IPL 2022 Auction: With Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy over, the focus will entirely be on the IPL auction. In SMAT 2021, the tournament witnessed some of the top IPL stars who performed better in order to stay in the fray for yet another IPL season. Notable players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Jaydev Unadkat, Karun Nair, Venkatesh Iyer, Sanju Samson, and others. The IPL Auction 2022 is likely to take place in January and the BCCI has inducted two new teams, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, into IPL this year. Follow live updates of IPL Auction on InsideSport.
IPL 2022 Auction: From Ruturaj Gaikwad to Vijay Shankar, top 10 IPL stars who performed in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ahead of mega auctions
InsideSport takes a look at 10 players who performed in SMAT 2021 ahead of mega auction next year.
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad: Ruturaj Gaikwad returned to domestic cricket for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after a brilliant IPL season. In IPL 2021, the 24-year-old was the leading run-scorer of the season by aggregating 635 runs from 16 matches. In SMAT 2021, Ruturaj continued his fine form with three consecutive half-centuries and aggregated 259 runs from 5 matches. As a captain of Maharashtra, he led his team to the pre-quarterfinals. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad had to leave the tournament mid-way as he received a national call-up for the T20I series against New Zealand.
With IPL 2022 Auction on the cards, it is very likely for Chennai Super Kings to retain him for the next IPL season along with other players.
2. Deepak Hooda: After a poor IPL outing this year, Deepak Hooda has been able to revive his form after returning to domestic cricket for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In SMAT 2021, he played for Rajasthan after switching to Baroda and made headlines with his brilliant performances on the group stage. The 26-year-old smashed four half-centuries and aggregated 294 runs from 6 matches.
Deepak Hooda played a crucial role in helping Rajasthan directly qualify for the quarterfinals. In IPL 2022 Auction, Hooda will hope Punjab King’s repose faith in him or the franchise with the highest bid will buy him.
3. Jaydev Unadkat: Jaydev Unadkat had a poor outing in the IPL this season, scalping only four wickets from 6 matches for Rajasthan Royals. In 2021, the Saurashtra bowler put up a decent performance overall by scalping 13 wickets from 6 matches. Jaydev Unadkat is the highest wicket-taker for Saurashtra and fifth overall. In IPL 2022 Auction, happening in January, Unadkat might expect any of the franchises to pick him up.
IPL 2022 Auction: From Ruturaj Gaikwad to Vijay Shankar, top 10 IPL stars who performed in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ahead of mega auctions
4. Ajinkya Rahane: Ajinkya Rahane didn’t have a kind of outing in IPL this year as he got only two matches in which he scored 8 runs for Delhi Capitals. However, the 32-year-old put up brilliant performances on his return to domestic cricket for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Rahane aggregated 286 runs, including four half-centuries, from 5 matches. Mumbai batsman is currently with the Indian team for test series against New Zealand. Ajinkya Rahane returned as the third-highest run-scorer in SMAT 2021.
With IPL 2022 Auction coming up, Ajinkya Rahane might not get retained by Delhi Capitals but with two new franchises included, he may expect a higher bid for him.
5. Karun Nair: Karun Nair has put up brilliant performances in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year. After not getting a chance to play in this IPL season for Punjab Kings, the 29-year-old proved them wrong in SMAT 2021. Karun Nair aggregated 241 runs, including two half-centuries, from 7 matches for Karnataka. With IPL Auction 2022 coming up in January, Karun Nair might not get retained but will expect a fair bid for him.
IPL 2022 Auction: From Ruturaj Gaikwad to Vijay Shankar, top 10 IPL stars who performed in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ahead of mega auctions
6. Sanju Samson: Sanju Samson had a great outing in the IPL this year by aggregating 484 from 14 matches. After returning to domestic cricket for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the Kerala batsman was decent with his performances. In SMAT 2021, Sanju had aggregated 227 runs, including three half-centuries, from 7 matches. Samson had led his team to the quarterfinals this year. In IPL Auction 2022, Sanju Samson is expected to be picked up by other franchises due to his consistency in IPL and domestic cricket.
7. Manish Pandey: Manish Pandey had a good outing in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year. In IPL 2021, the Karnataka captain had put up good performances and aggregated 292 runs from 8 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad. In SMAT 2021, Manish Pandey had scored a total of 272 runs, including three half-centuries, from 9 matches. The 31-year-old led his team to the final of SMAT 2021, where they lost to Tamil Nadu.
In IPL Auction 2022, Manish Pandey is either likely to be retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad or franchises with higher bid will look to buy him for IPL 2022 season.
8. Venkatesh Iyer: Venkatesh Iyer has been one of the star performers in the IPL this season. In his IPL debut, the Madhya Pradesh player had displayed good performances and aggregated 370 runs from 10 matches. After returning to domestic cricket for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Venkatesh Iyer had a decent outing in SMAT 2021 by aggregating 155 runs, including a fifty, from 5 matches. Iyer was added to the India squad for the T20I series against New Zealand.
With IPL Auction 2022 coming up, Venkatesh Iyer might be retained by Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2022.
9. Avesh Khan: Avesh Khan had a decent outing in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this season. In SMAT 2021, the 24-year-old scalped 9 wickets from 5 matches for Madhya Pradesh. In IPL 2021, Avesh made headlines with his brilliant performances by scalping 24 wickets from 16 matches. With his performance in IPL, Avesh Khan was added to the India squad for the T20I series against New Zealand.
In IPL Auction 2022, Avesh Khan might be expected to be retained by Delhi Capitals during the IPL retention next year.
10. Vijay Shankar: Vijay Shankar has been one of the crucial players for Tamil Nadu for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In SMAT 2021, Tamil Nadu batsman led the team to the victory in the absence of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Vijay Shankar had aggregated 199 runs, including a half-century, from 6 matches. He has been applauded for brilliant captaincy and a couple of crucial and decent performances. In IPL Auction 2022, Vijay Shankar might expect a higher bid for him.
IPL 2022 Auction: From Ruturaj Gaikwad to Vijay Shankar, top 10 IPL stars who performed in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ahead of mega auctions
Editors pick
