IPL 2020 Player Auction: From Yusuf Pathan to Dale Steyn, 5 Cricketers Who Might Go Unsold in 13th Edition of Indian Premier League

The IPL 2020 auction will take place on December 2019 and all the franchises are geared up to bid perfectly and build a strong squad for the forthcoming season. The auction will take place four months before the season starts, which means all the teams will have to strategise properly in order to make a balanced squad. Players from all around the world aim to feature in the cash-rich league for the potential career that the platforms promise. Teams bidding at the auction will focus on the player’s recent form and his attributes on the cricket field. Several players may get big bids and also many veterans may go unsold. In this piece, we will focus on five players who might face the axe in IPL 2020 auctions. IPL 2020 Auction Date and Venue Announced: When and Where Indian Premier League Season 13 Auctions Will Take Place?

Many reckon that the T20 is the format suited for youngsters as they can excel in the rapid version of the game. So, many ageing players may go unsold in the upcoming auctions. The tournament runs for around a month and a half, which means fitness will be a priority in selecting the players. The players who are in their late 30s and also those who have recently lost their form may get snubbed. So, focusing on the topic, let’s have a look at five players who might go unsold and not get retained in IPL 2020. From Jason Roy to Matt Henry, 5 Cricketers Who May Become Most Expensive Buys in 13th Edition of Indian Premier League.

1. Yusuf Pathan

The right-handed batsman has faced a rough patch in the last few IPL seasons and may face the axe this time. The dasher burst into the scene with a 37-ball century in IPL 2008 and is also a veteran in the tournament. However, Pathan’s 2019 campaign was an unforgettable one for the wrong reasons as he was able to aggregate only 40 runs from 10 matches with a strike rate below 90. These statistics will not amuse any team owner and the 36-year-old batsman might well not feature in IPL 2020.

2. Martin Guptill

This name might surprise many but the swashbuckling opener can also go unsold in IPL 2020. Guptill, who recently celebrated his 33^rd birthday, has played some decent innings in the tournament and never got a settled place in any team. Last season, the batsman featured in just three games, in which he scored 81 runs. With the presence of openers like David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, it’s certain that Guptill will be released from the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad and he might not get any bids as well.

3. Dale Steyn

The right-arm pacer will go down as one of the best bowlers to have graced the game. However, the Proteas star has recently struggled with a lot of injuries and was out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 as well. In 2019, Steyn was the part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad and played only two matches. He took four wickets but a shoulder injury became the reason for his ouster from the tournament. With age not on his side, Steyn might have already played his last IPL game.

4. Hanuma Vihari

The right-handed batsman has emerged as a vital member of the Indian Test team. However, T20 cricket is a different ball game altogether and Vihari is certainly not at his best in the shortest format. Talking about his last season performance, the batsman only got two games with Delhi Capitals and was not able to make a significant mark. Vihari’s natural game generally doesn’t suit T20 and this factor might show him his way out of the tournament.

5. Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny, who once was in contention to fill the all-rounder’s role in the Indian team, has performed below par in recent IPL seasons and this year he might not play as well. In the last edition of IPL, Binny got seven matches with Rajasthan Royals, in which he managed a mere 70 runs and a solitary wicket. The 35-year-old also doesn’t have age on his side. So, he also might not feature in the 13^th season of the Indian Premier League.

So, these were five players whom you may not see in IPL 2020. The tournament has been a treat to cricket fans all over the world and many players aim to prove their mettle in the gala-event. IPL has certainly brought many nail-biting clashes along with some brilliant individual performances. So, it will be interesting to see what is lined up for IPL 2020.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2019 03:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).