Indian Premier League 2015: The Unsold XI

The 2015 Indian Premier League(IPL) auction held in Bengaluru on Monday saw several players go for a huge sum of money. However, there were also some very good batsman and bowlers who didn't find any buyers at the auction.Here’s a Xi consisting of players who didn't earn an IPL contract during the auction, held on Monday.

#1 Hashim Amla

Among the players who can consider himself unlucky to miss out on an IPL contract is Hashim Amla. Initially considered as someone who is not suited for the shorter format of the game, the 31-year-old South African opener has proved most of his critics in the last 5 years by excelling, first in the 50-over version of the game and then in the T20 format.

Amla has played 26 games for South Africa since making his debut in 2009, and has scored 600 runs at a strike-rate of 122.44. He was also the leading run-getter for his domestic franchise, the Cape Cobras in the RamSlam T20 last year with 317 runs in 8 matches at a strike-rate of over 143.

He was one of the shining lights for the Cobras in an otherwise disappointing Champions League T20 campaign last year, scoring 127 runs in 4 matches at a rate of 151.19.

If one has a look at the teams who might have benefited by having his services, it could’ve been either the Royal Challengers Bangalore or the Rajasthan Royals, both of whom have one established opener(Chris Gayle and Ajinkya Rahane respectively) but have struggled to find a companion for them.

#2 Tillakaratne Dilshan

The Sri Lankan opener could consider himself unlucky to have not found any buyers at the auction. Dilshan’s career as an international cricketer took a huge leap at the 2009 World T20 where he was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for scoring a total of 317 runs including a 57-ball 96 not out against the West Indies in the semi-final at the Oval.

The right-hander also introduced the Dilscoop to the world during the same tournament. In his overall career, he has scored 1466 runs in 62 matches at a healthy strike rate of 119.57.

Dilshan also has prior experience of playing in the T20 league, having represented the Delhi Daredevils between 2008 and 2010, where he scored 566 runs in 27 matches and then had a good time with the Royal Challengers Bangalore between 2011 and 2013, amassing 587 runs in 25 matches.

So, purely on the basis of his stats, Dilshan did deserve another opportunity to display his skills and it did comes as a bit of a surprise when he wasn't picked at the auction.

#3 Kumar Sangakkara (Captain & WK)

One of the few elegant left-handers in the game today, Kumar Sangakkara too didn't find a franchise that looked to acquire his services at the auction. The 37-year-old played a key role in his countrys maiden World T20 triumph in 2014, scoring an unbeaten half-century in the final against India.

He might not possess the destructive power of Chris Gayle, buthis ability to accumulate runs and maintain a decent pace right throughout his innings, certainly makes him avery effective player to have in any team.

In 56 T20 Internationalsthe left-hander has scored 1382 runs at a strike-rate of 119,55. He had a very good time with the bat in the first 3 editions of the IPL, where scored a total of 1009 runs in 37 games, while playing for the Kings XI Punjab.

He continued to pile on the runs after switching over to the now defunctDeccan Chargers, scoring 558 runs in 25 matches in the 2011 and 2012 seasons, combined.

In the solitary season that he played for the SunRisers Hyderabad, Sangakkara scored 120 runs in 9 matches.

He couldve been ideally suited to play the sheet anchor role and wouldve been the best person to go in, at the fall of an early wicket.

#4 Ross Taylor

A dangerous player to have in any team, none of the franchisees showed interest in New Zealand’s Ross Taylor. The 30-year-old right-hander has amassed 1120 runs in 63 T20 games for his country at a strike-rate of 119.14.

He had a particularly good time when he was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore setup between 2008 and 2010, scoring a total of 517 runs in 22 matches, that included several blistering innings.

He was bought by the Rajasthan Royals in 2011 and scored 181 runs in 12 matches at a rate of 119.07. However, a switch to the Delhi Daredevils proved to be a hindrance in his IPL career as he didn't get sufficient opportunities to showcase his ability, amassing just 319 runs in 21 games across 3 seasons.

Taylor has put in impressive performances in the limited-overs format of the game for his country in recent times and would have been a very useful player to have when the team is in the need of quickfire runs at the fag end of the innings.

#5 Brad Hodge

Brad Hodge might not have had a long run in international cricket for Australia, but in the short period that he played for his country in the T20 format, the 40-year-old scored 183 runs in 15 matches at a good strike-rate of 127.08.

He had a very good time with the bat in an appalling season for the Knight Riders in 2009, scoring 365 runs in 12 matches at a strike-rate of 117.04. However, his most successful tenure in the IPL came when he represented the Rajasthan Royals between 2011 and 2014. He scored a total of 924 runs in 43 games, that included a crucial 54 not out in the eliminator against the SunRisers Hyderabad in the 2013 edition.

His age notwithstanding, there is no doubt that Hodge would’ve been a real asset to have to any side, for his ability to remain cool and maintain composure, when the game went down to the wire.

#6 Azhar Mahmood

Azhar Mahmood is just kind of all-rounder every team needs in their line-up. He might not have played T20 games at the international level, but what he does possess is a vast amount of experience in the domestic circuit, having represented teams in places like England, New Zealand and Australia.

He has played a total of 213 T20 games and has scored a total of 3922 runs with 18 fifties and 2 centuries at a strike-rate of 135.24. He has been equally effective with the ball as well, having taken 241 wickets at an impressive economy of 7.58.

The 39-year-old’s experience could’ve come to good use in the IPL and in the short period of time, that he played for the Kings XI Punjab, proved to be effective with his all-round skills.

#7 Luke Ronchi

Luke Ronchi might have had a difficult start to his cricketing career, but he certainly is making the most of his switchover to New Zealand from Australia. In 12 T20 Internationals that he has played so far for the BlackCaps, the 33-year-old has scored 263 runs at a very good strike of 152.02.

He proved that he has the ability to hit boundaries and sixes at will during his 99-ball 170 not out in a 50-over game against Sri Lanka, that contained 14 fours and 9 sixes.

He also provides teams with the wicket-keeping option and hence, could’ve proved to be a useful customer to have in the side. He played in the inaugural edition of the IPL for the Mumbai Indians but couldn’t showcase his true potential in the limited chances that he got.

#8 Robin Peterson

Robin Peterson also missed out on a IPL contract despite proving to be a good utility player for whichever team that he has represented so far. In 21 T20 Internationals the 35-year-old has scored 124 runs at a decent strike-rate of 109.73.

He is also a handy left-arm spinner to have, having taken 24 wickets at an economy of 7.53.

One of the things that Peterson showed in the few matches that he played for the Mumbai Indians in the 2012 season was his ability to play unorthodox shots with the bat. He hit a reverse sweep four and followed it up with a six off a switch hit and thereby played a key role in his side’s win over the Kings XI Punjab that year.

He might not have the flamboyance of a Kieron Pollard , but there is no doubt that he would’ve definitely been a handy cricketer to have in your team, lower down the order.

#9 Kevon Cooper

Kevon Cooper was brought by the Rajasthan Royals, before the start of the 2012 season and he proved to be a good buy for the inaugural IPL champions. He proved to be more effective with the ball than with the bat, picking up 10 wickets in 6 games at an economy of 7.25.

He bettered those stats the following year taking 19 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 8.31. However, he couldnt make the same kind of impact last year taking just 4 wickets in 5 matches.

One of the reasons why he might not have attracted any buyers at the auction could be that he was reported for a suspect action during the 2014 IPL and so, maybe the franchises werent sure if he could play and bowl on a regular basis.

#10 Ben Laughlin

Ben Laughlin might not have gained a huge reputation with the ball at the international level, but he certainly has proved to a useful cricketer at the domestic level. In 75 matches that he has played, the 32-year-old has picked up 95 wickets at an economy of 7.74.

He has shown in the Big Bash that he can be useful with the bat as well.

Here’s a spell of 6 for 28 that he picked up while playing for a domestic side in New Zealand.

#11 RP Singh

RP Singh might have gone out of favour with the selectors, but there is no doubt he has some very good performances to talks about when it comes to the IPL. He was particularly good during the second season, that was held in South Africa when he picked 23 wickets to earn the Purple Cap and took his side, the Deccan Chargers to their maiden IPL triumph. That performance also got him a recall to the Indian team for the World T20 in England.

However, he couldn't maintain that wicket-taking form in the subsequent seasons and hence hasn’t been seen in national colours for a while. But there is no doubt that he would’ve played a decent role with the ball in hand had he found a buyer in the auction.