IPL 2019 Auction: 5 forgotten stars who could make a comeback

The big day is getting closer as the 2019 IPL auction is only a couple of days away. The tournament is expected to be preponed by few weeks and the venue is not yet finalized. 2019 ICC World Cup is expected to impact IPL 2019 and the auction could throw us some surprises.

346 players will be auctioned on December 18 and there are 70 slots that need to be filed. Franchises are busy plotting their strategy for the auction and some of them already reached out to their fans for suggestions on which players to buy.

IPL 2019 might witness a few comeback stars. Some of the popular players who disappeared from the action for a while because of various reasons were shortlisted for the 2019 auction. These players did not play a part in IPL 2018 but have found form in the past few months.

On that note, let’s take a look at the 5 forgotten stars who could make a comeback in IPL 2019.

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#1 Varun Aaron

Varun Aaron

One of the fastest bowlers to have ever played for India, Varun Aaron last played an international match in 2015 and his last IPL game was in 2017. Having made his ODI debut at the age of 21, the promising fast bowler has failed to nail down a place in the Indian team because of injuries.

Despite his great abilities, the 29-year-old lacked consistency at the highest level. He has represented India in only nine Tests and nine One Day Internationals so far. Aaron has played only 42 games over six IPL season and picked up 38 wickets. He played for four different franchises and never settled into his role. He did not play a part in IPL 2018 as he went unsold in the auction.

However, he has been in good form over the past few months. He picked up 18 wickets for Jharkhand in the 2018/19 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He is also performing well in the ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign with 18 wickets in five games, which includes a couple of five-wicket hauls.

#2 Irfan Pathan

CLT20 2012 Match 15 - Perth Scorchers v Delhi Daredevils

One of the most prolific all-rounders to don the Indian jersey, Irfan Pathan was once a top-ranked all-rounder in the world. He played a crucial role in India’s World T20 win in 2007 and has represented the country in 120 ODIs, 29 Tests and 24 Twenty20 Internationals.

Pathan lost his place in the Indian team in 2012 and has never played after that. The 34-year-old has played more than 100 IPL games and picked up 80 wickets. He has also scored more than 1000 runs and played the role of a perfect all-rounder.

He played just one IPL game in 2017 and went unsold in the 2018 auction. However, he is scoring a lot of runs in the current Ranji Trophy tournament. Pathan has scored 317 runs in six games at an average of 40. Though he has picked up only five wickets, he has shown some good form.

#3 Parvez Rasool

Parvez Rasool

The Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder has been a phenomenal performer in domestic cricket for quite some time and even made his ODI debut in 2014. However, it turned out to be the only ODI game of his career. He also made his T20I debut for India in 2017, but it lasted just a solitary game.

Also, Parvez Rasool last played an IPL game in 2016. Having made his IPL debut for now-defunct Pune Warriors India in 2013, Rasool has played only 11 games so far. The 29-year-old went unsold in the 2017 and 2018 auction.

However, he has struck form in the recent Ranji Trophy games. Rasool has picked up 26 wickets in six matches and also scored 423 runs at an average of 47. He has been exceptional with both the bat and ball. With all-rounders attracting a lot of attention in T20 cricket, Rasool could make a comeback.

#4 Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn

This man needs no introduction. One of the most fearsome fast bowlers in world cricket at the moment, Dale Steyn is slowly getting back into the game after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Steyn was a part of the Indian Premier League, ever since its debut in 2008. However, the 35-year-old missed the last two IPL campaigns. He did not play much for South Africa either and was on the treatment table. When we thought that we have already seen the last of Steyn, he has made a stunning comeback a few months ago.

He returned to the Proteas ODI squad for the series against Australia and also opted to play in the 2018 Mzansi T20 League. He is currently the fifth highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 wickets from 8 games at an economy of 6.87. He is slowly getting into the grove and there is a very high possibility that we might see him again in the Indian Premier League.

#5 Jeevan Mendis

Jeevan Mendis

Leg spinners are always dangerous prospects in T20 cricket. Genuine wicket-takers in the shortest format of the game, they possess a lot of variations and force batsmen to go out of their comfort zone.

An underrated leg-spinner, Jeevan Mendis has been performing well in the various T20 leagues across the globe. The 35-year-old has played only three games in the Indian Premier League for Delhi Daredevils during the 2013 campaign and never got an opportunity to play again.

The Sri Lankan spinner has been in sublime form for Tshwane Spartans in the 2018 Mzansi T20 League. He is the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 16 wickets from just eight outings. With the 2019 ICC World Cup in mind, franchises would want to pick a player who can play throughout the tournament and Mendis fits the bill.