IPL 2022 mega auction: Eoin Morgan misses out, 11 English players signed up

Eoin Morgan, England's white-ball captain, went unsold at the IPL mega-auction in Bengaluru but there were a couple of multi-millionaires among the English contingent, plus deals for Alex Hales and Benny Howell, two players currently outside the international set-up.

The big-money signings of Liam Livingstone, for GBP 1.125 million (USD 1.53 million) by Punjab Kings, and Jofra Archer, for GBP 783,000 (USD 1.06 million) by Mumbai Indians - the latter despite not being able to play this season - took the headlines on day two of the auction, following successful bids for Mark Wood (GBP 734,000 to Lucknow Super Giants), Jonny Bairstow (GBP 660,000 to Punjab Kings) and Jason Roy (GBP 197,000 to Gujarat Titans) on Saturday.

Overall, there were contracts for 11 England-qualified players across the two-day event, bringing the tally at the 2022 IPL to 13, with Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali already having been retained by their franchises.

Among those to miss out, Morgan and Dawid Malan, currently the ICC's No. 5-ranked batter in T20Is, were the most high-profile. Morgan captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the final of last year's competition but has averaged 18.13 with a strike rate of 118.13 in T20 since the start of last year.

In a somewhat ironic twist, Hales, the prolific top-order batter whose England career has been on hold since 2019 because of what Morgan has called "trust issues", was picked up by KKR for GBP 147,000.

Elsewhere, Tymal Mills won a return to the IPL five years after being bought for GBP 1.4 million at auction, taken this time around by Mumbai Indians at his base price of GBP 147,000. He could end up playing alongside Archer, although that is unlikely to happen this year, with Mumbai signing the injured quick as a long-term investment. The involvement of Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai's head coach who also works with both players at Southern Brave in the Hundred, was revealed to be key.

"Jofra is a player Mahela gave his first professional debut to. So happy to have gotten them together," Akash Ambani, the Mumbai owner, said. "Although it is going to be in next year, but very happy to have a lethal combination. Tymal has been a lethal death bowler. Mahela coaches him in the Hundred and he has managed to stay injury-free."

There were also deals late in the day for Sam Billings, who will make KKR his third IPL franchise, Chris Jordan, joining his fourth team in Chennai Super Kings, and David Willey, who went to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final accelerated round. Howell, the Gloucestershire slower-ball specialist who is currently enjoying a productive season at the Bangladesh Premier League, won a GBP 39,000 payday with Punjab Kings.

A number of high-profile English players - including Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes - had decided not to enter the mega-action, but there were still 24 potentially on the block. Adil Rashid, Reece Topley and Laurie Evans were among those unable to attract bids, while several other names didn't make it out of the hat.

England-qualified players at IPL 2022: Moeen Ali* (Chennai Super Kings), Jofra Archer (Mumbai Indians), Jonny Bairstow (Punjab Kings), Jos Buttler* (Rajasthan Royals), Sam Billings (Kolkata Knight Riders), Alex Hales (Kolkata Knight Riders), Benny Howell (Punjab Kings), Chris Jordan (Chennai Super Kings) Liam Livingstone (Punjab Kings), Tymal Mills (Mumbai Indians), Jason Roy (Gujarat Titans) David Willey (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants)

*Retained previously