IPL 2022 Auction: Which Wicketkeepers Can Secure The Highest Bids?
Cricket's extravaganza Indian Premier League is set to hold the IPL Auction 2022 on 12th & 13th February 2022 in Bangalore. As many as ten franchises with a maximum of four retained players would look to build their squad and core for the upcoming seasons.
As we near the IPL auctions, let's take a look at the top 6 wicketkeeper-batters who can attract a huge bidding war for their services.
1. Ishan Kishan
Mumbai Indians surprisingly released the young explosive batter Ishan Kishan ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. The wicketkeeper has amassed 1,452 runs in 61 IPL matches since 2016, with a strike rate of 136.33.
The 23-year old was bought by Mumbai Indian in the IPL 2018 auction for a price of 6.20 crores and is expected to attract huger bids, with his base price set at 2 crores INR.
2. Dinesh Karthik
The former Kolkata Knight Riders captain Dinesh Karthik, who was removed from captaincy mid-season in 2020, is set to go under the hammer in the IPL 2022 mega auction. The 36-year old has scored 4,406 runs in 213 IPL matches with 19 fifties.
DK made headlines in 2014 when he was bought by Delhi Daredevils at a price of 12.5 crores. He was then bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018 for 7.4 crores. The Karnataka wicketkeeper-batter has set his base price at 2 crores INR.
3. Nicholas Pooran
The Windies batter Nicholas Pooran has displayed many impactful performances at the international level for West Indies. However, the batter has failed in IPL way too many times and is set to undergo the hammer in the IPL 2022 mega auction at a base price of 1.50 crores INR.
Pooran has scored 606 runs in 33 matches at a strike rate of 154.98 but a shaky average of 22.44.
4. Jonny Bairstow
The English wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow is another player in this category who can attract bidding wars for his services. The 32-year old batter has 1,038 runs to his name in 28 IPL matches, with an impressive strike rate and an average of 142.19 and 41.52 respectively.
Jonny Bairstow was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019 auction for 2.20 crores. The Englishman will be available for upcoming IPL seasons at a base price of 1.50 crores.
5. Srikar Bharat
Royal Challengers Bangalore's find of the season in 2021, KS Bharat is also included in this list of potential high-priced wicketkeepers at IPL 2022 auction. Bharat has 191 runs to his name in the 7 matches he played for RCB in the second phase of the IPL 2021. He averages 38.20, striking at 122.43.
The 28-year old wicketkeeper batter was bought by RCB at the IPL 2021 auction at a base price of 20 lakhs and will be available at a base price of 20 lakhs as well in the IPL 2022 auctions.
6. Quinton de Kock
The final name on the list and possibly the most expensive, Quinton de Kock will feature in the IPL 2022 mega auction at a base price of 2 crores. Mumbai Indians secured the South African wicketkeeper at 2.8 crores after the 2018 season from Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Quinton de Kock has scored 2,256 runs in the IPL in 77 matches, averaging 31.33 and striking at 130.93. He has a century to his name along with 16 fifties.
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The IPL Mega Auction 2022 will feature 590 players and ten franchises will look to build their perfect squad with the amount remaining in their purchase.