IPL 2022: Best predicted team of all 10 franchises

The most exciting days in the lead up to the IPL is now a week old. The mega auction has thrown up multiple new dynamics. And with ten teams, the demand for some players given the paucity of their kind saw them earn a massive pay day. Meanwhile, a few established players of the game were relatively underpaid.

The above is – in a way – the story of every auction. In that regard, the global narrative was no different than any other. However, this was an extremely unique IPL auction. Two auctioneers, multiple panic buys, an acceleration during the accelerated auction, one team on early overdrive and another one waiting patiently to put all their eggs in one basket. And eventually, it all led to intriguing television.

The immediate frantic exercise from all quarters was to formulate every team’s best predicted playing 11 that places the franchises best to win IPL 2022. And now with the luxury of time and space of perspective, we delve in the same exercise.

There will certainly be crucial differences now that the Ranji Trophy season is underway. The longest format of the game has thrown up multiple centurions which may cause a couple of Indian players to squeeze into the playing 11s leading to a change in the team compositions.

Here are the predicted 11s of all 10 IPL teams.

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Lucknow Super Giants

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had drafted KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi prior to the auction. And in Bangalore over bidding weekend, new franchise under the leadership of some experienced auction heads managed to assemble a particularly exciting bunch of players to make their IPL debut.

Sanjiv Goenka, part of the LSG ownership had previously owned an IPL franchise and on their table was also present two-time IPL winning captain Gautam Gambhir. The former World Cup winning southpaw’s choices resemble a bit of faith, ala Manish Pandey who will bat at three. They have a good selection of all rounders in the middle order, which may allow them to deepen their batting.

Here is how their best team looks like.

LSG Predicted team: KL Rahul (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Manish Pandey, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi.

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was one of the franchises in search of a captain after Virat Kohli stepped down before the second leg of last season’s IPL started in the UAE. Hence, the franchise paid a strong bargain for the experienced Faf du Plessis. The South African is of the same age as the recently retired AB de Villiers, albeit playing cricket more regularly.

The other leadership candidate is mercurial Aussie Glenn Maxwell. Dinesh Karthik, a former skipper, is an unlikely candidate after himself relinquishing captaincy to focus on his batting. There may yet be a possibility that Kohli is dialogued into leading the side again.

What the next RCB skipper will most enjoy is that their bowling line up now looks equally potent when compared to their batting, if not better. And an RCB fan who has followed the team’s fortunes since 2008 will warmly welcome that reality.

RCB Predicted team: Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Mahipal Lomror, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Josh Hazlewood

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Punjab Kings

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) is known to be the enigmatic franchise of the IPL. No other team in this tournament’s history has played as much hot potato with their captain as Punjab has. Yet, success has somehow avoided them. And one cannot fault them for effort. Perhaps the fault lies in too much effort.

However, this mega auction is one the franchise’s faithfuls will be delighted by. The decision makers at the auction table have assembled a rather settled team. The captain and coach will have a good bunch of options to pick from. And the squad is well balanced, unlike last time when they lacked finishers and all rounders to connect the batting to the bowling.

Punjab picked up some early bargains at the auction which allowed them to go all in for Liam Livingstone towards the end. The Englishman is not just a destructive batter but is unique with his all round abilities given he is a leg spinner. And a good one at that.

This is how Punjab Kings will probably line up in IPL 2022.

PBKS Predicted team: Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan, Raj Angad Bawa, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh.

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Rajasthan Royals

The best social media team of the IPL will now have more content to play with as the owners have made some smart moves at the auction. They also went into relative inactivity before realising there was a middle order hole to fill. This resulted in the most frantic four minutes of bidding in perhaps the history of any auction in IPL history.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) showed plenty of loyalty to their former players, bidding for a host of them but only landing Riyan Parag at a high price. RR have a good top order and very good bowlers but they may face the erstwhile Punjab problem. Their batters do not bowl and their bowlers contribute little with the bat.

Here is the likely 11.

RR Predicted team: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (C), Shimron Hetmeyer, Riyan Parag, James Neesham, Ravichandran Ashwin, Prasidh Krishna, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal.

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Gujarat Titans

The other new team of the IPL this season, Gujarat Titans did not have the best of auctions. While their team possesses match winners, there is little connecting the muscle men of the T20 world. Gujarat Titans (GT) had initially drafted Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill into their squad.

In the auction, they got Jason Roy at base price towards the end and that was a very smart buy. They began well too, picking up Mohammed Shami and Lockie Ferguson. However, they have left themselves short on the Indian batting front, putting heavy dependency on Pandya and Gill.

GT left their wicketkeeping pick late too and their most notable Indian spin option is miracle man Rahul Tewatia, who may be pinching himself at the bank transfer he shall soon have.

GT Predicted team: Shubman Gill, Jason Roy, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya (C), Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Matthew Wade (WK), Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson.

IPL 2022 Predicted team – SunRisers Hyderabad

SunRisers Hyderabad have done a very typical job at the auctions and quietly built a balanced squad. Their only slight blemish perhaps is getting into a bidding war for Nicholas Pooran which ended at 10.75 crore Indian Rupees. The West Indian southpaw is very highly regarded but that has not translated to performances in the IPL thus far.

Otherwise, SRH have plenty of all rounders and Indian fast bowling options which allows them the luxury to tailor their batting likewise. They may yet miss a really established finisher but the team looks otherwise solid.

SRH will miss Rashid Khan. The Afghan was a bank of four overs and picked wickets. Looking at their bowling, they do seem to lack an incisive wicket taker. However, they have varied options and clever operators to mask that deficiency.

SRH Predicted team: Abhishek Sharma, Kane Williamson (C), Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Abdul Samad, Washington Sundar, Romario Shepherd, Shreyas Gopal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan.

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals (DC) were perhaps the worst hit by the mega auctions causing teams to reshuffle. The franchise had built themselves a solid IPL side, covering most bases and even having space for backup. They had a strong Indian top order, powerful finishers and overseas overseas hitters. They had quality Indian spin options and an enviable pace battery.

While the top order has not been hampered in quality by the exchange of David Warner with Shikhar Dhawan, there is an overseas slot less in the middle order or the bowling attack. Thus, the DC management will have to take a call on which area requires more reinforcement.

The power hitting quota is well filled however, with Rishabh Pant and Romario Shepherd manning that department. Anrich Nortje’s fitness will be a concern, with Lungi Ngidi providing a like for like replacement and Mustafizur Rahman offering a crafty alternative.

DC Predicted team: David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), Rovman Powell, Yash Dhull, Lalit Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Chetan Sakariya, Anrich Nortje.

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders have sought to replicate their successful bidding formula from more than a decade back. They have hedged their bets firmly on a solid Indian top order batter to captain the side. They have filled their team with all rounders and will likely pick one overseas pacer.

KKR are among those IPL teams that puts value on relationship with their players. Their retentions of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Varun CV emphasises their love for players and signals a heavy work assignment for their medical team.

KKR have also bought back the likes of Pat Cummins, Nitish Rana, Shivam Mavi, Sheldon Jackson, Rinku Singh, Tim Southee and Umesh Yadav.

Here is how they will most likely lineup.

KKR Predicted team: Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nitish Rana, Sam Billings (WK), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Anukul Roy, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy.

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Mumbai Indians

Ishan Kishan. Jofra Archer. And precious little. Mumbai Indians (MI) were very clear heading into the auction which players they wanted. And executed with clarity the task of landing their targets. They were so keen on picking their players that they opted out for majority of the other picks.

They may even be sacrificing this season to make it work from the next. But when they can unleash a fully fit Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer on the opposition, games may be over psychologically. The duo will form the most fearsome pace attack in the IPL and the death overs will become particularly difficult to negotiate.

MI, however, do not have the band of all rounders as the Pandya brothers have left for different pastures, leaving retained long serving Kieron Pollard as the sole remaining Paltan. The top order will bear a similar look and Rohit must have a big batting season.

MI Predicted team: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Sanjay Yadav, Tim David, Daniel Sams, Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Tymal Mills/Jofra Archer.  

IPL 2022 Predicted team – Chennai Super Kings

The defending champions of the IPL have done a calm job in the auction. This is one franchise that plans for filling slots, instead of targeting particular player. That was largely the theme of this auction for CSK with the exception of Deepak Chahar, who they broke the proverbial bank for.

Much to their captain MS Dhoni’s liking, the men at the auction table bid and landed plenty of all rounders. This makes CSK a dangerous side as Dhoni – with options – becomes an extremely difficult captain. Tactically strong and a master player, expect CSK to challenge for the title yet again.

The franchise have managed to bag a few exciting players to go with their bunch of experienced players. Here is the likely playing 11.

CSK Predicted team: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (WK), Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwayne Bravo/Chris Jordan, Adam Milne.