IPL 2019: 5 Unsold players who could have lit up the tournament

IPL 2019 is only a few weeks away. Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore will kickoff the 12th edition of the tournament on March 23 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

Unlike previous auctions, the 2019 IPL auctions happened in December, at least a month earlier because of the early start to IPL. IPL franchises always had the opportunity to witness other T20 leagues like Big Bash League and Bangladesh Premier League before they went into the auction, but it wasn't the case this time around.

As a result, few players who performed extremely well in these T20 leagues went unsold in the IPL 2019 auction, which happened in December. With the World Cup just around the corner, these players could have made a real difference to the teams when their regular players leave early for the World Cup preparations.

On that note, let's take a look at the 5 unsold players who could have lit up the tournament.

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#5 D'Arcy Short

D'Arcy Short failed big time in IPL 2018

The Australian opening batsman is having a phenomenal few weeks. He finished as the highest run-getter in the recently concluded Big Bash League with 637 runs at an average of 53 and a strike rate of 140. He also proved more than useful with the ball and picked up 10 wickets in the tournament. He also made a comeback into the Australian team for the ongoing tour of India.

However, Short could not find a team in the 2019 IPL auction, primarily due to his poor outing in IPL 2018. Bought by Rajasthan Royals last season, the 28-year-old failed to live up to expectations. In seven IPL games during the 2018 IPL campaign, Short scored only 115 runs and failed to make a single 50+ score.

#4 Kane Richardson

Kane Richardson picked up seven wickets from four games for RCB in 2016 IPL

Kane Richardson's last IPL appearance came in 2016 when he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He went unsold in the later auctions and wasn't at his best with the ball. The 28-year-old has played in 14 IPL games so far and has picked up 18 wickets at an economy rate of 8.38. However, things have changed for him since the 2018/19 Big Bash League.

Richardson picked up 24 wickets in the tournament at a good economy rate of 7.75. He led Melbourne Renegades to their maiden Big Bash League title with some exceptional performances throughout the tournament.

He was even recalled into the national side on the back of his stunning BBL campaign but was forced to leave the tour because of an injury, but the 2019 IPL auction came a little too early for the speedster.

#3 Rilee Rossouw

Rilee Rossouw, Hampshire vs Somerset - Vitality T20 Blast

Rossouw moved to England in 2017 to join Hampshire on a three-year contract, courtesy of a Kolpak deal. The 29-year-old has so far played in various T20 leagues across the globe, including the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL. Rossouw represented RCB in five IPL games and scored a total of 53 runs. His last IPL appearance was way back in 2015.

The former Proteas star went unsold in the 2019 IPL auction. He then proved everyone wrong with some scintillating performances in the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League.

Playing for Rangpur Riders, Rossouw amassed a total of 558 runs in the tournament at an average of 69.75 and a strike rate of 150. He also scored a stunning hundred and five fifties in the tournament. Rossouw is currently playing in the Pakistan Super League for Quetta Gladiators.

#2 Steve O'Keefe

Steve O'Keefe - Best spinner in BBL 2018/19

The Big Bash League star was exceptional for Sydney Sixers in BBL 2018/19. He finished the tournament with 21 wickets, only behind Kane Richardson and Sean Abbott. What made him special was his economy rate of 6.57, considering he bowled a lot in the powerplay overs.

Only twice in the tournament, he went for more than eight an over with the ball. Also, he went wicketless in only two of the 15 games he played in BBL this season. The left-arm spinner also produced a Player Of The Match performance in the first-class game against Western Australia with nine wickets in the match. The 34-year-old last played for Australia in 2017.

Steve O'Keefe could have been a valuable addition to IPL. He is in great form at the moment and could be more than useful on the slow pitches in India.

#1 Hazratullah Zazai

Zazai has played some sensational T20 knocks over the past few months

The 20-year-old is having a blast at the moment. He starred for Kabul Zwanan in the 2018/19 Afghanistan Premier League with 322 runs from 10 games at a stunning strike rate of 193.97. He struck a brilliant 124 in the tournament and was devastating throughout.

He also made it count in the 2018 T10 League with Maratha Arabians. He scored 201 runs in the tournament at an average of 25.12 and a strike rate of 213.82. Zazai also played one of the best T20 knocks of all-time in the recently concluded T20I series against Ireland.

Zazai scored an unbeaten 162 in the second T20I, which also included 16 sixes. However, he went unsold in the 2019 IPL auction. Zazai, with his sensational hitting abilities, could have been a great asset in the Indian Premier League.