IPL 2018: 5 unsold batsmen who we might still see in this season's IPL

This season's Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off on Saturday 07 April 2018 and there have already been a lot of unexpected events over the past few weeks. From injuries to key players to players being banned, this IPL 2018 has certainly had a lot of excitement and intrigue.

The IPL auction itself had a few surprises with some huge players not being picked up by any of the franchises. Some of these players have still made it into the IPL as injury replacements and it is likely that there will still be a few more.

We've already seen injury replacements for two fast bowlers - Mitchell Starc and Kagiso Rabada. However it is important to remember that batsmen get injured too, and in the event of this happening, we could see the following 5 batsmen make their way into this year's tournament.

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#1 Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla inexplicably went unsold at this year's IPL

In perhaps what was one of the biggest surprises at this year's IPL auction, Hashim Amla went unsold.

Having been brought in as a replacement for the injured Shaun Marsh, Amla announced his arrival at the Kings XI Punjab with two massive centuries, two half-centuries, amassing 420 runs in just 10 matches and an impressive strike-rate of 141.76 to put an end to any doubters out there who believe that Amla can only play Test and ODI cricket.

His calming influence at the crease also helps other players bat around him and play their natural game - something which each franchise will want to consider. He performed well for the Kings XI Punjab last year and would fit well again with them this year. Another team which could benefit a lot from his calm nature is Royal Challengers Bangalore - a team who is known for having big-hitters.

#2 Martin Guptill

The explosive Kiwi opener could help Rajasthan blast their way to the title

Another shocking unsold player at this year's IPL auction was Martin Guptill remaining unsold. The talented Kiwi might still find his ticket to this year's IPL season if the IPL franchises seize the opportunity to bring in the hard-hitting batsman as a possible injury replacement.

He didn't have the best of seasons last year, having amassed just 189 runs in 10 matches for a poor average of just 18.9 - which is very poor by his standards. With only one half-century to his name, which was also his top score for the season, Guptill would want to take a page from Chris Gayle's book and remind the world of his talent.

Nobody can question the enormous talent that the man possesses and he remains a huge threat in any batting line-up which he is a part of. He is due for a big season and this could well be the one if he comes in as an injury replacement.

Given his aggressive style, he would be well-suited to the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

#3 Joe Root

Root could be a key replacement for Smith

Root has not established himself as much of a T20 player so him going unsold at this year's IPL auction isn't a huge surprise as is the case with the previous two batsmen.

Although he is not a huge striker of the ball, Root does have the ability to anchor an innings and score heaps of runs. There is no questioning that he is an enormously talented batsman and, like Amla, all he needs is the chance to show what he can do.

The Rajasthan Royals would benefit a lot from having a player such as Joe Root in their squad if one of their batsmen were to get injured and be ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

#4 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh has been a mainstay for the Kings XI Punjab

Shaun Marsh has been a regular feature for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL for the past ten seasons but went unsold at this year's auction.

He has been a successful batsman in the IPL and whilst not as explosive as Gayle, de Villiers or Kohli, he does boast healthy stats in the IPL with 2477 runs in 71 matches, at a healthy strike-rate of 132.74.

He is pretty decent in the middle order and can increase the tempo of an innings when required. All in all, the Aussie batsman could serve as a handy replacement for any batsmen who might need to pull out due to injury.

#5 Eoin Morgan

Despite being one of the most destructive batsmen in the modern era, Morgan went unsold

Eoin Morgan needs no introduction when it comes to the cricketing world. Known for his hard-hitting ability and aggressive style, teams may well benefit from Morgan's ability to take the game away from their opposition.

His experience as captain will also be of tremendous value to a team such as the Rajasthan Royals now that they have lost someone in a leadership role.

Whichever way you look at it, Morgan is a real impact player and would easily be one of the most dangerous batsmen in the tournament.