The IPL mega auction for the next season of the Indian Premier League will reportedly be held on February 12 and 13 next year in Bengaluru. The ten franchises were separately informed by the BCCI of the auction schedule but the two-day event is set to coincide with an India-West Indies ODI as well.
A total of 27 players were retained in the retention list by the eight existing teams. All the other players will now move to the IPL 2022 Auction pool. The two new franchises can pick three players each from this pool and move ahead to the auction.
These are the only three players to be retained by the existing franchise.
Kolkata Knight Riders has retained two key players, including the West Indies duo of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. Mumbai Indias has picked Kieron Pollard for the upcoming season.
Here is a list of Top West Indies players who would be available for the ten teams to pick in the auction,
1. Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle is the BOSS of T20 cricket as he has achieved some of the Good records in this format. In 2021, Gayle made 193 runs at an average of 21.44 and a strike rate of 125.32 for Punjab Kings.
He pulled out of the UAE leg of the IPL 2021 mid-way due to suffering from fatigue after staying in the biosecure bubble for a long time. At the age of 42, Gayle can even score runs like a young lad, which will be one reason why some franchise might go after him.
2. Dwyane Bravo
Dwayne Bravo is another player who has achieved some unbelievable feats in T20 cricket. Bravo announced his retirement from T20Is after playing in the T20 WC 2021. However, he is still playing franchise cricket and had a good run in the T10 League.
Bravo has picked 167 wickets in 151 matches and is only three wickets away from beating the highest wicket-taker, Lasith Malinga. Bravo was an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings line-up and might reunite with the Yellow Army after the IPL 2022 Auction.
3. Shimron Hetmyer
Shimron Hetmyer made 242 runs in 14 matches for Delhi Capitals in the 2021 season of IPL. He played some of the finest knocks in the tournament and guided the team to victory in razor-thin situations.
Hetmyer is someone who has made himself one of the best finishers in the shortest format of the game. Hence, he might be the first choice of the teams looking for an effective finisher.
4. Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran captained the West Indies side during the recent tour to Pakistan t20 Series . He was the leading run-scorer for the team in the series. Pooran had a great outing in the IPL 2020 as he made 353 runs in 14 games at a strike rate of 169.71.
However, he could not recreate the same in the 2021 season. Pooran could make only 85 runs in 12 matches. His recent form in Caribbean Premier League makes him one of the players every franchise would target.
5. Fabian Allen
Fabian Allen is another all-rounder who has featured in IPL. He played for Punjab Kings in four games but didn’t have any significant contribution with both the bat and the ball.
Allen sustained an ankle injury during the IPL and subsequently was ruled out of the West Indies squad for the T20 World Cup 2021.
6. Evin Lewis
Evin Lewis is one of the most attacking openers in the world currently. During the UAE leg, Lewis replaced Jos Buttler in the squad. Lewis made 36 runs off 21 balls in his first outing and helped the Royals win the match against Punjab Kings by two runs.
He has made 1318 runs in 45 T20Is at a strike rate of 158.03, including nine half-centuries and a few centuries. Lewis made 426 runs in 11 matches in CPL 2021 for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and was the second-highest run-scorer. Lewis might be able to find a buyer in the IPL 2022 Auction.
7. Jason Holder
Jason Holder made a massive contribution to IPL 2021 for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He picked 16 wickets in eight matches at an average of 15.43 and an economy of 7.75.
Overall, he has picked 35 wickets in 26 matches in IPL at an economy of 8.2 and a strike rate of 22.45.
8. Sherfane Rutherford
Sherfane Rutherford has played for Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL in the last three years. In 2021, he was included in the SRH team to replace Jonny Bairstow.
Rutherford has made 73 runs in seven matches that he played in 2019 for Delhi at a strike rate of 135.18. He has picked one wicket.
9. Sheldon Cottrell, 10. Rovman Powell, 11. Oshane Thomas, 12. Fabian Allen, 13. Alzarri Joseph, 14. Obed Mccoy, 15. Keemo Paul, 16. Jayden Seales, 17. Carlos Brathwaite, 18. Sherfane Rutherford, 19. Romario Shepherd, 20. Akeal Hosein, 21. Dominic Drakes 22. Odean Smith