As many as 1214 players have registered for the mega-auction preceding the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 49 players, including 17 Indian players, will command the marquee base price tag of INR 2 Crores, the maximum permissible amount. With such high-priced stakes on the line, clearly the stage is well-set for an exciting and competitive skirmish on the auction table.
But with all the high-profile players who have enrolled for the auction, there are also several prominent names who won’t be seen in action this time around. The omission of AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle- two of the greatest legends of the tournament- is being deemed as the end of an exciting era. Besides these superstars, the likes of some marquee England and Australia stars, like Ben Stokes, Mitchell Starc, Chris Woakes, and Jofra Archer will also end up missing the tournament.
Sam Curran to skip IPL 2022; here’s why
23-year-old England all-rounder Sam Curran also stands out as a prominent absentee from the list of players participating in the auction. It’s a shame that the youngest Curran sibling will be out of action this time around, especially considering the dynamic skillsets that he had to offer. The former CSK all-rounder’s left-arm seam bowling and pyrotechnics lower down the order could’ve been put in good use by the teams that are in a dire need of an overhaul.
Over on a recent Twitter post, Sam clarified the reason behind his absence from IPL 2022. The all-rounder revealed that he and his cricket scheduling team have mutually agreed to skip this season to focus on rehabilitation.
It was agreed that sadly I should not enter the IPL auction this year and to focus on my rehabilitation. I’m back in the nets and feeling great so hope to be back soon, Wishing everyone all the best for the tournament. I look forward to starting the season with @surreycricket
— Sam Curran (@CurranSM) January 22, 2022
For context, Sam has been out of action since the UAE leg of IPL 2021 last year, and even missed out from England’s WT20 squad owning to a lower back injury. He does seem to be on course for making a full recovery, as he has started to resume his net sessions. It seems he has prioritized to make his comeback to with his local franchise, Surrey, in the English domestic setup.
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The 15th season of the IPL is likely to start from the last week of March and go on till the end of May. At the moment, the BCCI is in the process of finalizing the schedule and venues for the tournament. The dates for the mega-auction for IPL 15 have been confirmed and will take place between 12 and 13 February.