3 unsold players IPL franchises should be looking at as replacements

This year, just as is the case with any other year, several phenomenal players went unsold in the IPL auction. Most often, team combinations and auction dynamics affect the demand for otherwise proven performers and lead to them not being bought by any franchise. However, as per the rules of the IPL, a team may bring in a replacement player when an existing member of its squad withdraws from the tournament due to injury or some other reason.

Replacement players are not mere placeholders, though. Several times in the past, replacement players have come in and made immense impact in the tournament. The most famous case of this is when Chris Gayle, arguably the greatest player in the history of the IPL, went unsold in the 2011 auctions and was drafted in as a replacement player by the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

With the participation of several key players, including Steven Smith and David Warner, looking unlikely, franchises will certainly be on the lookout for able replacements.

This article looks at three unsold players that can make an impact if brought in as replacements.

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#3 Manoj Tiwary

Manoj Tiwary

Why no franchise would opt for Manoj Tiwary, a proven middle-order accumulator in the IPL and a veteran of the domestic circuit, remains a mystery; however, if called upon, the batsman from Bengal could make a big difference.

Tiwary is a versatile batsman who can fulfil any role ranging from batting in the top order to finishing an innings later on, and would certainly be on the radar of several franchises looking to bring in an experienced and proven batsman into their ranks.

Further, his form off-late has not been bad either: in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy season, he scored 616 runs at a healthy average of 51.3. Whether he gets called upon or not remains to be seen, but Manoj Tiwary will certainly be an asset to any side if he is drafted in.

#2 Kane Richardson

Kane Richardson

Kane Richardson is part of a great battery of Australian fast bowlers, and his recent exploits in the Big Bash League make him an extremely attractive prospect for every single franchise in the IPL.

Richardson, who has been on the fringes of Australian limited overs sides for the past few years, has already taken 24 wickets in 12 matches in the ongoing BBL and looks set to add to that tally.

Moreover, the fact that Richardson is unlikely to be a part of Australia's World Cup squad gives him an advantage compared to most other top-quality quicks. This is because unlike those other bowlers, who will need to leave the IPL mid-way through due to World Cup preparations, Richardson will be available throughout the season, if he is drafted in.

Given that fast bowlers are injury-prone and will be particularly cautious with regard to fitness in this edition of the IPL, Kane Richardson may well be called upon this time around.

#1 Rilee Rossouw

Rilee Rossouw

In T20 cricket, especially in leagues, form is everything. We saw that last year, with the likes of D'arcy Short and Jofra Archer being in extremely high demand, and this year as well, with the likes of Colin Ingram commanding extremely high paychecks.

With that in mind, while Rilee Rossouw may have been out of favour with franchises two months ago, most of them will be looking at him extremely closely now. In the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League, Rossouw topped the run-scoring charts, making 558 runs at an average of 69.75 and a strike rate of 150.

Further, in a batting line-up which consisted of some of the IPL's finest performers in Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, he managed to outshine them. Another factor which works in Rossouw's favour is that, as a Kolpak player, he is ineligible for national selection and will thus certainly be available for the entirety of the tournament if called upon.

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