5 surprising overseas players in the 2019 IPL auction 

As many as 1003 players will go under the hammer at the 2019 IPL auctions that will take place at Jaipur on December 18th for the available 70 slots. It is going to be very interesting as to how the franchises strategize their plans during the high-profile curtain raiser of season twelve of the Indian Premier League. Several uncapped Indian cricketers are in the fray to land lucrative contracts this season after impressing in the domestic circuit.

Apart from them, hundreds of talented overseas will also be vying for a spot in one of the eight franchises after displaying an excellent brand of cricket in their respective domestic tournaments. These players might get lucrative contracts in the cash-rich T20 league. Let us now look at five surprising overseas cricketers who might fetch higher bids at the 2019 IPL auctions.

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Jason Sangha

Jason Sangha

Sangha led the Australian colts at the 2018 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup to a runner-up finish apart from emerging as his side's highest run-getter in the tournament amassing 229 runs in six matches at an average of 38.16, with his highest score being 88. The talented batsman who plays for New South Wales in the domestic circuit made his First-class debut representing Cricket Australia XI against England in November 2017.

Sangha has so far played 8 First-class matches scoring 408 runs with his highest score being 133. A useful leg-spinner, the 19-year-old has four First-class wickets to his name.

Though he has played just two List A games and a T20 game in his career so far, he is one of the talents to watch out for in the future. Regarded the 'next Ricky Ponting', Sangha signed a three-year deal with the Sydney Sixers last month. This will be the first-ever stint in the Big Bash League for Sangha and he will be determined to make a mark in Australia's premier T20 league through his exploits with the bat.

Given his credentials with the bat, Sangha who has a base price of INR 20 lakhs might land a lucrative contract at the 2019 IPL auctions. Watch out for this Aussie sensation's bid at Jaipur on December 18th!

Lutho Sipamla

Lutho Sipamla

Regarded as one of the best upcoming talents in the South African cricketing fraternity, Sipamla's blistering pace sets him apart from other young pacers. Having made his First-class debut last year, Sipamla has so far scalped 43 wickets in 16 matches that include two four-wicket and two five-wicket hauls with his best figures being 5/53.

The 20-year-old, who has made 9 List A and 12 T20 appearances so far, has set the inaugural Mzansi Super League (MSL) on fire with his wicket-taking abilities. Playing for Tshwane Spartans led by the legendary AB de Villiers, Sipamla has taken 13 wickets in 8 matches at an economy of 8.44 with his best figures being 3/19.

The promising South African pacer who has a base price of INR 20 lakhs is sure to make it big at the 2019 IPL auctions after impressing at the inaugural MSL season! Watch out for him.

Sherfane Rutherford

Sherfane Rutherford

The 20-year-old shot to fame due to his exploits with the bat during the 2018 Global T20 League (Canada). In Qualifier 1, Rutherford amassed 134 runs off 66 balls thereby guiding his team, West Indies B into the finals where they lost to Vancouver Knights by seven wickets. Rutherford finished the tournament as the third highest run-getter with 230 runs in eight matches at a strike-rate of 172.93. A hard-hitter of the ball, the southpaw amassed 17 fours and 19 sixes.

He followed it up with another memorable performance at the 2018 Caribbean Premier League scoring 171 runs in seven innings at a strike-rate of 142.50 that included 11 fours and 11 sixes thereby contributing valuable runs down the order for the eventual runners-up, Guyana Amazon Warriors.

An ideal T20 player, Rutherford who has scored 354 First-class (10 matches) and 321 List A runs (18 matches), is a useful right-arm medium bowler, he is capable of providing regular breakthroughs. The all-rounder who has a base price of INR 40 lakhs, is sure to make it big at the 2019 auctions given his all-round credentials!

Lewis Gregory

Lewis Gregory

The 26-year-old English all-rounder represents Somerset in the domestic circuit and has been one of the star performers with both bat and the ball across formats. Gregory, who made his T20 debut in June 2011 has so far played 79 T20s scoring 969 runs while picking up 75 wickets. An experienced campaigner, he has 1942 First-class (in 71 matches) and 870 List A runs (in 60 matches) to his name.

The right-arm fast medium bowler has been equally good with the ball taking 204 wickets in First-class cricket and 88 wickets in List A cricket. Though he was called up to the England squad once (for the one-off ODI against Ireland back in 2015), he did make the XI.

The uncapped all-rounder has a base price of INR 40 lakhs at the 2019 IPL auctions and courtesy his experience as well as the all-round credentials, Gregory might be one of the hottest properties at the season twelve auction.

Blair Tickner

Blair Tickner

The 25-year-old right-arm medium fast bowler is one of the best talents in the New Zealand domestic circuit. Tickner, who plays for the Central Districts made his First-class debut in 2015 against Auckland. With 89 First-class (in 34 matches) and 30 List A wickets (in 25 matches), he has been consistent with the ball since emerging onto the domestic scenes. a regular fixture in the New Zealand A squad, Tickner took seven wickets against India A in the recently concluded three-match unofficial Test series.

The pacer who has 35 T20 wickets (in 21 matches), emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the 2017-18 Super Smash T20 Cricket (New Zealand's premier domestic T20 tournament) with 21 scalps in 11 games. The uncapped kiwi pacer has a base price of INR 20 lakhs at the 2019 IPL auctions. Expect Tickner to acquire a good amount at the auction courtesy his consistency with the ball over the last three years.