IPL 2022 mega auction: Livingstone first millionaire on Day 2, Markram and Rahane find new homes

Liam Livingstone became the first millionaire on the second day of the IPL 2022 mega auction, with Kolkata Knight Riders, who don’t have much money to play with, Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings going into battle to get his services. Gujarat Titans got in the mix late, but they entered strong, as did Sunrisers Hyderabad, before the English power-hitter and offspinner went to Kings for INR 11.5 crore (USD 1.53 million).

Aiden Markram, the first name to go under the hammer on the second day, became the first to invite a cautious bidding battle between Kings and Sunrisers, with Mumbai Indians entering the fray briefly, before Sunrisers took him home for INR 2.6 crore (USD 346,000). Ajinkya Rahane, a well-travelled player in the IPL who has also led the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant/s and Rajasthan Royals in the past, went to Knight Riders for his base price of INR 1 crore (132,700).

Broadcaster Charu Sharma, who had stepped in for the indisposed Hugh Edmeades as the auctioneer on the opening day of the auction, continued to conduct the proceedings. Edmeades sent a video message, which was shown on the official broadcast, saying that he was “absolutely fine” but not in a position to “give a 100% performance” and had therefore chosen to stay away.

On the first day of the auction, almost all the teams – Kings the exception, but only just – bought at least one player for a price of INR 10 crore (USD 1.13 million) or more. Ishan Kishan, the old Mumbai hand, went back to the franchise for INR 15.25 crore (USD 2.03 million), making him the most expensive buy of the day. Super Kings splurged on Deepak Chahar, and Knight Riders on Shreyas Iyer, who could well become their new captain. Three overseas players earned similarly big bucks: Wanindu Hasaranga (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Lockie Ferguson (Gujarat Titans) and Nicholas Pooran (Sunrisers). Prasidh Krishna (Royals), Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers), Avesh Khan (Lucknow Super Giants) and Shardul Thakur (Delhi Capitals) also joined the big-leaguers.

Every auction sees at least a few lesser-known players, uncapped at the international level, earn big too, and this time that list included Shahrukh Khan, who went to Kings for INR 9 crore (USD 1.2 million), Rahul Tripathi, bought by Sunrisers for INR 8.5 crore (USD 1.13 million), and Rahul Tewatia, who was picked up by Titans for INR 9 crore (USD 1.12 million).

The list of unsold players was also, expectedly, a long one, and included the likes of Suresh Raina, past his prime but still the fourth-highest run-getter in IPL history, Steven Smith, Amit Mishra, the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Imran Tahir. They can, however, all go under the hammer again if any of the teams include their names in their wishlists.