5 Indian Internationals who might go unsold at IPL Auction 2019

IPL 2019 is set to enthrall cricket fans and the prelude to the battle, where half battle is done; the all-important IPL auction 2019 is set to be held on Tuesday, December 18 at Jaipur.

1,003 players have enrolled for the auctions this year, and this can only mean more action at the auction. Only 70 will be selected by a franchise for the upcoming event. As per estimates, 771 Indian players (746 Uncapped and 25 Capped) will see their names on the auction table.

The problem with some internationally successful players in the IPL is that they are sometimes unable to convert their expertise into a successful run in the league.

Due to a variety of reasons, some players are bound to not get picked in the upcoming auction. Let us take a look at five Indian internationals who might go unsold in IPL 2019 Auction on December 18.

#5 Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara last featured for Kings XI Punjab in 2014 season

The Saurashtra batsman and India's Test stalwart had a torrid time in his IPL stint. The Indian top order batsman has been a regular in Indian Test squad and is known for his temperament and clean hitting skills in the international arena.

Cheteshwar Pujara is often compared to Rahul Dravid in international cricket and has been one of best batsmen in the longest format. But was never a hit in the IPL and in his five-year IPL career, the batsman featured for three Indian Premier League teams. He began his IPL stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010, then moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011 and represented the side for consecutive three years, before playing his final stint with Kings XI Punjab in 2014. His IPL numbers are mediocre with just 390 runs in his 30 league outings.

Despite being a regular in the Indian Test team, Pujara went unsold in auctions since 2015 and this year is expected to be no different for the Test specialist.

#4 Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma hit his career low in the 2017 season

Ishant Sharma was a hot property during initial years of the tournament and has represented various franchisee teams during his career. The lanky pacer has played for the Kolkata Knight Riders (2008 - 2010), Deccan Chargers (2011 - 2012), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013 - 2015), Rising Pune Supergiant (2016) and the Kings XI Punjab (2017).

In his ten-year long IPL journey, Ishant has managed just 59 wickets at an average of 37.81 and economy rate of 8.17. While in his previous IPL appearance during the 2017 edition, he hit his career lowest point, failing to pick up a single wicket for the Kings XI Punjab. As a result, he was released by the franchise ahead of the 2018 auction and thereafter failed to attract any buyers during the auction.

The experienced pacer has not been able to replicate his international success in IPL and this year auction doesn't look promising either.

#3 Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari has been in prolific form in the domestic circuit

Hanuma Vihari is a talent worth investing in. The batsman has been in prolific form in the domestic circuit and he was included in the Indian cricket team squad for the last two Test matches against England. The all-rounder grabbed the opportunity with both hands as he scored a fine fifty and claimed three wickets in his maiden outing at Kingston Oval in London.

On the basis of his performance in the domestic circuit, he was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad in Indian Premier League in 2013 and 2015. But was unable to cement his place in playing XI.

His IPL stint, though, is remembered more for his dismissal of Chris Gayle with the new ball than a tally of 280 runs from 22 matches at 15.56. As a result, he was released by the franchise before 2016 auctions and went unsold thereafter.

#2 Praveen Kumar

Injury-prone Praveen Kumar will find it hard to attract bidders

Indian fast bowler Praveen Kumar represented five teams in his ten-year IPL career and was always a go-to man for every team he played for. He began his IPL career with the Royal Challengers Bangalore and represented the side until 2010.

In 2011, the pacer was bought by Kings XI Punjab and was retained by them in subsequent years. The Uttar Pradesh pacer then featured for Mumbai Indians (2014), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2015) and Gujarat Lions (2016 - 2017).

Kumar made valuable contributions with both bat and ball. He scored 344 runs at a strike-rate of 109.20 while batting at lower order slots, and picked up 90 wickets at an economy of 7.72, with his best figures being 3/18.

Despite being the first choice in his initial years, he faced a slump in his performance in the last few seasons and being injury prone, he will find it hard to attract bidders in upcoming auctions.

#1 Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan has not been at his best in recent years

Former Indian regular, Irfan Pathan is one of the very few players to have played for six different franchises in IPL career. The all-rounder featured for Kings XI Punjab (2008 - 2010), Delhi Daredevils (2011 - 2013), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2014), Chennai Super Kings (2015), Rising Pune Supergiant (2016) and Gujarat Lions (2017).

Pathan is one of the best all-rounders in the IPL and his stats are enough to prove that. In 103 IPL outings, he has scored 1139 runs at a strike-rate of 120.40, while picking up 80 wickets at an economy of 7.77. These stats made him a hot pick during auctions.

But the younger Pathan witnessed a sharp decline in his performance after 2013, and managed just 202 runs in last three seasons and went wicketless in the previous two seasons. That made him go unsold in 2018 auction and despite his good showing in Ranji Trophy and his chances of playing in the IPL again don't look too promising.