IPL 2020: 3 unsold players who are impressing in the Big Bash League

The auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 held in December last year saw some interesting choices being made. While Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins walked away with the biggest price of ₹15.5 crore, being sold to Kolkata Knight Riders, fellow Aussie all-rounder Glenn Maxwell went to Kings XI Punjab for ₹10.75 crore. Nathan Coulter-Nile was another Australian among the top buys, purchased by Mumbai Indians for ₹8 crore.

Further, South Africa’s veteran all-rounder Chris Morris was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for an impressive sum of ₹10 crore. In a somewhat surprise move, Kings XI Punjab went for Sheldon Cottrell, shelling out a whopping ₹8.5 crore while Delhi Capitals bought Caribbean batting talent Shimron Hetmyer at ₹7.75 crore.

Like every year though, a lot of reasonably big international names went unsold. Some of them are now shining in the ongoing Big Bash League. We take a look at three of them.

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#3 D'Arcy Short

D'Arcy Short

The Australian all-rounder went unsold at the IPL auction with a base price of ₹1 crore. That hasn’t affected his performance in the BBL. In seven matches for Hobart Hurricanes, D'Arcy Short has notched up 248 runs at an average of 41.33 and a strike rate of 128.49 with one hundred and two fifties. With his left-arm chinaman bowling, he has picked up six wickets at an average of 17.50 and a strike rate of 12.

Short, in fact, has been the Man of the Match in the last two matches he has played for Hurricanes. He smashed an unbeaten 103 from 70 balls with three fours and seven sixes as the Hurricanes got the better of Perth Scorchers by eight runs in the match played on January 5.

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Having returned to the BBL following Australia’s tour of India, Short ran through Sydney Thunder with figures of 5 for 21 at Hobart on January 24. His victims included Alex Hales (63) and Chris Morris (1) as Sydney faltered in the chase of 186. Short thus made up for his second-ball duck.

#2 Alex Hales

Alex Hales

Attacking opening batsman Alex Hales also went unsold at the IPL 2020 auction in Kolkata at a base price of ₹1 crore. He has been in excellent form for the Sydney Thunder in the BBL this year. In 13 matches, the English cricketer has amassed 402 runs at an average of 36.54 and a strike rate of 141.05 with four fifties.

Hales’ best so far, 85 from 59 balls, came in the contest against Perth Scorchers at Perth on January 20. The innings, however, was in vain as Sydney only managed 153 batting first and lost the contest by eight wickets.

In the very next game against Hurricanes at Hobart on January 24, he hit 63 from 42 balls with five fours and four sixes. Sydney, however, again went down in the contest, this time by 57 runs as they were all out for 128 in a chase of 186.

While Sydney are languishing at the sixth position, with five wins, seven losses and one no result, Hales has been among the bright spots for them.

#1 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh

From being the Orange Cap winner in the inaugural IPL edition in 2008 to going unsold at the 2020 auction at a base price of ₹1.5 crore, Australian batsman Shaun Marsh’s fortunes have changed drastically over the years.

He, however, has been in supreme form in BBL this year for Melbourne Renegades. Marsh is the second leading run-getter in the competition this year thus far, with 449 runs in 12 matches at an average of 37.41 and a strike rate of 124.03. The left-hander has hit three fifties in the league as of now.

Marsh’s best of 63 came against Melbourne Stars on January 10. He hit seven fours and two sixes in his 43-ball knock. However, Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten 83 from 45 saw the Stars gun down 169 rather easily. He also made 56 from 30 against Hobart Hurricanes on January 21. Melbourne though again lost the contest by four runs. He has also constantly chipped in with 30s and 40s in a number of other games.

Despite Marsh’s best efforts, Renegades are languishing at the bottom of the table with 10 losses and two wins in 12 games.