The 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kept the audience on their toes throughout the tournament. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are the defending champions after they defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final at the Dubai International Stadium.
During the tournament, even as a number of players performed to expectations, a few of them couldn’t get going. Some big-name cricketers weren’t at their best by any means. But they have a chance to turn their fortunes around when the IPL 2022 gets underway.
Here are 5 players who would want to make amends in IPL 2022 after poor outings last season
1. Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya was with the Mumbai Indians (MI) since the 2015 edition and put in some jaw-dropping showing. Not only was he effective with the bat, but churned out some useful spells in the middle overs. However, the rub of the green didn’t quite go his way in 2021.
In 12 matches, Pandya scored only 127 runs at an average of 14.11 and a strike rate of 113.39. Barring an unbeaten 40-run knock, Pandya looked out of sorts throughout. He has joined the new Ahmedabad team and will be looking to turn his fortunes around.
2. Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran had a campaign equivalent to a nightmare in the previous season of the IPL. The left-hander strained from the very first game and could hardly get going. He was expected to be a fulcrum for the Punjab Kings (PBKS), but he kept gasping for breath.
In 12 matches, Pooran scored a mere 85 runs at a disastrous average of 7.72 and a strike rate of 111.84. Barring a top score of 32, he even strained to get into double digits. To add insult to injury, the West Indies batter fetched as many as four ducks in the event.
3. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina had represented the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in all 12 seasons of the IPL. Being among the leading run-scorers, he was a part of four IPL-winning campaigns for MS Dhoni and Co. But in the previous season, the left-hander flattered to deceive big time.
Raina started his campaign with a 54-run knock against Delhi Capitals, but then his campaign fell apart. In 12 matches, he scored 160 runs at an average of 17.77. The veteran was eventually left out of the CSK playing eleven with Robin Uthappa replacing him.
4. Andre Russell
Andre Russell is one of the players Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) retained ahead of the 2022 IPL mega auction. After some stupendous outings in the 2019 IPL, the Jamaican has strained mostly when the cash-rich tournament took place in the United Arab Emirates.
In the India leg of IPL 2021, Russell picked up a five-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians (MI) and also scored a half-century against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). But in the UAE, he couldn’t replicate the same. While he averaged 26.14, he bowled at an economy rate of 9.89.
5. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a fulcrum of the Sunrisers’ bowling attack ever since he joined the team. But of late, the pacer has been straining to find his mojo. Due to a series of injuries, he has lost pace and his penetrative power has also waned to some extent.
In IPL 2021, the fast bowler was a pale shadow of his glorious self. In 11 matches, Kumar picked up only sixes at an economy rate of 7.97. He mostly struggled to find his rhythm in the UAE leg of the IPL where the opposition batters milked him with utmost ease.
