Following what was essentially a two-year shift to UAE, India’s darling tournament is finally coming back to its home soil. Two new franchises are being added and to make sure existing teams don’t have much of an edge, a mega-auction is being held.
Existing teams were allowed a maximum of four retentions. However, every side comprised several quality players and the number of retentions allowed weren’t enough to keep them all. Several batters, bowlers, and all-rounders have been released. Captains too. In this article, SportsTime247 looks at five such potential captaincy candidates who may be a good fit for captain-less teams.
1. KL Rahul
Kannur Lokesh Rahul is unarguably the greatest IPL batter at present. He was Punjab Kings’ captain since 2018. But presently, he’s a free agent. The last four IPL seasons saw KL score 2548 runs at a scintillating average of 56.62. He was a regular contender for Orange Cap throughout all 4 seasons. He’s also skilled as a leader and has recently been appointed as India’s T20I deputy.
Long before his unreal batsmanship at Zinta’s team, KL Rahul was an integral component of Bangalore’s 2016 IPL campaign. Kohli has given up and they may want Rahul to come back to lead them. Then there is a rumour about RPSG-owned Lucknow offering KL Rahul 20crores for leaving PBKS and leading their franchise instead.
2. Eoin Morgan
Not much needs to be said about him. He’s the world’s most acclaimed limited-overs skipper at this point. He led the English side from a group-stage exit at 2014 WC to the same format’s finale under two years. There’s the 2019 World Cup win as well. Now add to that his recent success as KKR leader, taking them from the bottom of table in first half to runners-up at the conclusion of 2nd. Captain Morgan is a genius.
However, due to a poor showing with the willow, Morgs wasn’t retained by his side. RCB have a middle-order spot open with de Villiers’ exit and they also need a leader post Virat stepped down as the side’s captain. He is a good prospect for them.
While Morgan showed glimpses of his old self during 2021 T20 World Cup, it is his splendid T10 hitting that signals that Morgan the batsman can still destroy bowlers for fun.
3. Shreyas Iyer
With sixteen IPL fifties and more than 2000 runs at an average of almost thirty-two, Shreyas is already an established name in the Indian Premier League. Since taking over skippership from Gauti in 2k18, Iyer was phenomenal as the chief of Delhi. Regardless, he missed 2021 season owing to an injury and Rishab Pant replaced him as the side’s captain. Now Delhi has decided to continue with Pant as their permanent skipper.
They may still have wanted to retain him as a batter and vice-captain. However, Shreyas apparently wants to lead and fans are sceptical about his voluntary decision of joining the auction pool. He is just 27 y/o and teams like Punjab, Kolkata and even Ahmedabad may benefit if they buy him and appoint him as their long-term leader.
4. David Warner
This Australian pocket-sized dynamite was treated very harshly by his franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad. Ever since joining them eight years ago, Warner always crossed 500-run mark every season he featured in. He even led them to their maiden and only IPL trophy in 2016.
However, he scored just 197 runs off 8 innings in IPL 2021. It made sense when his captaincy was taken away but the same can’t be said about his direct axing from the playing eleven itself. Sides would benefit a tonne if they have him as their captain. Warner is a shrewd tactician, a ballistic batter and a gun-fielder. Can’t demand much more in a player.
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5. Suresh Raina
CSK and Suresh Raina are often seen as one and the same thing. However, Raina was released by his long-loved franchise ahead of 2022 auctions. 2021 IPL was a substandard one for Mr. IPL, however, he boats of that tag for a big reason. Raina has 5528 IPL runs at a healthy strike rate which touches one-thirty-seven. Suresh is brilliant when fielding and under his captaincy, Gujrat Lions topped the 2016 league phase.
Explosive Indian batters save a foreign spot which can be used to fit-in an allrounder or a bowler. Suresh Raina fits the bill. He has some leadership experience as well. So, do not be surprised if Punjab gobbles him up as their new captain. CVC-owned Ahmedabad may also try to rope Raina in.
