians and its owner Nita Ambani. Taking to her official Twitter handle, Zinta wrote, "Good to see Mumbai Indians are Covid compliant at the IPL auction table. Must confess Nita Ambani has pretty eyes." ALSO READ | IPL 2022 mega auction: Avesh Khan becomes highest-ever uncapped pick, sold for Rs 10 crore Good to see Mumbai Indians are Covid compliant at the IPL auction table👍 Must confess Nita Ambani has pretty eyes 🤩 #tataipl #iplauction ⁦@IPL⁩ #ting pic.twitter.com/Y1MLbCkSeg — Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) February 12, 2022 × On Friday, Preity took to Instagram and informed everyone that she will miss the auction as she has to take care of her twins. "This year I'm going to miss the IPL Auction as I cannot leave my little ones and travel to India," she wrote. However, Preity had discussed "all things cricket" with her team ahead of the auction. She added, "The last couple of days have been hectic discussing the auction and all things cricket with our team. I wanted to reach out to our fans and ask them if they have any player suggestions or recommendations for our new team. I would love to know who you wanna see in the red jersey this year. Bring it on folks... I'm all ears #iplauction #throwback."

IPL 2022 auction: Preity Zinta has a special message for Mumbai Indians team

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

Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasarange drew quite a lot of bid in the ongoing IPL 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12). In the all-rounder's category, Hasaranga's name attracted many franchises as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) competed for him before his former team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) joined the race as the bidding war intensified.&nbsp;

Eventually, the Sri Lankan spin-bowling all-rounder went back to the Virat Kohli-Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)&nbsp;for a whopping INR 107.5 million (INR 10.75 crore) on Day 1 of the opening proceedings. The Sri Lankan's bid was interrupted in a freakish manner as auctioneer&nbsp;Hugh Edmeades led to a sudden halt to proceedings. It was a physical fall for Edmeades, which led to a stoppage in action&nbsp;as lunch break was taken.&nbsp;The auctioneer has been replaced by broadcaster Charu Sharma for the remainder of the opening day.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-ipl-2022-mega-auction-check-all-the-latest-updates-here-452608">LIVE IPL 2022 Mega Auction Updates: Shreyas Iyer finds new home; auction to resume at 3:30pm IST</a>

Coming back to Hasaranga, the Islander had a memorable run in the previous calendar year, accounting for most wickets in the shortest format in 2021 (36) and also contributing with vital runs down the order in limited-overs. The 24-year-old, who is the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler, had represented the Virat Kohli-starrer RCB franchise in the second and final leg of IPL 14. He, however, couldn't do much in his limited outings.

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>

With his stokes now being risen by a significant level, Hasaranga will now be eager to make a strong statement in the RCB jersey in the IPL 2022 edition, to be held in India in March-May. Hasaranga is also the costliest foreign player so far on Day 1 of the two-day mega auction in Bengaluru.

Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasarange drew quite a lot of bid in the ongoing IPL 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12). In the all-rounder's category, Hasaranga's name attracted many franchises as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) competed for him before his former team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) joined the race as the bidding war intensified.

Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasarange drew quite a lot of bid in the ongoing IPL 2022 mega auction on Saturday (February 12). In the all-rounder's category, Hasaranga's name attracted many franchises as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) competed for him before his former team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) joined the race as the bidding war intensified. Eventually, the Sri Lankan spin-bowling all-rounder went back to the Virat Kohli-Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a whopping INR 107.5 million (INR 10.75 crore) on Day 1 of the opening proceedings. The Sri Lankan's bid was interrupted in a freakish manner as auctioneer Hugh Edmeades led to a sudden halt to proceedings. It was a physical fall for Edmeades, which led to a stoppage in action as lunch break was taken. The auctioneer has been replaced by broadcaster Charu Sharma for the remainder of the opening day. ALSO READ | LIVE IPL 2022 Mega Auction Updates: Shreyas Iyer finds new home; auction to resume at 3:30pm IST Coming back to Hasaranga, the Islander had a memorable run in the previous calendar year, accounting for most wickets in the shortest format in 2021 (36) and also contributing with vital runs down the order in limited-overs. The 24-year-old, who is the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler, had represented the Virat Kohli-starrer RCB franchise in the second and final leg of IPL 14. He, however, couldn't do much in his limited outings. ALSO READ | CSK stalwart Suresh Raina goes UNSOLD at IPL 2022 mega auction With his stokes now being risen by a significant level, Hasaranga will now be eager to make a strong statement in the RCB jersey in the IPL 2022 edition, to be held in India in March-May. Hasaranga is also the costliest foreign player so far on Day 1 of the two-day mega auction in Bengaluru.

IPL 2022 mega auction: No. 1 T20I bowler Wanindu Hasaranga bought by Kohli-starrer RCB for Rs 10.75 crore

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

The IPL 2022 edition is still two months away. The BCCI is planning to host the 15th edition in India, from late March. Before the upcoming season begins, all eyes are on the mega auction. It is set to be held in Bengaluru in mid-February. Before the auction proceedings, seven out of the ten teams don't have to worry about choosing a captain as they have either retained their respective skippers or named new captains.

However, the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) need to choose a captain as well in the forthcoming mega auction. While Virat Kohli resigned as the RCB captain post IPL 2021, KL Rahul left PBKS and will captain the Lucknow Super Giants in the forthcoming edition. Despite taking KKR to the IPL 14 finale, Eoin Morgan wasn't retained by the two-time winners and, hence, the Kolkata-based franchise will have to look for a captain in the auction proceedings.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-he-wanted-me-to-ahmedabad-captain-hardik-pandya-hails-ms-dhoni-for-grooming-him-447459">IPL 2022: 'He wanted me to....'- Ahmedabad captain Hardik Pandya hails MS Dhoni for grooming him</a>

Speaking on&nbsp;Cricbuzz, former KKR captain Dinesh Karthik -- who has also registered himself in the mega auction --&nbsp;named three players who can take up captaincy roles. He named Shreyas Iyer as one of the options and further said, "If you go by recent history, obviously David Warner. He has captained a franchise, he's available. If you go by the current international standards, Pat Cummins. He is put his name in so he obviously has an opportunity to be a captain if he goes to a franchise that believes he could be a captain."

“If you throw an outside name, obviously Ishan Kishan has led the U-19s. He has led Jharkhand. So, they seem as options,” he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pune-intended-how-csk-rajasthan-royals-reacted-to-lucknow-super-giants-name-announcement-447482">'Pun(e) intended': How CSK, Rajasthan Royals reacted to Lucknow Super Giants' name announcement</a>

It will be interesting to see who all are named the captains for the three franchises who are in need of a skipper at the moment. The likes of Shreyas, Ishan, Warner, Cummins will surely be expensive buys and can also serve as captains. Some other options are Morgan, Jason Holder, Ben Stokes, etc.

The IPL 2022 edition is still two months away. The BCCI is planning to host the 15th edition in India, from late March. Before the upcoming season begins, all eyes are on the mega auction.

The IPL 2022 edition is still two months away. The BCCI is planning to host the 15th edition in India, from late March. Before the upcoming season begins, all eyes are on the mega auction. It is set to be held in Bengaluru in mid-February. Before the auction proceedings, seven out of the ten teams don't have to worry about choosing a captain as they have either retained their respective skippers or named new captains. However, the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) need to choose a captain as well in the forthcoming mega auction. While Virat Kohli resigned as the RCB captain post IPL 2021, KL Rahul left PBKS and will captain the Lucknow Super Giants in the forthcoming edition. Despite taking KKR to the IPL 14 finale, Eoin Morgan wasn't retained by the two-time winners and, hence, the Kolkata-based franchise will have to look for a captain in the auction proceedings. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: 'He wanted me to....'- Ahmedabad captain Hardik Pandya hails MS Dhoni for grooming him Speaking on Cricbuzz, former KKR captain Dinesh Karthik -- who has also registered himself in the mega auction -- named three players who can take up captaincy roles. He named Shreyas Iyer as one of the options and further said, "If you go by recent history, obviously David Warner. He has captained a franchise, he's available. If you go by the current international standards, Pat Cummins. He is put his name in so he obviously has an opportunity to be a captain if he goes to a franchise that believes he could be a captain." “If you throw an outside name, obviously Ishan Kishan has led the U-19s. He has led Jharkhand. So, they seem as options,” he added. ALSO READ | 'Pun(e) intended': How CSK, Rajasthan Royals reacted to Lucknow Super Giants' name announcement It will be interesting to see who all are named the captains for the three franchises who are in need of a skipper at the moment. The likes of Shreyas, Ishan, Warner, Cummins will surely be expensive buys and can also serve as captains. Some other options are Morgan, Jason Holder, Ben Stokes, etc.

IPL 2022: Dinesh Karthik names Indian youngster among 3 star players who could captain a franchise

Indian cricket team star Shreyas Iyer is one of the top players who is all set to enter the pool in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction ahead of the 2022 edition of the tournament. Iyer is all set to find a new team ahead of the new season after parting ways with his former side Delhi Capitals (DC).

Iyer had decided to leave DC after the franchise appointed Rishabh Pant as their new captain denying the Mumbai batter a chance to lead the side. He led Delhi Capitals in three seasons and inspired them to their first-ever final in IPL 2020 where they lost to Mumbai Indians in the summit clash to miss out on winning their maiden IPL crown.

Nonetheless, Iyer is set to find a new team and will enter the auction pool this time around. He is reportedly admired a lot by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who are in search of a captaincy candidate after superstar Virat Kohli decided to step down as the skipper of the side post the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year.

As per a report in the Times of India, RCB are interested in roping in Iyer at the upcoming mega auction which is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru next month. “Post Virat Kohli quitting the RCB captaincy, RCB are really interested in having Iyer as their next captain. Expect them to bid aggressively for the Mumbaikar in next month’s auction in Bangalore,” a source close to the development, was quoted as saying by Times of India.

RCB are not the only team interested in Iyer and will be bidding for him at the mega auction as the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings are also said to be eyeing the former Delhi Capitals captain. Both KKR and Punjab Kings will also be in the auction for a captaincy candidate after letting go of their respective ex-skippers Eoin Morgan and KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2022.

“The Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings are also expected to eye him in the auction,” the source said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-kl-rahul-to-shreyas-iyer-5-potential-captaincy-candidates-for-new-ipl-teams-lucknow-and-ahmedabad-434365">From Rahul to&nbsp;Iyer: 5 potential captaincy candidates for new IPL teams Lucknow and Ahmedabad</a>

As per the report, Iyer was not offered captaincy by any of the two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad and hence he will be heading into the mega auction. As per reports, the Lucknow franchise is likely to appoint KL Rahul as their new captain while the Ahmedabad franchise is expected to rope in Hardik Pandya as their captain ahead of the mega auction.

Both the new teams can pick a maximum of three players each in the draft ahead of the mega auction.&nbsp;None of the teams have yet officially confirmed any signing ahead of the auction.

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Indian cricket team star Shreyas Iyer is one of the top players who is all set to enter the pool in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction ahead of the 2022 edition of the tournament.

Indian cricket team star Shreyas Iyer is one of the top players who is all set to enter the pool in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction ahead of the 2022 edition of the tournament. Iyer is all set to find a new team ahead of the new season after parting ways with his former side Delhi Capitals (DC). Iyer had decided to leave DC after the franchise appointed Rishabh Pant as their new captain denying the Mumbai batter a chance to lead the side. He led Delhi Capitals in three seasons and inspired them to their first-ever final in IPL 2020 where they lost to Mumbai Indians in the summit clash to miss out on winning their maiden IPL crown. Nonetheless, Iyer is set to find a new team and will enter the auction pool this time around. He is reportedly admired a lot by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who are in search of a captaincy candidate after superstar Virat Kohli decided to step down as the skipper of the side post the conclusion of IPL 2021 last year. As per a report in the Times of India, RCB are interested in roping in Iyer at the upcoming mega auction which is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru next month. “Post Virat Kohli quitting the RCB captaincy, RCB are really interested in having Iyer as their next captain. Expect them to bid aggressively for the Mumbaikar in next month’s auction in Bangalore,” a source close to the development, was quoted as saying by Times of India. RCB are not the only team interested in Iyer and will be bidding for him at the mega auction as the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings are also said to be eyeing the former Delhi Capitals captain. Both KKR and Punjab Kings will also be in the auction for a captaincy candidate after letting go of their respective ex-skippers Eoin Morgan and KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2022. “The Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings are also expected to eye him in the auction,” the source said. Also Read: From Rahul to Iyer: 5 potential captaincy candidates for new IPL teams Lucknow and Ahmedabad As per the report, Iyer was not offered captaincy by any of the two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad and hence he will be heading into the mega auction. As per reports, the Lucknow franchise is likely to appoint KL Rahul as their new captain while the Ahmedabad franchise is expected to rope in Hardik Pandya as their captain ahead of the mega auction. Both the new teams can pick a maximum of three players each in the draft ahead of the mega auction. None of the teams have yet officially confirmed any signing ahead of the auction.

Shreyas Iyer to replace Virat Kohli as RCB captain? Three IPL teams eye ex-DC skipper at mega auction

IPL 2022: Which side be the richest? Revealing purse of 8 existing teams before mega auction

KL Rahul was not retained by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the retention list announced by the 2014 runners-up on Tuesday evening (November 30). The retained players from the Punjab franchise were Mayank Agarwal and local boy Arshdeep Singh.

While Rahul's release was a shocker for many, several reports had already indicated that the captain-cum-opener was looking forward to playing for a new team. As per many reports, the new teams such as Lucknow and Ahmedabad are interested in attaining Rahul's services. Amid all this, PBKS had to release the swashbuckling opener despite his good run as a top-order batsman (surpassing the 500-run mark every season&nbsp;in Punjab's jersey since 2018).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hell-be-the-likely-heir-not-kl-rahul-former-rcb-skipper-picks-virat-kohlis-successor-at-bengaluru-433272">He'll be the likely heir: Not KL Rahul! Former RCB skipper picks Virat Kohli's successor at Bengaluru</a>

Speaking on Star Sports, head coach Anil Kumble revealed that Rahul was in their scheme of things but explained why he had to leave. He told, "Obviously we wanted to retain him, that is one of the reasons we chose him as captain two years back. But he decided to go into the auction. We respect that, we honour his decision. It's the player's prerogative."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-retention-whos-in-whos-out-ahead-of-mega-auction-all-you-need-to-know-433141">IPL retention: Who's in, who's out ahead of mega auction? All you need to know</a>

Not only Rahul, some big names such as Rashid Khan, David Warner, Pandya brothers, Jonny Bairstow, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal, etc. weren't retained by their respective franchises. All the non-retained players will now head to the mega auction for IPL 2022, likely to be held in early next year.

However, the two new teams such as Lucknow and Ahmedabad have a license to pick three players each prior to the auction. Hence, six players among Rahul &amp; Co. can find a new IPL team before the mega auction.

KL Rahul was not retained by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the retention list announced by the 2014 runners-up on Tuesday evening (November 30). The retained players from the Punjab franchise were Mayank Agarwal and local boy Arshdeep Singh.

KL Rahul was not retained by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the retention list announced by the 2014 runners-up on Tuesday evening (November 30). The retained players from the Punjab franchise were Mayank Agarwal and local boy Arshdeep Singh. While Rahul's release was a shocker for many, several reports had already indicated that the captain-cum-opener was looking forward to playing for a new team. As per many reports, the new teams such as Lucknow and Ahmedabad are interested in attaining Rahul's services. Amid all this, PBKS had to release the swashbuckling opener despite his good run as a top-order batsman (surpassing the 500-run mark every season in Punjab's jersey since 2018). ALSO READ | He'll be the likely heir: Not KL Rahul! Former RCB skipper picks Virat Kohli's successor at Bengaluru Speaking on Star Sports, head coach Anil Kumble revealed that Rahul was in their scheme of things but explained why he had to leave. He told, "Obviously we wanted to retain him, that is one of the reasons we chose him as captain two years back. But he decided to go into the auction. We respect that, we honour his decision. It's the player's prerogative." ALSO READ | IPL retention: Who's in, who's out ahead of mega auction? All you need to know Not only Rahul, some big names such as Rashid Khan, David Warner, Pandya brothers, Jonny Bairstow, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Shreyas Iyer, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuzvendra Chahal, etc. weren't retained by their respective franchises. All the non-retained players will now head to the mega auction for IPL 2022, likely to be held in early next year. However, the two new teams such as Lucknow and Ahmedabad have a license to pick three players each prior to the auction. Hence, six players among Rahul & Co. can find a new IPL team before the mega auction.

IPL retention: Anil Kumble reveals PBKS wanted to retain KL Rahul, explains why star batter 'decided to leave'

Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained Kane Williamson, Abdul Samad, and Umran Malik in front of the IPL 2022 big auction. Whereas Punjab Kings retained Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh.

All the IPL teams&nbsp;had to announce their retained&nbsp;players till November 30. As&nbsp;two additional franchises have been added in IPL 2022, Lucknow and Ahmedabad,&nbsp;a mega auction will take place before of next year's event.

Therefore, each of the existing eight IPL teams was asked to retain&nbsp;a maximum of four players. There can be a maximum of three domestic&nbsp;players and two overseas&nbsp;players among these four players. Teams might decide&nbsp;to keep one, two, three, or four players or even opt for no retentions.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/delhi-capitals-retention-list-dc-retain-rishabh-pant-axar-patel-anrich-nortje-and-prithvi-shaw-433070">Delhi Capitals retention list: DC retain Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje and Prithvi Shaw</a>

Sunrisers Hyderabad which had a disappointing&nbsp;last season has surprised the fans once again by not retaining Rashid Khan. Although, it is yet to be known if it was SRH management decision or Rashid Khan's own. David Warner who was removed as team's captain last year after a poor run wasn't retained as expected.

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Presenting the 2️⃣ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Risers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Risers</a> along with Captain Kane who will continue to don the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SRH</a> colours in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> 🧡 
 
We enter the auction with a purse of INR 68 crores. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrangeArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OrangeArmy</a> <a href="https://t.co/2WwRZMUelO">pic.twitter.com/2WwRZMUelO</a>
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) <a href="https://twitter.com/SunRisers/status/1465718620126801920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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However, Sunrisers Mangement has said that they will try to get back many of the players back in the auction.

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We thank the players for their contribution to SRH over the years. This is not a goodbye, as we hope to welcome back some Risers in the auction 🧡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForeverOrange?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForeverOrange</a> <a href="https://t.co/imZmqNCpIm">pic.twitter.com/imZmqNCpIm</a>
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) <a href="https://twitter.com/SunRisers/status/1465611749290229767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kolkata-knight-riders-complete-retention-list-kkr-retain-andre-russell-venkatesh-iyer-and-two-others-433071">Kolkata Knight Riders complete retention list: KKR retain Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer and two others</a>&nbsp;

Punjab Kings, on the other hand, has retained the least number of players among both the teams. Big names like KL Rahul, Ravi Bishnoi, Shahrukh Khan and&nbsp;Nicholas Pooran have been&nbsp;released by the team. Before going in the auction, it'll now have 72 crores, the maximum among all the teams.

Anil Kumble, the head coach appreciated the leadership qualities of Mayank Agarwal, and most probably will be making him the captain in the upcoming season. Arshdeep Singh, who has taken 30 wickets in 23 matches for Punjab and has proved himself with the bowl was the other retained player.

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2️⃣3️⃣ Matches 
3️⃣0️⃣ Wickets 
1️⃣ 5-Wkt Haul 
 
Welcome back the son of our soil, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> da munda, <a href="https://twitter.com/arshdeepsinghh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@arshdeepsinghh</a>, we are happy and excited as he will be donning the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PBKS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PBKS</a> jersey for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a>! 😎<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLRetention?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLRetention</a> <a href="https://t.co/ArjQ3MjmfJ">pic.twitter.com/ArjQ3MjmfJ</a>
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/1465718050187923460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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🥁🥁🥁 
 
The Sher who joined us in 2018, will continue to be an integral part of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaSquad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaSquad</a>! 
 
Show some ❤️s for The Magnificent <a href="https://twitter.com/mayankcricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mayankcricket</a> 😍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLRetention?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLRetention</a> <a href="https://t.co/3DSJddOq8m">pic.twitter.com/3DSJddOq8m</a>
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/1465717680950820868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained Kane Williamson, Abdul Samad, and Umran Malik in front of the IPL 2022 big auction. Whereas Punjab Kings retained Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained Kane Williamson, Abdul Samad, and Umran Malik in front of the IPL 2022 big auction. Whereas Punjab Kings retained Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh. All the IPL teams had to announce their retained players till November 30. As two additional franchises have been added in IPL 2022, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, a mega auction will take place before of next year's event. Therefore, each of the existing eight IPL teams was asked to retain a maximum of four players. There can be a maximum of three domestic players and two overseas players among these four players. Teams might decide to keep one, two, three, or four players or even opt for no retentions. ALSO READ: Delhi Capitals retention list: DC retain Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje and Prithvi Shaw Sunrisers Hyderabad which had a disappointing last season has surprised the fans once again by not retaining Rashid Khan. Although, it is yet to be known if it was SRH management decision or Rashid Khan's own. David Warner who was removed as team's captain last year after a poor run wasn't retained as expected. Presenting the 2️⃣ #Risers along with Captain Kane who will continue to don the #SRH colours in #IPL2022 🧡 We enter the auction with a purse of INR 68 crores. #OrangeArmy pic.twitter.com/2WwRZMUelO — SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 30, 2021 × However, Sunrisers Mangement has said that they will try to get back many of the players back in the auction. We thank the players for their contribution to SRH over the years. This is not a goodbye, as we hope to welcome back some Risers in the auction 🧡#ForeverOrange pic.twitter.com/imZmqNCpIm — SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 30, 2021 × ALSO READ: Kolkata Knight Riders complete retention list: KKR retain Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer and two others Punjab Kings, on the other hand, has retained the least number of players among both the teams. Big names like KL Rahul, Ravi Bishnoi, Shahrukh Khan and Nicholas Pooran have been released by the team. Before going in the auction, it'll now have 72 crores, the maximum among all the teams. Anil Kumble, the head coach appreciated the leadership qualities of Mayank Agarwal, and most probably will be making him the captain in the upcoming season. Arshdeep Singh, who has taken 30 wickets in 23 matches for Punjab and has proved himself with the bowl was the other retained player. 2️⃣3️⃣ Matches 3️⃣0️⃣ Wickets 1️⃣ 5-Wkt Haul Welcome back the son of our soil, #SaddaPunjab da munda, @arshdeepsinghh, we are happy and excited as he will be donning the #PBKS jersey for #IPL2022! 😎#PunjabKings #IPLRetention pic.twitter.com/ArjQ3MjmfJ — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) November 30, 2021 × 🥁🥁🥁 The Sher who joined us in 2018, will continue to be an integral part of #SaddaSquad! Show some ❤️s for The Magnificent @mayankcricket 😍#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #IPLRetention pic.twitter.com/3DSJddOq8m — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) November 30, 2021 ×

Kane Williamson, two uncapped Indian players retained by SRH, PBKS let go off KL Rahul

Assistant coach Andy Flower has parted ways with Punjab Kings and is expected to land a role in one of the new teams ahead of IPL 2022.

Former Zimbabwe captain Flower, who worked as a coach in England for more than a decade and guided the national team there, was hired for his maiden IPL stint ahead of the 2020 season.

"He sent his resignation to the team recently. It has been accepted. There is a good chance that he goes to one of the new teams (Lucknow or Ahmedabad)," a BCCI official told PTI.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kane-williamson-two-uncapped-indian-players-retained-by-srh-pbks-let-go-off-kl-rahul-433085">Kane Williamson, two uncapped Indian players retained by SRH, PBKS let go off KL Rahul</a>

There is a good possibility that the 53-year-old is given a bigger role in his next IPL assignment.

Flower worked alongside head coach Anil Kumble for the past two seasons. The development comes at a time when K L Rahul, Punjab Kings skipper for the past two seasons, is expected to move to the Lucknow franchise.

Punjab wanted to retain Rahul but he did not want to stay.

It remains to be seen if Flower stays as head coach of CPL franchise Saint Lucia Kings, which is owned by same consortium that owns Punjab Kings. Saint Lucia finished runners-up in 2020 and 2021 season.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-retention-whos-in-whos-out-ahead-of-mega-auction-all-you-need-to-know-433141">IPL retention: Who's in, who's out ahead of mega auction? All you need to know</a>

During his time with the England team, Flower led the side to the T20 World Cup title in 2010 and number one spot in the Test rankings.

Wasim Jaffer was Punjab's batting coach last season and Jonty Rhodes fielding coach.

Punjab have retained only two players -- Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh -- ahead of the mega auction in January. They will be eyeing a bunch of youngsters at the auction along with some established names.&nbsp;

Assistant coach Andy Flower has parted ways with Punjab Kings and is expected to land a role in one of the new teams ahead of IPL 2022. Former Zimbabwe captain Flower, who worked as a coach in England for more than a decade and guided the national team there, was hired for his maiden IPL stint ahead of the 2020 season.

Assistant coach Andy Flower has parted ways with Punjab Kings and is expected to land a role in one of the new teams ahead of IPL 2022. Former Zimbabwe captain Flower, who worked as a coach in England for more than a decade and guided the national team there, was hired for his maiden IPL stint ahead of the 2020 season. "He sent his resignation to the team recently. It has been accepted. There is a good chance that he goes to one of the new teams (Lucknow or Ahmedabad)," a BCCI official told PTI. ALSO READ: Kane Williamson, two uncapped Indian players retained by SRH, PBKS let go off KL Rahul There is a good possibility that the 53-year-old is given a bigger role in his next IPL assignment. Flower worked alongside head coach Anil Kumble for the past two seasons. The development comes at a time when K L Rahul, Punjab Kings skipper for the past two seasons, is expected to move to the Lucknow franchise. Punjab wanted to retain Rahul but he did not want to stay. It remains to be seen if Flower stays as head coach of CPL franchise Saint Lucia Kings, which is owned by same consortium that owns Punjab Kings. Saint Lucia finished runners-up in 2020 and 2021 season. ALSO READ | IPL retention: Who's in, who's out ahead of mega auction? All you need to know During his time with the England team, Flower led the side to the T20 World Cup title in 2010 and number one spot in the Test rankings. Wasim Jaffer was Punjab's batting coach last season and Jonty Rhodes fielding coach. Punjab have retained only two players -- Mayank Agarwal and Arshdeep Singh -- ahead of the mega auction in January. They will be eyeing a bunch of youngsters at the auction along with some established names.

IPL: Andy Flower steps down as PBKS assistant coach, likely to get bigger role in one of new teams

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises released names of retained players ahead of the mega auction, which will take place in January. As per the BCCI rules, each team had a total salary cap of INR 900 million available at the mega auction that will have two new teams in the next edition.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises released names of retained players ahead of the mega auction, which will take place in January. As per the BCCI rules, each team had a total salary cap of INR 900 million available at the mega auction that will have two new teams in the next edition. The eight existing franchises were eligible to retain up to four players with a maximum of three Indians, two overseas players and two uncapped Indians. Some star players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni were retained by their respective franchises - Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. ALSO READ | IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore retention list - RCB retain Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and one more On the other hand, KL Rahul, Rashid Khan and Hardik Pandya are among the big names that haven't been retained by their franchises Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians respectively. A total of 27 players have been retained, of which eight are overseas and four are uncapped Indians. CSK, DC, KKR and MI opted to retain four players each while RR, RCB and SRH retained three. Punjab Kings on the other hand held on to two players. Here's the list of retained players: CSK: Ravindra Jadeja (INR 160 million), MS Dhoni (INR 120 million), Moeen Ali (INR 80 million), Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 60 million) KKR: Andre Russell (INR 120 million, INR 160 million to be deducted from purse), Varun Chakravarthy (INR 80 million, INR 120 million to be deducted from purse), Venkatesh Iyer (INR 80 million), Sunil Narine (INR 60 million) SRH: Kane Williamson (INR 140 million), Abdul Samad (INR 40 million), Umran Malik (INR 40 million) MI: Rohit Sharma (INR 160 million), Jasprit Bumrah (INR 120 million), Suryakumar Yadav(INR 80 million), Kieron Pollard (INR 60 million) ALSO READ | Kolkata Knight Riders complete retention list: KKR retain Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer and two others RCB: Virat Kohli (INR 150 million), Glenn Maxwell (INR 110 million), Mohammed Siraj (INR 70 million) DC: Rishabh Pant (INR 160 million), Axar Patel (INR 90 million, INR 120 million to be deducted from purse), Prithvi Shaw (INR 75 million, INR 80 million to be deducted from purse), Anrich Nortje (INR 65 million) RR: Sanju Samson (INR 140 million), Jos Buttler (INR 100 million), Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 40 million) PBKS: Mayank Agarwal (INR 120 million, INR 140 million to be deducted from purse), Arshdeep Singh (INR 40 million) As per the BCCI rules, if a team retains four players, then a sum of INR 420 million will be deducted. The deduction for three players will be summed at INR 330 million. The deduction from the purse for two players would come to INR 240 million and for one player and the amount comes to a whopping INR 140 million for that one player. After retaining the players, PBKS have the highest salary purse available with INR 720 million while Delhi Capitals have least at INR 475 million to be used at the mega auction. There will be no Right To Match (RTM) cards available this time. The next edition will have two new teams - Lucknow and Ahmedabad - with the competition featuring 74 matches where each side plays seven home and seven away games.

IPL retention: Who's in, who's out ahead of mega auction? All you need to know

With the deadline day of November 30 approaching, all the existing eight franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) are busy sorting out their final lists of retained players. All eight teams can retain a maximum of only four players while the two new teams - Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises will be allowed to pick three players each from the list of non-retained players.

The mega player auction is set to be conducted ahead of the start of IPL 2022 next year and all teams will be looking to build their squads from scratch while retaining a strong core group of players. Here we take a look at who Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals might retain ahead of the IPL mega auction.

1) Royal Challengers Bangalore - Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will not have Virat Kohli leading the side from IPL 2022 and will also miss the services of AB de Villiers, who has already retired from all forms of cricket. However, RCB are all set to retain Kohli as a pure batter along with Glenn Maxwell, as per a report in NDTV.

While Kohli is likely to be the first-choice retention having spent his entire IPL career with RCB so far, Maxwell is all set to be the second player to be retained by RCB after being roped in last year. RCB might also look at retaining pacer Harshal Patel and opening batter Devdutt Padikkal.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-franchises-miffed-after-bcci-bans-deals-with-cryptocurrency-exchanges-432097">&nbsp;IPL franchises miffed after BCCI bans deals with cryptocurrency exchange</a>s

2)&nbsp;Rajasthan Royals - Sanju Samson, Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler

Rajasthan Royals have retained their skipper Sanju Samson for the upcoming IPL 2022 after agreeing to a contract of Rs 14 crore with the Indian keeper-batter, as per ESPN Cricinfo. RR have a number of stars in their ranks and the likes of Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer are among the favourites to be retained.

It remains to be seen how RR will go about their retentions ahead of the mega auction and who will they keep to form their core around ahead of the new season.

3) Punjab Kings - Mayank Agarwal, Ravi Bishnoi

Punjab Kings will part ways with their captain KL Rahul ahead of the new season. Rahul had expressed his willingness to leave the side and head into the auction. However, as per reports, he is set to join the Lucknow franchise and will captain the team in IPL 2022.

With Rahul not in the fray, Punjab Kings face a huge dilemma as some of the members of the team management reportedly feel none of Mayank Agarwal or Ravi Bishnoi is worth the money they would have to shell out to keep them. Punjab Kings might not retain any of the players from their existing squad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-will-keep-whom-list-of-players-likely-to-be-retained-by-csk-kkr-dc-and-mi-ahead-of-ipl-mega-auction-432050">List of players likely to be retained by CSK, KKR, DC and MI ahead of IPL mega auction</a>

4) Sunrisers Hyderabad - Kane Williamson, Rashid Khan&nbsp;

Sunrisers Hyderabad are reportedly keen on retaining only two players - Kane Williamson and Rashid Khan. However, Rashid is likely to be their second-choice retention behind Williamson which has not gone down well with the Afghanistan spinner, who wants himself to be the first pick.&nbsp;

If a franchise decides to retain only two players, the first-choice retention will get an amount of Rs 14 crore (INR 140 million) while the second-choice retention will be retained for Rs 10 crore (INR 100 million).

With the deadline day of November 30 approaching, all the existing eight franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) are busy sorting out their final lists of retained players.

With the deadline day of November 30 approaching, all the existing eight franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) are busy sorting out their final lists of retained players. All eight teams can retain a maximum of only four players while the two new teams - Ahmedabad and Lucknow franchises will be allowed to pick three players each from the list of non-retained players. The mega player auction is set to be conducted ahead of the start of IPL 2022 next year and all teams will be looking to build their squads from scratch while retaining a strong core group of players. Here we take a look at who Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals might retain ahead of the IPL mega auction. 1) Royal Challengers Bangalore - Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will not have Virat Kohli leading the side from IPL 2022 and will also miss the services of AB de Villiers, who has already retired from all forms of cricket. However, RCB are all set to retain Kohli as a pure batter along with Glenn Maxwell, as per a report in NDTV. While Kohli is likely to be the first-choice retention having spent his entire IPL career with RCB so far, Maxwell is all set to be the second player to be retained by RCB after being roped in last year. RCB might also look at retaining pacer Harshal Patel and opening batter Devdutt Padikkal. Also Read: IPL franchises miffed after BCCI bans deals with cryptocurrency exchanges 2) Rajasthan Royals - Sanju Samson, Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler Rajasthan Royals have retained their skipper Sanju Samson for the upcoming IPL 2022 after agreeing to a contract of Rs 14 crore with the Indian keeper-batter, as per ESPN Cricinfo. RR have a number of stars in their ranks and the likes of Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer are among the favourites to be retained. It remains to be seen how RR will go about their retentions ahead of the mega auction and who will they keep to form their core around ahead of the new season. 3) Punjab Kings - Mayank Agarwal, Ravi Bishnoi Punjab Kings will part ways with their captain KL Rahul ahead of the new season. Rahul had expressed his willingness to leave the side and head into the auction. However, as per reports, he is set to join the Lucknow franchise and will captain the team in IPL 2022. With Rahul not in the fray, Punjab Kings face a huge dilemma as some of the members of the team management reportedly feel none of Mayank Agarwal or Ravi Bishnoi is worth the money they would have to shell out to keep them. Punjab Kings might not retain any of the players from their existing squad. Also Read: List of players likely to be retained by CSK, KKR, DC and MI ahead of IPL mega auction 4) Sunrisers Hyderabad - Kane Williamson, Rashid Khan Sunrisers Hyderabad are reportedly keen on retaining only two players - Kane Williamson and Rashid Khan. However, Rashid is likely to be their second-choice retention behind Williamson which has not gone down well with the Afghanistan spinner, who wants himself to be the first pick. If a franchise decides to retain only two players, the first-choice retention will get an amount of Rs 14 crore (INR 140 million) while the second-choice retention will be retained for Rs 10 crore (INR 100 million).

A look at players RCB, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and SRH might retain ahead of IPL mega auction

Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper KL Rahul is likely to leave the franchise ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022. Rahul has been leading Punjab Kings since 2020 and has failed to inspire the side into the playoffs in his two seasons as captain. He had replaced senior spinner R Ashwin as the captain of Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2020 after the off-spinner was traded to Delhi Capitals.

Rahul has been incredibly consistent with the bat but Punjab Kings have failed to fire as a unit and have finished outside the top four under his captaincy in the last two seasons. PBKS once again struggled for consistency in IPL 2021 and finished sixth with just 12 points from 14 matches. Despite Rahul being the top scorer of IPL 2021 so far, he failed to power his side into the playoffs for a second successive season.

As per a report in Cricbuzz, Rahul will not feature for Punjab Kings in IPL 2022 and is likely to be up for grabs in the mega auction ahead of the new season of the league. The report further states that discussions have taken place behind the scenes to ensure Rahul's exit from Punjab Kings is an 'amicable one' for both parties.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-sakshi-gets-emotional-as-ms-dhoni-finishes-off-in-style-to-take-csk-to-ipl-2021-final-with-dc-win-419836">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-sakshi-gets-emotional-as-ms-dhoni-finishes-off-in-style-to-take-csk-to-ipl-2021-final-with-dc-win-419836">WATCH -&nbsp;Sakshi gets emotional as MS Dhoni finishes off in style to take CSK to IPL 2021 final with DC win</a>

Rahul was roped in by Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2018 after the stylish batsman was released by his former franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. Punjab spent a whopping INR 110 million to secure his services at the player auction in 2018. He has since been their best batsman and has churned out runs consistently season after season.

Rahul has become the leading run-getter for Punjab Kings in just four seasons that he has spent with the franchise. He has 2548 runs to his name for Punjab Kings in 55 matches, including 2 centuries and 23 fifties.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-controls-world-cricket-now-imran-khan-after-new-zealand-england-pull-out-of-pakistan-tour-420001">India controls world cricket now: Imran Khan after New Zealand, England pull out of Pakistan tour</a>

Rahul was once again Punjab's highest run-getter this season with 626 runs in just 13 matches - most by any batsmen in the league so far. However, the franchise endured another poor campaign as they failed to make it to the playoffs and exited from the tournament early.&nbsp;

A number of teams are likely to be engaged in a bidding war at the mega auction if Rahul is up for grabs. The BCCI is yet to release fresh rules on the retention policy for the mega auction ahead of IPL 2022.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper KL Rahul is likely to leave the franchise ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022. Rahul has been leading Punjab Kings since 2020 and has failed to inspire the side into the playoffs in his two seasons as captain.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper KL Rahul is likely to leave the franchise ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022. Rahul has been leading Punjab Kings since 2020 and has failed to inspire the side into the playoffs in his two seasons as captain. He had replaced senior spinner R Ashwin as the captain of Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2020 after the off-spinner was traded to Delhi Capitals. Rahul has been incredibly consistent with the bat but Punjab Kings have failed to fire as a unit and have finished outside the top four under his captaincy in the last two seasons. PBKS once again struggled for consistency in IPL 2021 and finished sixth with just 12 points from 14 matches. Despite Rahul being the top scorer of IPL 2021 so far, he failed to power his side into the playoffs for a second successive season. As per a report in Cricbuzz, Rahul will not feature for Punjab Kings in IPL 2022 and is likely to be up for grabs in the mega auction ahead of the new season of the league. The report further states that discussions have taken place behind the scenes to ensure Rahul's exit from Punjab Kings is an 'amicable one' for both parties. Also Read: WATCH - Sakshi gets emotional as MS Dhoni finishes off in style to take CSK to IPL 2021 final with DC win Rahul was roped in by Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2018 after the stylish batsman was released by his former franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. Punjab spent a whopping INR 110 million to secure his services at the player auction in 2018. He has since been their best batsman and has churned out runs consistently season after season. Rahul has become the leading run-getter for Punjab Kings in just four seasons that he has spent with the franchise. He has 2548 runs to his name for Punjab Kings in 55 matches, including 2 centuries and 23 fifties. Also Read: India controls world cricket now: Imran Khan after New Zealand, England pull out of Pakistan tour Rahul was once again Punjab's highest run-getter this season with 626 runs in just 13 matches - most by any batsmen in the league so far. However, the franchise endured another poor campaign as they failed to make it to the playoffs and exited from the tournament early. A number of teams are likely to be engaged in a bidding war at the mega auction if Rahul is up for grabs. The BCCI is yet to release fresh rules on the retention policy for the mega auction ahead of IPL 2022.

Captain KL Rahul likely to part ways with Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022

Match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition saw the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Thursday (October 7) afternoon. The Dhoni-led Yellow Army were thrashed by PBKS by 6 wickets, with 7 overs to spare, as KL Rahul's 98* (off 42 balls) led Punjab to finish off their season on a high.

While CSK are sure to be in the playoffs despite the setback versus Punjab, and having now lost three games on the trot, Dhoni &amp; Co. have lots to ponder upon if they have to win their fourth championship this season. One of their main bowlers Deepak Chahar also had an off day, conceding 48 runs in 4 overs without a wicket. However, the 29-year-old still made heads turn post the proceedings in Dubai by proposing to his long-time girlfriend in one of the most adorable fashions in the stands. Here's the video:

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-she-said-yes-deepak-chahars-bollywood-like-proposal-to-girlfriend-during-ipl-match-is-adorable-418951">Watch: She said yes! Deepak Chahar's Bollywood-like proposal to girlfriend during IPL match is ADORABLE</a>

As&nbsp;per a report in&nbsp;Dainik Jagran, the CSK pacer Deepak was initially planning the proposal act during the playoffs of the ongoing season. However, he was made to prepone his plans courtesy his captain Dhoni.

The report further claims that the fast-bowling all-rounder had consulted Dhoni, with the initial plan of proposing his ladylove during the final round of IPL 14. Nonetheless, Dhoni asked him to go ahead with it after the face-off with Delhi Capitals (DC). Deepak's father reportedly told the Hindi news portal that while Deepak hesitated&nbsp;seeing the result of the match versus DC, where CSK lost by 3 wickets, he had to go ahead with his plan after the Punjab encounter -- irrespective of the result -- as it was Chennai's last league stage encounter.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-jaya-bhardwaj-all-you-need-to-know-about-csk-pacer-deepak-chahars-fiance-418954">Who is Jaya Bhardwaj? - All you need to know about CSK pacer Deepak Chahar's fiance</a>

For the unversed, the Chahar family is ecstatic with Deepak's proposal and are, reportedly, going to plan the wedding after the pacer returns home from the UAE. Not to forget, Chahar is also in the reserves for Team India in the forthcoming T20 World Cup.

Match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition saw the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Thursday (October 7) afternoon.

Match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition saw the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Thursday (October 7) afternoon. The Dhoni-led Yellow Army were thrashed by PBKS by 6 wickets, with 7 overs to spare, as KL Rahul's 98* (off 42 balls) led Punjab to finish off their season on a high. While CSK are sure to be in the playoffs despite the setback versus Punjab, and having now lost three games on the trot, Dhoni & Co. have lots to ponder upon if they have to win their fourth championship this season. One of their main bowlers Deepak Chahar also had an off day, conceding 48 runs in 4 overs without a wicket. However, the 29-year-old still made heads turn post the proceedings in Dubai by proposing to his long-time girlfriend in one of the most adorable fashions in the stands. Here's the video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deepak Chahar (@deepak_chahar9) × ALSO READ | Watch: She said yes! Deepak Chahar's Bollywood-like proposal to girlfriend during IPL match is ADORABLE As per a report in Dainik Jagran, the CSK pacer Deepak was initially planning the proposal act during the playoffs of the ongoing season. However, he was made to prepone his plans courtesy his captain Dhoni. The report further claims that the fast-bowling all-rounder had consulted Dhoni, with the initial plan of proposing his ladylove during the final round of IPL 14. Nonetheless, Dhoni asked him to go ahead with it after the face-off with Delhi Capitals (DC). Deepak's father reportedly told the Hindi news portal that while Deepak hesitated seeing the result of the match versus DC, where CSK lost by 3 wickets, he had to go ahead with his plan after the Punjab encounter -- irrespective of the result -- as it was Chennai's last league stage encounter. ALSO READ | Who is Jaya Bhardwaj? - All you need to know about CSK pacer Deepak Chahar's fiance For the unversed, the Chahar family is ecstatic with Deepak's proposal and are, reportedly, going to plan the wedding after the pacer returns home from the UAE. Not to forget, Chahar is also in the reserves for Team India in the forthcoming T20 World Cup.

IPL 2021: How MS Dhoni prompted Deepak Chahar to prepone his proposal plan for his beloved Jaya Bhardwaj

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with each other in match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Thursday afternoon (October 6). This will be both sides' last game in the league stage.

While the Yellow Army have already qualified for the playoffs, they aren't sure of a top-two finish and will like to beat Punjab with ease to bolster their chances of playing the Qualifier 1, in order to get an extra game for reaching the final. On the other hand, PBKS aren't mathematically out of contention from the playoffs race but have a near-impossible task to make it to the last four.&nbsp;

Rahul &amp; Co. need to beat CSK by a big margin and hope for several other results to fall in their favour to progress ahead.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-as-mi-crush-rr-heres-how-mumbai-or-kkr-can-grab-the-4th-spot-in-ipl-2021-playoffs-418570">EXPLAINED: As MI crush RR, here's how Mumbai or KKR can grab the 4th spot in IPL 2021 playoffs</a>

Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match:&nbsp;

Where is the IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings taking place?

The IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings&nbsp;will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

What time does the IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings begin?

The IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings&nbsp; begins at 3:30 PM IST on Thursday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/august-15-again-ms-dhoni-drops-a-bomb-on-his-ipl-future-says-you-can-bid-me-farewell-in-chennai-418461">August 15 again? MS Dhoni drops a bomb on his IPL future, says you can bid me farewell in Chennai</a>

Where and how to watch live coverage of the IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings?

The IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings&nbsp; will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the IPL 2021 match between PBKS vs RCB will be available on Hotstar.

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with each other in match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Thursday afternoon (October 6).

MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns with each other in match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition, at the iconic Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Thursday afternoon (October 6). This will be both sides' last game in the league stage. While the Yellow Army have already qualified for the playoffs, they aren't sure of a top-two finish and will like to beat Punjab with ease to bolster their chances of playing the Qualifier 1, in order to get an extra game for reaching the final. On the other hand, PBKS aren't mathematically out of contention from the playoffs race but have a near-impossible task to make it to the last four. Rahul & Co. need to beat CSK by a big margin and hope for several other results to fall in their favour to progress ahead. ALSO READ | EXPLAINED: As MI crush RR, here's how Mumbai or KKR can grab the 4th spot in IPL 2021 playoffs Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match: Where is the IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings taking place? The IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. What time does the IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings begin? The IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings begins at 3:30 PM IST on Thursday. ALSO READ | August 15 again? MS Dhoni drops a bomb on his IPL future, says you can bid me farewell in Chennai Where and how to watch live coverage of the IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings? The IPL 2021 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the IPL 2021 match between PBKS vs RCB will be available on Hotstar.

IPL 2021, CSK vs PBKS, Live Streaming: When and where to watch Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings?

Match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition will see the three-time champions MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. While the Yellow Army are certain to appear in the playoffs, they will be eager to register a win over the struggling Punjab franchise as they can't afford to enter the last four with three back-to-back defeats.&nbsp;

CSK lost a high-scoring game versus the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Abu Dhabi before the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) exposed their fragile and vulnerable middle-order as the Chennai team lost to Delhi by 3 wickets despite putting up a fight in defence of 137, in Dubai, on Monday (October 4).&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-as-mi-crush-rr-heres-how-mumbai-or-kkr-can-grab-the-4th-spot-in-ipl-2021-playoffs-418570">EXPLAINED: As MI crush RR, here's how Mumbai or KKR can grab the 4th spot in IPL 2021 playoffs</a>

On the other hand, PBKS have once again faltered in crunch situations in the ongoing IPL season to see themselves languishing in the bottom-half. For the unversed, PBKS aren't mathematically out of contention for the fourth playoffs spot, however, they need to thump CSK and hope for many other results to fall in their favour. In such an unlikely scenario of further qualification, PBKS are expected to come out all guns blazing versus CSK.&nbsp;

CSK will hope to add two more points and ensure themselves of a top-two finish. While they are also almost certain to end in the top-two, following Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday (October 6), Dhoni &amp; Co. will still like to demolish their opposition in style.

Match prediction: Run-scoring hasn't been very easy at Dubai. In the CSK vs DC clash, it was a two-paced surface which didn't help the batters but the pacers had something to rely on whereas the spinners also found some assistance and bounce. Hence, the surface will test both the camps as a moderate-scoring encounter looks on cards. However, batting should be easier in the afternoon game. Will CSK finally to get back to winning ways? They surely have the edge going into the contest.

Match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition will see the three-time champions MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

Match 53 of the IPL 2021 edition will see the three-time champions MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with the KL Rahul-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. While the Yellow Army are certain to appear in the playoffs, they will be eager to register a win over the struggling Punjab franchise as they can't afford to enter the last four with three back-to-back defeats. CSK lost a high-scoring game versus the Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Abu Dhabi before the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) exposed their fragile and vulnerable middle-order as the Chennai team lost to Delhi by 3 wickets despite putting up a fight in defence of 137, in Dubai, on Monday (October 4). ALSO READ | EXPLAINED: As MI crush RR, here's how Mumbai or KKR can grab the 4th spot in IPL 2021 playoffs On the other hand, PBKS have once again faltered in crunch situations in the ongoing IPL season to see themselves languishing in the bottom-half. For the unversed, PBKS aren't mathematically out of contention for the fourth playoffs spot, however, they need to thump CSK and hope for many other results to fall in their favour. In such an unlikely scenario of further qualification, PBKS are expected to come out all guns blazing versus CSK. CSK will hope to add two more points and ensure themselves of a top-two finish. While they are also almost certain to end in the top-two, following Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday (October 6), Dhoni & Co. will still like to demolish their opposition in style. Match prediction: Run-scoring hasn't been very easy at Dubai. In the CSK vs DC clash, it was a two-paced surface which didn't help the batters but the pacers had something to rely on whereas the spinners also found some assistance and bounce. Hence, the surface will test both the camps as a moderate-scoring encounter looks on cards. However, batting should be easier in the afternoon game. Will CSK finally to get back to winning ways? They surely have the edge going into the contest.

CSK vs PBKS, IPL 2021 prediction today: Who will win Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings match?

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