Oct 30, 2021, 8:57 PM IST
The Indian Premier League is set to get even more prominent from 2022 following the inclusion of two new sides: Ahmedabad and Lucknow. While CVC Capital Partners has owned the Ahmedabad franchise for ₹5,625 crore, the Lucknow franchise is owned by the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group for ₹7,090 crore.
Meanwhile, both teams would participate in the mega auction, tentatively slated for January before the IPL 2022 season. As per reports, both sides would be at an advantage during the auction, as they would be allowed to make three early picks from the players' auction pool.
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However, who are the players the franchises could pick during the auction? Trust us; a shocking few big names could be on their way to these new teams as we take a look at a few.
David Warner (Lucknow): The Australian's poor run of late is most likely to prompt SunRisers Hyderabad to release him. With the Lucknow stadium being a flat track, Warner would enjoy batting on the surface.
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Hardik Pandya (Ahmedabad): The Indian all-rounder, too, has been struggling with his batting form, while his bowling abilities have become restricted. Provided Mumbai Indians releases him, Ahmedabad would rope him in, primarily because he is a Gujrati
Suryakumar Yadav (Lucknow): Although he is on the retention card by Mumbai, considering that he is left out, Lucknow can jump in for him. Also, since his father belongs from Varanasi, it makes him a UPite by heart.
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Shreyas Iyer (Ahmedabad): Iyer reportedly prefers a leadership role, while Rishabh Pant currently possesses Delhi Capitals' captaincy. If he looks for a change, Ahmedabad could rope him in, as it would love to have a young skipper at the helm.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Lucknow): He has not made a severe impact on SunRisers Hyderabad recently, giving the franchise a reason to let him go. And, if it does happen, it seems like a no-brainer that Lucknow would hop in for his services.
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KL Rahul (Ahmedabad): Rahul has failed to lead Punjab Kings properly. It seems like Punjab can pull the plug on him, while Ahmedabad would surely jump the ship to grab him during the early picks. Although it's unlikely he would lead Ahmedabad, he could still be its vice-captain.
Suresh Raina (Lucknow): China Thala has been a legend for Chennai Super Kings since 2008 and could be set for his way out. He would love to end his career with his home team, as Lucknow perfectly suits him, while his rich experience would make him the team captain for sure.