IPL 2022: One of the most eagerly awaited franchise tournaments in cricket history is about to take place. The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin in less than 4 hours. Cricket commentators are already speculating on numerous scenarios. The revitalized edition features a new format, revised regulations, new franchises, and new captains commanding the packs. These are only a handful of the many features that set the 15th edition apart from the rest.
In a 10-franchise tournament, four teams stuck with their former captains, while the others chose new ones. MI had no cause to distrust their captains. The Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, respectively, chose to put their faith in Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. Sunrisers Hyderabad has a strong heart since they have retained Kane Williamson, who had a disappointing season as captain last year.
Meanwhile, the rest decided to pick new ones and try their luck under the leadership of fresh faces. Here is the list of five wunderkinds for whom the captaincy is a hard-earned responsibility.
Mayank Agarwal – Punjab Kings IPL 2022
Mayank Agarwal, 31, was selected by the Punjab franchise in 2018 and has been playing for them since then. R Ashwin (captain – 2018, 19) and KL Rahul (captain – 2020, 21) are two players who have regularly performed for the team.
Because Rahul left the franchise prior to the IPL 2022 auction, PBKS kept Agarwal and gave him the captaincy. With each new edition, Agarwal’s tenure with Punjab grew stronger. In the 2018 season, he only managed 120 runs in 11 games at an average of 12.00, 332-runs in 13 games, 424-runs in 11 games, and 441 runs in 12 games in succeeding editions.
Sanju Samson – Rajasthan Royals IPL 2022
His three centuries in the league attest to his ability. The 27-year-old has a slew of great achievements to his name. It includes becoming the youngest player in IPL history to score a half-century in 2013 while playing for Rajasthan Royals. With 206 runs and six stumping in ten innings, Sanju Samson was named the Best Young Player of 2013.
He was the team’s equal leading run-scorer in the next edition, with 339 runs in 13 matches. He earned his first T20 century while playing for the Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) in 2016. He finished the next season as the franchise’s leading run-scorer with 386 runs. In several editions, he has been the team’s leading run-scorer, and the most recent edition brought out the best in him.
Faf du Plessis – Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2022
Faf du Plessis, the former Proteas captain, has a great reputation. In February 2013, he was named full-time captain of South Africa’s T20 team, and in 2014, he guided the team to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-finals. During the 2016/17 season, he guided the national team to two series victories in New Zealand, one in Australia, and a 3-0 sweep of Sri Lanka.
He captained South Africa in 36 Tests, 39 ODIs, and 40 T20Is, winning 18, 28, and 25 of them, respectively. While with his last franchise, Chennai Super Kings, he had an outstanding record. In the 2021 season of the tournament, Du Plessis was the second-highest run-scorer. His opening duo with Ruturaj Gaikwad was crucial to the franchise’s championship victory.
Rishabh Pant – Delhi capitals IPL 2022
The youngest of the group. Rishabh Pant is one of India’s most promising cricketers, and he is frequently mentioned as a likely option to captain the team in the future. The wicketkeeper has received great accolades for his support to skipper Rohit Sharma during DRS reviews. His flamboyant hitting style in all forms speaks volumes about his ability. While with the Delhi Daredevils/Capitals, he has been very consistent.
He made his IPL debut in 2016 and shot to stardom after scoring 69 runs in 40 balls against the now-defunct Gujarat Lions in the third game. Pant struck an undefeated 128 from 63 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad during the 2018 season. Rishabh Pant’s 128 was the greatest individual score by an Indian cricketer in the IPL, and he became the IPL’s youngest century scorer.
Shreyas Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2022
Another player from Mumbai has stunned the cricketing world with his exceptional ability and promise. Shreyas Iyer is talented, dynamic, and has the qualities of a successful skipper. He is ready to carry the rich batter tradition from the country’s financial center. Iyer is in top form, and the Knights will be hoping for a repeat performance when KKR takes on MI in the season opener on March 26th at Wankhede Stadium.
