IPL Auction 2022: Strengths and weaknesses of the 10 teams | Cricket News – Times of India

TOI does a SWOT analysis of the 10 franchises following the mega auction…
MUMBAI INDIANS
Strengths: Have retained most of the successful batsmen from past seasons. Skipper Rohit Sharma will open with Ishan Kishan while the middle order will have Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard & Tim David. Bumrah is the pace ace.
Weaknesses: No Trent Boult, Quinton de Kock, Rahul Chahar or Pandya brothers, who were all instrumental in Mumbai winning the title in 2020 in the UAE.
Opportunities: Pace attack will wear a menacing look in 2023 when Jofra Archer is available. Left-arm seamer Tymal Mills adds variety. Watch out for ‘Baby AB’ Dewald Brevis too!
Threats: Lack of replacements in case of injury or poor form. Riley Meredith had a high economy rate of 9.94 for Punjab Kings last year. ‘Mystery spinner’ M Ashwin played just 3 games last year.
Likely XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Fabien Allen, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Tymal Mills.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS
Strengths: The calming presence of MS Dhoni. The defending champs have reunited as many as 8 players out of the 11 from last year’s IPL final.
Weaknesses: Will miss Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina. They lack an experienced leg-spinner too.
Opportunities: Devon Conway could be a decent replacement for Du Plessis. Fast bowling allrounder Rajvardhan Hangargekar, who was recently a part of India’s under-19 World Cup-winning side, is an exciting prospect. Mystery spinner Maheesh Theeksana could be their trump card as well.
Threats: At some stage they will need replacements for the 40-yearold Dhoni and 38-year-old Dwayne Bravo.
Likely XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Adam Milne.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE
Strengths: Freed of the captaincy, Virat Kohli will be itching to make runs. Have done well to acquire Du Plessis, who is now the leading captaincy contender.
Weaknesses: No AB de Villiers. Glenn Maxwell can be devastating but also self-destructive.
Opportunities: Perhaps the best attack in Hazlewood, Siraj, Harshal Patel and leggie Wanindu Hasaranga.
Threats: What if Kohli fails to find his touch? Also, have they gambled on 36-year-old Dinesh Karthik?
Likely XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood.

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
Strengths: Good pace attack with Marco Jansen, Natarajan, Umran Malik and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Weaknesses: No Rashid Khan. Captain Williamson’s elbow injury. No Jonny Bairstow or David Warner either.
Opportunities: Washington Sundar’s time to shine. Can deliver economical middle-over spells and bat anywhere in the order.
Threats: Have taken a huge risk by spending Rs 10.75 crore on Nicholas Pooran, who was in horrendous form for Punjab last season.
Likely XI: Rahul Tripathi, Glenn Phillips, Kane Williamson, Nicholas Pooran, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Romario Shepherd, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Umran Malik.

GUJARAT TITANS
Strengths: Rashid Khan and skipper Hardik Pandya’s broad bat.
Weaknesses: Batting looks thin. Too dependent on allrounders. Will Pandya be fit to bowl or even lead in all of the games?
Opportunities: The allrounders in Pandya, Rashid, Rahul Tewatia and Vijay Shankar. David Miller as finisher. Afghanistan’s left-arm spinner Noor Ahmed and UP left-arm pacer Yash Dayal are exciting prospects as well.
Threats: Batting coach and mentor Gary Kirsten has a poor record in the IPL with Delhi Daredevils and RCB. Mohammed Shami’s economy rate is high. Players may take time to gel as a unit.
Likely XI: Shubman Gill, Jason Roy, Wriddhiman Saha, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Hardik Pandya, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson, Sai Kishore.

LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
Strengths: Excellent allrounders in Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham, Jason Holder and Marcus Stoinis. Very reliable opening pair in Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul.
Weaknesses: No suitable backup options. Lack experienced names in the spin-bowling department too.
Opportunities: Power-packed batting line-up means they can chase a big score as well as set tall targets.
Threats: Lack wicket-taking thrust in the middle-overs.
Likely XI: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Manish Pandey, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder, Krishnappa Gowtham, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi.

DELHI CAPITALS
Strengths: Dynamic opening pair in Prithvi Shaw and David Warner. Mitchell Marsh and Rishabh Pant complete a strong top four. Shardul Thakur and Axar Patel offer batting depth.
Weaknesses: No Kagiso Rabada to partner Anrich Nortje. Spin department also looks a bit thin.
Opportunities: Proven match-winners in the top four have to deliver each time.
Threats: Striking upfront with the new ball in the Powerplay will be a cause of concern.
Likely XI: Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Mandeep Singh, Rovman Powell, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya.

PUNJAB KINGS
Strengths: Good mix of accumulators and power hitters. Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan offer solidity at the top. In Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith, Punjab have the potential to be the best six-hitting side of the season.
Weaknesses: Onus on Rahul Chahar to do the heavy lifting in the spin department.
Opportunities: The personnel picked allows Punjab to maximise boundary hitting. Threats: Bowling lacks oomph. The middle-overs phase will be a challenge with the ball.
Likely XI: Mayank Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Raj Angad Bawa, Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Strengths: Explosive top five of Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer.
Weaknesses: The combination of Jimmy Neesham and Riyan Parag as fifth and sixth bowling options leaves them with a distinct weak spot.
Opportunities: Batting firepower makes them dangerous. An in-form international batter like Rassie van der Dussen as backup offers more options as well.
Threats: Bowling in the death overs. Obed McCoy is the most suitable for the role but getting him into the playing XI will be a challenge.
Likely XI: Jos Buttler, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, James Neesham, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna.

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
Strengths: Yet again, the mystery spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.
Weaknesses: Too many. Lack of a solid first-choice wicketkeeper. Absence of pace options in both the Powerplay and the back end.
Opportunities: Alex Hales was a late, panic-stricken buy at the auction, but the Englishman can prove to be the trump card at the top along with Venkatesh Iyer.
Threats: Fitness-related issues to core players Narine, Andre Russell and Chakravarthy. Lack of able replacements.
Likely XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Alex Hales, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sheldon Jackson, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Sunil Narine, Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy.