IPL Auction 2020: 5 uncapped players who might get released

The Indian Premier League for long has been a pre-eminent platform for the blooming and budding cricketers owing to the very reason that it owns all the elements to make it a competitive brand for the youngsters. In the past, quite a few young cricketers have profited from it and as the time passes by, we'll have the opportunity to witness plenty more talented individuals coming through.

Although the mega event is said to have created a pool of opportunities to the budding cricketers, it invariably comes with a sense of pressure to perform. Hence, the young and uncapped players always remain on their toes in hopes of being able to produce their best. That forms the base for a comprehensive trade of uncapped players among the franchises.

For the very same fact, in this year's auction, quite a few franchises could be letting go of some of their inexperienced and uncapped players who failed to make an impact last year. L

letus look at five such players who might get released ahead of the impending IPL auction.

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#1 T Natarajan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

T Natarajan was bought for a sum of 40 lakhs in 2018 by SRH.

The first uncapped player on our list is Thangarasu Natarajan, whom SunRisers Hyderabad acquired in IPL 2018 Auction for INR 40 lakhs. Unfortunately, the left-arm pacer failed to feature for SRH in the 2018 edition of IPL. The story continued in 2019 as well since T Natarajan didn't get any closer to a dedicated place in SRH's playing XI.

Having warmed the bench for close to two years, SRH might consider letting the medium-pacer from Tamil Nadu go. Also, it is worthy to note that without Natarajan, Hyderabad will get no weaker in their bowling department as they have quite a few good bowlers on their bench. Moreover, while releasing Natarajan, SRH can resort to strengthening their batting power as they lack quality Indian batsmen in their middle-order.

Having looked at Sunrisers' scenario with T Natarajan, it seems quite realistic that Hyderabad will bid adieu to the pacer ahead of the auction.

Also see -IND vs BAN schedule 2019

#2 KM Asif

KM Asif only played two matches for CSK in 2018.

Chennai Super Kings retained their core during the comeback in 2018. However, one sector where CSK had to invest a bit was their bowling department. They invested in young guns like Deepak Chahar, KM Asif, and Lungi Ngidi. Deepak and Ngidi got ample opportunities to prove their mettle.

However, Asif didn't get many breaks to showcase his talent as played only two matches in IPL 2018 while picking up three wickets at a strike-rate of 12.00 and an economy rate of 12.50. Post that, MS Dhoni failed to include Asif in Chennai's any of the games in the previous edition of IPL.

Hence, considering the fact, the CSK management might release KM Asif ahead of the IPL auction in a gambit to acquire a quality pacer instead. CSK grappled with the same in the previous year and would not want to repeat the same mistake this year as well.

#3 Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna may not have long left in KKR colours.

Kolkata Knight Riders acquired Prasidh Krishna in 2018 after an unfortunate injury ruled out Kamlesh Nagarkoti. The Karnataka pacer - an active replacement of Nagarkoti - featured in seven games for KKR in the 2018 edition while scalping ten wickets at an average of 26.00 and a strike-rate of 16.80.

Kolkata management expected Krishna to carry forward the same form in the IPL 2019 as well. Unfortunately, he failed to meet those expectations and finished the season having played 11 matches for KKR with not so good numbers - four wickets at an average of 94.25, strike-rate of 60.25, and an economy of 9.34.

Taking into account Prasidh's sub-par performance in the previous edition of IPL, KKR will be in all probability let him go to try and improve their bowling department.

#4 Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi had an abject IPL 2019 with Rajasthan Royals.

Rahul Tripathi played exceptionally well for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants. Having played 14 games in IPL 2017, he notched-up 391 runs at an average of 27.90 and an exceptional strike-rate of 146.44. Based on his exceptional display in IPL 2017, Rajasthan Royals acquired him for a hefty price of INR 3.4 crore in IPL 2018 and he had a decent run in that edition of the tournament.

Nonetheless, he failed to formulate similar kinds of performances in IPL 2019. Tripathi featured in eight games for the Royals while amassing 141 runs at an average of 23.50 and a low strike-rate of 119.49.

Considering Rahul's mediocre performances in the previous edition of IPL, the RR management will look for some better options to fill in their middle-order and cast him out prior to the auction.

#Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy was picked up for 8.4 crore by KXIP last season.

Varun Chakravarthy was one of the most expensive players at the 2019 IPL Auction. Kings XI Punjab shelled out a whopping INR 8.4 crore to seal the deal for the spinner. The franchises engaged in a comprehensive bidding war, which put the spotlight on Chakravarthy.

With plenty of variations up his sleeve, Chakravarthy was expected to be a key player for KXIP in the 2019 edition of IPL. However, that did not pan out as the left-arm spinner failed to make an impact with the ball.

He featured in a solitary game for KXIP, where he finished with the figures of 3-0-35-0 in what was IPL debut. Post that, Chakravarthy failed to feature in any of the games owing to an injury.

With Ravichandran Ashwin and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in their squad, KXIP might not want to invest in Chakravarthy and look at a quality batsman instead. This could see the spinner being cast aside ahead of the IPL auction.