IPL 2022 Auction: RCB begins auction preparations – With no Virat Kohli to support auction planning, Royal Challengers Bangalore have already begun planning for auctions. RCB’s Director of Cricket Mike Hesson arrived in Bengaluru ahead of the mega auctions and will have to spend 7 days in isolation as per IPL’s Covid regulations. Follow IPL 2022 Auction Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
After Virat Kohli stepped down as the captain after leading the side for eight seasons. He was appointed as the skipper in 2013 when Daniel Vettori stepped down. However, in Virat Kohli’s absence, the auction strategy will revolve around picking a player who can lead the side. The New Zealander will team up with head coach Sanjay Bangar to plan for the auction.
IPL 2022 Auction: RCB director Mike Hesson arrives to prepare for auction, to spend 7 days in quarantine
📍 Touchdown | Bengaluru
The Professor, @CoachHesson has just arrived. Now time for the finishing touches to our #IPLMegaAuction planning! 😎👍🏻#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/Ebdz0N0YWf
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 2, 2022
“Touchdown, Bengaluru. The Professor @CoachHesson has just arrived. Now time for the finishing touches to our #IPLMegaAuction planning!” RCB shared in a tweet.
However, he will have to spend 7 days in quarantine as per IPL’s Covid guidelines and test negative two times before being allowed to enter the Auction centre. The BCCI has set special guidelines for foreign travellers.
IPL 2022 Auction: RCB director Mike Hesson arrives to prepare for auction, to spend 7 days in quarantine
IPL 2022: COVID guidelines to follow for all franchises
- The IPL 2022 auction will take place in a bio-bubble.
- The officials representing the franchises will have to clear COVID tests with negative RT-PCR report on February 9, 10 & 11. The testing will be conducted by BCCI accredited medical agency.
- There will be no Right to Match (RTM) option in IPL 2022 Auction.
No teams can retain their old players with final calls unlike previous editions of IPL. It will threaten the core of Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) among big names. Thus, all the teams are likely to witness a massive overhaul.
- The IPL 2022 purse has been raised to Rs 90 crore from 80 crore to accommodate more players, especially from the domestic circuit.
- Participants who have returned to India after overseas tours in the last 15 days will have to undergo 7 days of mandatory quarantine and test negative on days 8 & 9 (twice).
- BCCI will keep a close watch on those arriving at the team hotel on February 11. They will be monitored for COVID-19 symptoms.
- The testing will be conducted between 12 am to 7 am to ensure smooth conduct of the IPL 2022 Auction on February 12-13. The members will stay in their rooms until declared negative for the virus.
- Only the participants who pass the test and complete quarantine norms will be eligible to take part.
- All the attendees will have to share full details including COVID vaccination results (if any) with the BCCI medical team.
- All the participants will have to wear masks in the auditorium at the auction table.
IPL 2022 Auction: RCB director Mike Hesson arrives to prepare for auction, to spend 7 days in quarantine
RCB Auction strategy: Meanwhile, RCB played a huge gamble, not retaining youngster Devdutt Padikkal, Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel and experienced spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Furthermore, with Virat Kohli stepping down, RCB will be desperate to pick a player as the captain while Glenn Maxwell could well be an option.
RCB have retained three players for the upcoming edition of the annual cricketing extravaganza in Virat Kohli (Rs 15 Cr), Glenn Maxwell (Rs 11 Cr) and Mohammed Siraj (Rs 7 crore).
- Finding a captain: With Virat Kohli stepping down from captaincy, Bengaluru will need a new leader. They could target these three players at the auction:
IPL 2022 Auction: RCB director Mike Hesson arrives to prepare for auction, to spend 7 days in quarantine
- Shreyas Iyer
- David Warner
- Ishan Kishan
- Manish Pandey
- Jason Holder
- Yuzvendra Chahal’s alternative: RCB will be expected to go for Yuzvendra Chahal once again while also keep a tab on Wanindu Hasaranga or Rahul Chahar.
- Virat Kohli’s opening parter: After making a blunder in releasing Devdutt Padikkal, RCB will have to pick an opener. They may go for Padikkal while young Ishan Kishan could be a great option especially with his inputs from behind the stumps. He could also be a great captaincy option.
- Forming a new pace battery: RCB had nailed the pace department with Harshal Patel, Kyle Jamieson and Mohammed Siraj. Amongst the three, only two remain and RCB will have to rebuild the department once again.
IPL 2022 Auction: RCB director Mike Hesson arrives to prepare for auction, to spend 7 days in quarantine
Editors pick
