5 Players who could earn big at IPL auctions due to 2019 World Cup

The IPL auction 2019 is upon us. The mega event is scheduled to be held in Jaipur on December 18. Last few weeks were abuzz with news of released and retained players by different IPL franchises. Some teams like Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab have released a number of players and hence have plenty of money in their kitty for the 2019 auctions.

IPL-2019 is scheduled from 29 March 2019 to 19 May 2019. South Africa, UAE have emerged as the likeliest candidates where the IPL will be held as general elections are scheduled at the same time in India. ODI World Cup 2019 begins from 30 May 2019. There is not much time between the end of IPL and start of World Cup. Hence, most teams are likely to refrain their star players from playing in the IPL in order to keep them fit for the World Cup.

Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch have already opted out of the IPL auctions as they want to focus solely on the World Cup. More players are expected to follow suit.

We take a look at 5 players who are likely to benefit from such withdrawals from the auctions.

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5. Reeza Hendricks-

The name of Reeza Hendricks has been going around in the cricketing circles of South Africa for quite some time. He made his ODI debut this year for the Proteas and impressed straight away by smashing a century in his first game against Sri Lanka. Hendricks has been in great form for the Jozi Stars in the ongoing Mzansi Super League.

He has 359 runs to his name from just 7 innings, which includes two back-to-back centuries. His ability to clear the boundary ropes with ease is what makes him special. He can bat both in the middle order as well as at the top.

He is likely to be available for the whole duration of the IPL and may rake in some big moolah at the IPL auctions.

Likely contenders: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals

4. Hazratullah Zazai

Hazarathullah Zazai

While Afghanistan keeps on churning out world-class mystery spinners, their batsmen have struggled to make a name for themselves. The guy who looks destined to change that is their young opening batsman Hazratullah Zazai. Zazai grabbed all the headlines when he smacked six sixes in an over in the Afghanistan Premier League 2018. He also equalled the record for the fastest fifty in a T20 match. Zazai was in imperious form in the Afghanistan T20 league and scored 322 runs at a strike rate of 194.

He also helped Afghanistan beat Ireland in a T20 series on his debut tour with back-to-back half-centuries. Players like Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Chris Lynn may not be available for the whole IPL which would leave teams short of batsmen at the top. Hence, a bidding war is likely to begin for the talented youngster from Afghanistan.

Likely contenders: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals

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3. Zahir Khan

Zahir Khan

Afghanistan keeps churning out Mystery spinners. The next to follow in the footsteps of the mavericks Rashid Khan and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman is the left arm chinaman Zahir Khan. He was snapped up by the Rajasthan Royals in 2018 auctions but he got injured and did not get to play a game. He has been released this year by the Royals.

Zahir is just 19 and already has an impressive record in white ball cricket, having taken 34 wickets at an average of 18 in T20 cricket which includes his stint with Lancashire.

Zahir is yet to make his international debut as Afghanistan cricket team has a plethora of spinners at its disposal. Zahir can bowl some tight overs in the powerplay and pick some crucial wickets at the top with his variations.

Likely contender: Mumbai Indians

2. Nicholas Pooran-

Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran has been built as the next big thing from the West Indies for quite some time now. The diminutive left-hander from Guyana really packs a punch and can send the ball soaring over the ropes. Pooran is also quite handy behind the stumps. Pooran has been performing well for the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League but hasn’t yet got an opportunity to play in the IPL.

He was bought by the Mumbai Indians in 2017 but did not get to play a game. Pooran made everyone sit up and notice with a brilliant fifty against India at Chennai. With the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch opting out and uncertainty over the availability of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler for the full duration of IPL, most of the franchises are likely to go after Pooran at the auctions.

Likely contenders: Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals

1. Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer

West Indian cricket has been consistently providing some big hitters of the ball to the IPL. Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell are some of the big guns that have established their careers in the IPL. The latest addition to that growing list could be Shimron Hetmyer. Hetmyer has been performing brilliantly in the 50-over format of the game. He already has three hundreds and two fifties to his name from just 18 innings.

Hetmyer smacked 260 runs in the recently five-match ODI series against India. His ability to attack the spinners is what makes him lethal. Hetmyer was pretty impressive against Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, hitting them over the midwicket boundary with ease. His explosiveness down the order could come in handy for some of the franchises, given the lack of options in there due to 2019 World Cup commitments.

Likely contenders: Kings XI Punjab, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians