IPL Auction 2022: Bengal players keep fingers crossed

KOLKATA: It will be an anxious wait for 14 players from Bengal who have made it to the final players' auction list. Although many from the state have made IPL squads in the past, apart from Sourav Ganguly, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammed Shami and Manoj Tiwary, none could actually leave a mark on that stage. With two more sides in this edition's IPL, they will surely fancy their chances.


While India pacer Shami will once again hog the limelight from Bengal, this auction can prove significant for Saha. It is being speculated that the wicketkeeper-batter has fallen out of reckoning for a national side berth, which led the Siliguri boy to opt out of this season's Ranji Trophy. Saha will be keen to utilise the IPL platform to show he still has fire in the belly. The auction can also provide a lifeline to another wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami who was recently dropped from the Bengal squad.

Middle-order batter Tiwary makes a return to the auction pool, this time in a new avatar as a state minister. The former Bengal skipper did well for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rising Pune Supergiants, apart from representing Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab. It will be interesting to see if the franchises still see cricket left in him despite his ministerial duties.

Bengal skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran can also hope for an IPL stint after establishing himself as a contender for a national berth.

All-rounder

Shahbaz Ahmed

did well for Royal Challengers Bangalore and is likely to find favours this time too. Pacers Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar and Ishan Porel could also find buyers following their consistent show for Bengal. However, all eyes will be on two youngsters Writtick Chatterjee and Ritwik Roy Chowdhury who have done well in domestic white ball games this season. Spinner

Prayas Ray Barman

who was the surprise pick for RCB in 2018, will hope to break in the big league again.

Bengal players in IPL fray: Mohammed Shami, Wriddhiman Saha, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shreevats Goswami, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury, Writtick Chatterjee, Sudip Chatterjee, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Manoj Tiwary, Prayas Ray Barman, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Ishan Porel.