March 28 (PR): If you are just as excited for this year’s Indian Premier League tournament as us, then we can imagine exactly how happy you were watching the opening match on Saturday 26th of March. The tournament kicked off with the two teams in the 2021 final, with the defending champions - the Chennai Super Kings, being defeated by the runners-up, the Kolkata Knight Riders, in what was an electric match.
We can’t wait to get immersed in all the cricket action over the next couple of months. If you are equally excited, then this article is perfect for you to illuminate some important aspects of the 2022 tournament. Keep reading to gain insight into the key information about the matches, which players to watch out for, our expert match predictions of who will win, where to catch all the action, and much more.
How Can I Watch IPL 2022?
Firstly, let’s jump into one of the most important aspects. How can you catch all the IPL highs and lows? The IPL provides non-stop action for the next couple of months so there is nothing worse than missing out.
Channels such as Star Sports on Tata Sky is a solid choice for watching the matches, and you can be confident that they will show the best cricket in India all year round - not just the IPL. If you will take part in IPL betting, then this is another easy way to get closer to the action online. Many sportsbooks broadcast the IPL on their platform, giving you an easy way to stay up-to-date online. Typically these live streams will only be available when you have some money in your account, so make your initial deposit and enjoy the rewards (but make sure to read all the Terms and Conditions first!)
Who Should I Look Out For in the 2022 IPL?
With over 200 players in the full squad list, we can forgive cricket fans for not knowing who to follow extra closely in the tournament. If you are looking for guidance on some notable and up-and-coming players, then look no further. So, without further ado, here are the players who have caught our eye.
First on our list is uncapped player Arshdeep Singh who was retained by the Punjab Kings. Many are tipping 2022 to be his breakout season and we are excited to see how he will perform. Described as a ‘clever T20 death bowler’, Singh is certainly one to watch.
Shimron Hetmyer moved to the Rajasthan Royals after his was bought for Rs 8.5 crores in the 2022 IPL mega auction. Since the beginning of his IPL career in 2019, Hetmyer already has an impressive strike rate of 151.61 from scoring 517 in just 31 matches.
Overseas player Faf du Plessis is playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and takes over as captain from Virat Kohli. Plessis is a consistent player and narrowly missed out on the orange cap in 2021, with an average just shy of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 45.35.
Finally, how could we not want to follow the most expensive player in the 2022 mega auction? Ishan Kishan was bought by the Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 15.25 crores. Will he be worth it to the Mumbai Indians? Or will his expensive price tag leave a sour taste? We cannot wait to see how Kishan performs.
A Different Year Brings Fresh Location Issues
The BCCI announced the 15th season of the IPL will be held completely in Mumbai and Pune in an effort to minimise the distance needed to travel for the franchises. This decision comes off the back of the effects of the pandemic, which drastically effected the 2021 edition of the tournament. As you may remember, the latter half of the matches were held in the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi.
The choice to play across just four venues has struck a chord with many fans and franchises. They have voiced their concerns that the five-time champions, the Mumbai Indians, could capitalise on their home advantage when playing at Wankhede Stadium which has been their home stadium for more than a decade.
These concerns have been somewhat squashed by the Mumbai Indians’ director of cricket operations, Zaheer Khan, who stated that all teams will start with a ‘clean slate’. However, do you agree with this? We will have to wait to find out, as the first time the Mumbai Indians will play at Wankhede will be on the 24th of April in match 37.
Our IPL Prediction
Could the newcomer franchise, the Lucknow Super Giants, have hit the jackpot with their squad from the 2022 mega auction? With KL Rahul leading the Super Giants as their captain, he has plenty of options for the all-rounder heavy team, which will absolutely be their strength in the tournament. Notable players such as Jason Holder, Marcus Stoinis, Quinton de Kock, and Ravi Bishnoi in the team also catch our eye. As the Lucknow Super Giants are one of the two new franchises to the IPL, they will absolutely want to show the rest of the competition they are a formidable team to play against. For this reason, we are backing the Lucknow Super Giants to go far in the tournament.
If you like to bet on cricket from time to time, we know how useful it can be to read an IPL prediction from a trustworthy source. While any wagers placed on a sportsbook should always be your own decision, who doesn’t like to get as much information possible to make the best (and hopefully right) choice?
Sites such as https://www.cricketonlinebetting.in/ipl-prediction/ only share the very best in-depth cricket predictions from a team of cricket afficionados. All IPL predictions according to the schedule here can be found on their website and are a must-read for anyone who is hoping to make the most of their wagers on the IPL.