Sunil Gavaskar, Matthew Hayden Picks IPL 2022 Play-Off Teams

Sunil Gavaskar and Matthew Hayden announced the star teams of their choosing which they believe will play against each other in the play-off. The reveal was shared shortly after the first match in the Indian Premier League 2022 on March 26.

Gavaskar is a legend among cricket players belting the title as the first better to scale 10,000 runs in Tests in cricket history.

In IPL 2022, Gavaskar has an active role as its official broadcaster. He spoke live in one episode of ‘Cricket Live’ on PTI and gave a comment on which four teams he believes will play in the play-off.

"Of course Mumbai Indians,” Gavaskar shared. “I think Delhi Capitals, the way they have progressed in the last couple years is impressive, so Delhi Capitals are the second team. Then I think it could be Kolkata Knight Riders because they are a very very good team. And I am hoping for Jaddu's sake that Chennai Super Kings could be the fourth team."

On the other hand, Hayden also shared his opinion on which four teams will go instead. The former Australian opener who had played with the Chennai Super Kings puts the team as his first choice. But unlike Gavaskar, he left five times winner Mumbai Indians out of his star teams.

"CSK will be the first team I wish to see in the top four,” Hayden said. “I am actually going to leave Mumbai Indians out of that”.

Then he picked three other teams of his choice, “I'll have Delhi across in the list and then Kolkata. And then pretty much like last year, I think RCB have really good side,” he said. “So these my top four picks."

The first match in the IPL 2022 was held on the evening of March 26 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Kolkata Knight Riders went against Chennai Super Kings, a defending champion of the IPL. KKR goes against all odds and won the evening by six wickets.

New Captains

CSK has to leave two of its members in this match due to injuries. Deepak Chahar and Moeen Ali did not join the game on March 26 handicapping the CSK in its latest game.

CSK brought Ravindra Jadeja as captain, making him lead a team for the first time ever in his career. He replaced MS Dhoni who stepped down on Thursday, two days before the match. Jadeja has played 200 IPL games for three different franchises which make him fit for the role of CSK’s third captain beside Dhoni and Suresh Raina.

“Jaddu, my friend, good luck. I'm sure you are more than capable of handling the job as captain. He has been an outstanding cricketer for India and No.1 all-rounder in world rankings. I have seen him evolve over the last 5 years, in particular, the last three years in the way he has focussed on his batting and the time he has spent at the nets,” said former India head coach Shastri on Jadeja’s new leadership role, stated on CSK’s official website.

KKR brings forth Shreyas Iyer to the team as captain of the team for the IPL 2022.