5 Overseas Stars who could go unsold at the 2019 IPL Auction

The IPL Auction is just around the corner and several teams have already started chalking out possible alternatives to help gain an edge over their rivals. Like every year, this year too saw a huge number of players enrolling themselves for the auction. While the initial tally stood at 1003, the number was trimmed down to 346, based on the franchisees’ shortlists.

The said 346 players are going to go under the hammer on the 18th of December in the picturesque surroundings of Jaipur. Of the 346, 226 Indian players and 120 foreign players would be up for grabs.

The off-season saw numerous players switch their allegiances as teams tried to work out the best combination moving forward.

While a few teams look well-stocked after the trade season, the majority will dip into the auction knowing that they need to address many chinks in their armour. With teams eventually ending up fighting tooth and nail to acquire a player’s services, one is in for an intriguing afternoon of auction action on the 18th.

However, as is the norm, quite a few of the 346 would remain unsold by the time the curtains draw on the auction. Thus, through this article, we would focus mainly on the 120 foreign players and take a closer look at 5 high-profile players who could find themselves without an IPL contract.

Without further ado, here is a look at them:

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#5. Corey Anderson (New Zealand)

Anderson is no longer the all-rounder he once was

Corey Anderson, the all-rounder from New Zealand was once looked upon as a priceless commodity by franchisees and his stint with the Mumbai Indians lent weight to that argument.

His ability to get through his quota of overs and belligerent batting towards the back end of the innings made him highly sought after. However, with him spending a majority of his time on the sidelines, one can expect him to not fetch any buyers come the 18th of December.

Due to his injury concerns, Anderson is a shadow of the bowler he once was. Moreover, in order to sustain his career, he has relatively reduced his bowling workload. Serious injuries have also led to him cutting down his pace and thus making him lack the penetration he once had.

Additionally, his hitting ability seems to be on the wane these days. When the all-rounder burst onto the scene, he was a fierce hitter of the ball yet with time, teams have worked out how to keep him quiet. While teams came up with ideas to counter his threat, Anderson couldn’t evolve his batting to come up trumps against the bowlers’ new plans.

A few years ago, Anderson was the epitome of a three-dimensional cricketer but injuries and a subsequent loss of form have ensured a steep fall from grace. Thus, don’t be surprised if he goes unsold in Jaipur.

#4. Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)

Mathews might just go unsold at the auction

The former Sri Lankan skipper has fallen down the pecking order when it comes to the world’s best all-rounders in recent years. Having not impressed a lot during his previous stints with Delhi Daredevils, one can envisage him finding it tough to fetch a contract this season.

Mathews was once the heartbeat of the Sri Lankan team. Blessed with the ability to win a match with either his bat or ball, he belonged to a rare breed of players. However, over the years, numerous injuries have plagued him. The injuries have led to him losing his pace. In addition, his dodgy back and hamstring don’t allow him to bowl frequently.

With the bat, he has still been scoring runs for Sri Lanka but isn’t as swashbuckling as he once was. For a while, he adapted his game for his national side in order to provide solidity in the middle phases of the innings. Though this worked a charm at times, it also led to him losing the ability to dazzle with his hitting prowess.

Players like the Mathews of old would’ve been a ‘must-have’ for any team. Yet, unfortunately, for the Sri Lankan, he is on the decline. Moreover, his price tag of INR 2 Crore would not place him at the top of any team’s wish list.

Hence, all signs point to the former Sri Lankan skipper going unsold.

#3. Shaun Marsh (Australia)

Marsh's inconsistency could prove to be his biggest nemesis at the auction

The Australian batsmen is another one of those overseas players who have set their base price at INR 2 Crore. Marsh has previously been successful in the IPL with his stellar 2008 IPL propelling him into the limelight. However, over recent years, the Australian has failed to set the IPL alight with his displays.

Currently, Marsh is part of the Australian ODI and Test set-up but has found it hard to break into their T20 side. A major reason for that is his inability to get going from the off, with bowlers working out how to keep him quiet at the start of his innings.

Moreover, Marsh is highly inconsistent and fails to inspire confidence at the top of the order. Most IPL teams want a stable top three that can lay the foundation for their success and thus, Marsh’s erratic nature weakens his case considerably.

However, the biggest obstacle could yet be his high price tag. Had he been available for somewhere around INR 1 crore, teams would still have been tempted to take a gamble on him.

But, at a base price of INR 2 Crore, he is a highly unreliable batsmen and most teams might just let him pass when he goes under the hammer.

#2. Dale Steyn (South Africa)

Will teams go for the returning Steyn?

Dale Steyn has recently recovered from another long injury lay-off and seems to be enjoying his cricket again. The pacer was part of South Africa’s touring party to Australia and impressed on the tour. His performances with the ball have surely put him on the radar for South Africa’s world cup squad.

However, if he attracts any bids at the auction is another matter altogether.

The South African has had a history of breaking down in the middle of tournaments and with the World Cup on the horizon, he might just be inclined to not go all out at the IPL. While that may sound very strange for the IPL fans, it would make perfect sense for Steyn.

After months on the sidelines, he finally has the opportunity to end his country’s wait for a World Cup and he would want to be fully fit and firing.

Additionally, Steyn has had a tough time of late in the IPL, with his last stint for the Sunrisers not producing the expected results.

Thus, at a base price of INR 1.5 Crore, franchisees would be better off letting him go rather than spending their money on an injury-prone bowler who might not even bowl at full tilt.

Yet, one can never really know what the auction throws up and we’ll have to wait till the 18th to find out if the speedster makes his return to the best T20 league in the world.

#1. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)

Malinga has been a far cry of the bowler he once was

Till about five years ago, Lasith Malinga would have made it to every fantasy T20 team in the world. For a sustained period of four or five years, he was the undisputed best T20 fast bowler on the globe. However, with age not on his side and injuries hampering the latter part of his career, he is a far cry from the bowler who once terrorised batsmen.

Malinga returned to the international fold only recently when he played the Asia Cup. The pacer impressed in his first game against Bangladesh but quickly faded away after that.

While the Sri Lankan can still conjure unplayable deliveries once in a while, he has lost the consistency and sharpness that made him such a trump card. Moreover, one can’t expect Malinga to last the course of the season with his recent injury record nothing to ride home about.

Malinga has been quite brave in setting his base price at INR 2 Crore. Though it may sound a little optimistic on his end, it could just mean that franchisees look the other way when his name comes up.

The franchisees only have a handful of money to mould their squad and spending an amount in excess of INR 2 Crore on a run-down fast bowler may not be the wisest idea.

Hence, he could turn out to be the most successful IPL player to not land a contract this season.