IPL 2019: 5 Unsold players who could still feature this season

With a bucketload of money being invested in personnel, the IPL franchises have grown smarter over the years in the auctions without any question. Gone are the days when stardom alone would fetch a million for cricketers. As is the case in every IPL season, players do succumb to injury and are ruled out for the entirety of the tournament, leaving the franchises short on options and running around for the suitable cover.

There have been instances where the replacement players have shook the competition to its core as in the case of Chris Gayle, who was a late replacement for the injured Dirk Nannes in 2011. It was this move that sort of transformed his career and T20 cricket alike with a new lease of life for the big Jamaican after his whirlwind performances for RCB.

With the World Cup 2019 looming large on the horizon, no international board would be willing to risk their assets if there were any minor injury concerns, leaving a small margin of error for the players and their franchises to maneuver around. With a number of talented players still on the offering, here are five such individuals who could still make an impact as a replacement player this IPL 2019.

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#1 Daniel Christian

Daniel Christian

With quality all-rounders in shortage, Daniel Christian has proven his credentials on a consistent basis with Jozi Stars and Melbourne Renegades en route to title wins in the Mzanzi Super League and Big Bash League. With his ability to finish games with both bat and ball, Christian is an attractive proposition for any team looking to fill the overseas all-rounder vacancy.

Although his ability to play spin would put off a number of teams, he does provide the all-round package, clearly seen in his numbers in the Big Bash League - 254 runs and 15 wickets. With prior experience playing for Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals and Rising Pune Supergiant, Daniel Christian could be one heck of a replacement if chosen to replace an injured player this IPL 2019.

#2 Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara

Sourav Ganguly's suggestion of playing Cheteshwar Pujara as the number four batsmen in the Indian ODI setup attracted a lot of flak, considering him being visualized as the stereotypical Test batsmen who endeavors in block-a-thons and persistent batting.

Over the last year or so, Pujara has performed admirably in the shorter formats as well with the Indian number three scoring heaps of runs for Yorkshire and his home team, Saurashtra. In eight outings in the Royal London One Day Cup 2018, Pujara scored 370 runs at a strike rate of 90, going some way in shrugging off his tag of Test specialist.

Similarly, Pujara also came good in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 260 runs in six matches, including a hundred as well. Pujara's experience holds him in good stead if a replacement is considered by any franchise and could even be a useful player at the top of the order, in the mould of fellow Test maestros, Rahul Dravid, and Hashim Amla.

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#3 Rohan Kadam

Rohan Kadam

While the debate continues on whether the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy should have been held before the IPL auction or not, one player has quietly turned heads with his consistency and explosiveness in the domestic circuit - Rohan Kadam.

The Karnataka opener led the way to a historic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win with as many as 536 runs to his name in twelve games. The southpaw was pivotal at the top of the order with five fifties to his name during the course of the tournament and has reaped the benefits of a technique tweak during the off-season.

Although each and every franchise has locked in their respective opening combinations, Rohan Kadam provides an exciting alternative and open up other options for teams such as RCB, who lack dependable bowling options in the death. With the Karnataka opener in good form as well, he could well earn an IPL contract before the end of the season.

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#4 Manoj Tiwary

Manoj Tiwary

Manoj Tiwary is one of the most under-rated players in the domestic circuit. The Bengal captain has an international hundred and an IPL title to his name and in spite of his good run of form as well, he couldn't find a spot in any of the eight franchises' set-up for the upcoming IPL.

Handy with the ball and effective in finishing games in the death overs, Tiwary is the perfect utility player to have in any side and should be one of the go-to alternatives for the franchises with experience on his side as well.

His leg-spin has also evolved in recent years and he could be used as a part-time option as well. 203 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy doesn't speak volumes of his undeniable ability but if picked mid-way through the season, Tiwary should prove himself to be a worthwhile option with the former India batsmen far from done as far his IPL career is concerned.

#5 D'Arcy Short

D'Arcy Short

In an age where explosive batsmen are in demand, the most consistent batsman in the Big Bash League for the last two years, D'Arcy Short was unable to get himself an IPL contract for 2019.

Part of this was due to his inability to make an impact in the 2018 edition while his perceived involvement with the Australian ODI set-up also put his case down. With 637 runs in 15 games, D'Arcy Short once again proved his worth at the top of the order. What makes D'Arcy Short a better alternative than the rest is his improved ability against spin and his evolving leg-spin which yielded as many as ten wickets.

His performance against India last month was also noteworthy with Short chipping in with both bat and ball. With the Hobart Hurricanes opener seemingly available for the entire tournament, he could well be another Chris Gayle if picked to play for any of the eight franchises.