IPL 2022: Gautam Gambhir discusses the Lucknow Super Giants' mega-auction plan

Gautam Gambhir, a former Indian cricketer who has been appointed as the mentor of the new IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants, will be one of the major architects of the team's plan at the upcoming IPL 2022 mega auction.

Gambhir, who has two IPL titles to his name as a captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and as a team strategist and mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants, indicated that the franchise plans to recruit players who can help develop a squad for the future in the IPL 2022 mega auction.

"I think it's a great opportunity to create a legacy and create something which has never been created before. We don't want to copy anyone; we need to have our own template, we need to have our own legacy as well. And what better than when you have no baggage," said Gambhir in a discussion with journalist Boria Majumdar on his show 'Backstage with Boria'.

"Sanjiv (Goenka) sir, when he had Pune (franchise), they missed winning the title by one run. So it's going to be a great challenge if we can finish that unfinished business as well but then we can't promise that it's going to happen in one year. It's a long-term prospect as well. It's not going to be something like we are going to think only for this year," he added.

For the IPL 2022, Lucknow has chosen KL Rahul (Rs 17 crore), Marcus Stoinis (Rs 9.2 crore), and Ravi Bishnoi (Rs 4 crore). Andy Flower has been selected the team's coach, while Rahul will wear the captaincy hat.

Meanwhile, Gambhir has disclosed why he got Bishnoi.

Ravi Bishnoi, from that point of view, made a lot of sense as well. He is young, he is a wicket-taking option and he is got to be your sure-shot guy playing in the playing XI; he can bowl at different stages of the game. More importantly, he is an uncapped player as well. So from every sense, it made a lot of logic for us to actually get him on board so that we can develop him going forward," Gambhir said.

"If he keeps his head on his shoulder, he will get better from here on. Going forward, if you see most of the leg spinners, this is probably the youngest of the lot and probably the most talented of the lot as well. So from that point of view, we have a present and a long-term strategy as well. So hopefully it will be a good journey going forward," he added.

Meanwhile, the major auction for the IPL 2022 season will take place on February 12 and 13. During the two-day event, ten teams will compete for some of the best cricketers in the globe. There are 270 capped players, 903 uncapped players, and 41 associate players on the roster.