Author : A Smith | Created : 2021-12-14 10:02:00
After a slight delay, the IPL 2022 auction finally took place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. A total of 10 teams participated in the mega auction with 600 players in the auction pool. After two days of intense bidding wars, 204 players were sold in total. Amongst the players sold, 67 were overseas players while the rest(137) were Indian players.
As is expected, some players will be earning a big payday with their new deals while others are left to wonder what went wrong as they have to make do with wage cuts. With the dust having settled a bit and the teams getting ready to kick-start the new season, let's take a look at the biggest winners and losers in the 2022 mega auction.
Many players who had a good season in IPL 2021 have been rewarded with bigger contracts. Here are some of the biggest gainers:
Harshal Patel
The Indian cricketer was the star of the IPL 2021 campaign after he was brought in by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 20 lakh. He scooped various individual awards including MVP and Gamechanger of the season. His stellar performances were rewarded as RCB bought him for a whopping INR 10.75 crore (£1.1m). His new wages mean he'll be earning 53 times more than what he earned in 2021. The pay rise is no less than what Hardhal Patel deserves for what was truly a remarkable season.
Prasidh Krishna
Known for his astonishing bowling speed and composure, Krishna is another Indian player who had a good campaign. The pacer who made his international debut in 2021 was brought in by KKR in 2018 for INR 20 lakh (£20k). In this year's auction, he was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals after they made an eye-popping INR 10 crore (£1m) bid which is 50 times his previous salary.
Wanindu Hasaranga
After forking out INR 10.75 core to buy Hardhal Patel, Royal Challengers Bangalore repeated the feat with Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. With good hitting ability and an eye-catching leg-spin, Hasaranga is enjoying a growing reputation as one of the most promising players in the IPL. His performance is what's undoubtedly earned him his INR 10.75 core salary which cements him as one of IPL's most valuable players.
Deepak Chahar
Chennai Super Kings could be without Deepak Chahar for the IPL 2022 season after he suffered a hamstring injury last week. But the Indian cricket all-rounder was one of the biggest winners at the IPL 2022 mega auction after landing a INR 14 crore(£1.4m) contract with Chennai Super Kings. His new salary represents a significant pay rise compared to the INR 80 lakh(80k) that CSK paid to get him in 2018. However, the MS Dhoni-led franchise will be hoping that their prized asset recovers in time for the start of the tournament.
Liam Livingstone
Livingstone was PBK's most expensive signing. The English all-rounder was signed for INR 11.50 crore(£1.1m) after an intense bidding war. He had an incredible year in 2021 after putting in several impressive performances including an M.V.P award at The Hundred's inaugural edition. The Englishman is now the fourth most expensive English player sold in an IPL auction.
While some players saw their salaries increase drastically, others will be licking their wounds after taking massive pay cuts to resign from their previous franchise or sign for a new one. Here are some of the biggest losers who took huge pay cuts in the IPL 2022 mega auction:
Tymal Mills
Mills was on top of his game when Royal Challengers Bangalore paid INR 12 crore (1.2m) for his services in 2017. But a drop in performance over the past few years has seen his stock drop considerably. RCB paid INR 1.59 crore(£158k) to keep him for IPL 2022. It means the Englishman has had an astonishing INR 10.50 crore pay cut from his initial salary in 2017.
Krishnappa Gowtham
Last year, Krishnappa Gowtham became the most expensive uncapped player after Chennai Super Kings paid INR 9.25 (£919k) to acquire his services. But his price value has since dropped after he was listed in the 2022 auction pool at a base price of INR 50 lakh (£50k). Despite a bidding war that ensued, he was snapped up by new franchise Lucknow Super Giants for just INR 90 lakh(£90k). Having not featured in a single game for CSK last season, it's not too difficult to understand why the Chennai-based franchise decided against retaining him for the new season.
Pat Cummins
KKR paid a jaw-dropping INR 15.5 crore (£1.5m) to sign the Australian all-rounder in the IPL 2021 Mega auction. That figure puts him on the list of the most expensive overseas players in IPL mega auction history. But they have resigned him this year for INR 7.25 crore (£720k) which is INR 8.25 crore less than he earned last year. The fast bowler has however expressed his joy at rejoining KKR which suggests he's not entirely bummed by his pay cut.
Manish Pandey
The 32-year-old veteran holds the record as the first Indian player to score an IPL century. He earned INR 11 crore (£1m) to play for SRH in the IPL 2021, but he'll be playing for LSG this season after agreeing to a INR 4.60 deal. His new salary means he's taken a INR 6.40 crore salary cut.
Riley Meredith
The Aussie cricket player was bought by PBKS in 2021 for INR 8 (£750k). With the Mohali-based franchise deciding not to resign him for the new season, the 25yr old has been picked up by MI for just INR 1 crore. It's a huge pay cut considering the player's reputation when he signed for PBKS last season.
While some players had to make do with pay cuts, others were not quite lucky enough to be picked. Some of the biggest stars who didn't get picked at the auction include Australian veteran Aaron Finch, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Suresh Raina, and Suresh Raina.