IPL 2020: 4 overseas batsmen who would be in big demand at the upcoming auction

The auction for India’s biggest T20 sporting event is slated to be held on 19 December 2019 in Kolkata, wherein a total of 332 players will go under the hammer.

The highest base price of INR 2 crore has been set by seven overseas players, and it would be interesting to see which cricketer makes the franchises shell out the highest amount from their purse. The fact that many big names from all over the world are going to be a part of the auctions, including some who have been part of this mega event previously, makes the prospect sound even more exciting.

On that note, here is a look at five overseas batsmen who could score big at the auction.

1. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has played 69 IPL matches with a total of 2397 runs under his name at an astonishing strike-rate of 161.13. Maxwell started off his IPL career playing for Mumbai Indians in 2012, where he didn't get many opportunities.

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2014 was the year the Aussie dynamite exploded onto the IPL scene, as he amassed 552 runs for his new side Kings XI Punjab at a strike rate in excess of 187. Maxwell, along with David Miller, created a huge impact during the tournament which helped Punjab finish as runners-up.

Maxwell last played for Delhi Capitals in 2018, where he had a forgetful run with the bat in an equally disappointing year for the side.

Despite missing out on IPL 2019 and taking an indefinite break from cricket citing mental and physical exhaustion, Maxwell’s availability in the auction could fetch him big bids. His clean hitting abilities combined with the fact that he can win games on his own when he gets going would attract a lot of interest from the franchises.

2. Jason Roy

Jason Roy

England opener Jason Roy has been a part of two IPL seasons so far, having played a total of eight games in 2017 and 2018. While Roy played for the Gujarat Lions in 2017, he represented Delhi Capitals in 2018 with a score of 91* being his standout performance.

However, it would be foolish to discard a player based on these stats, as we all know what Roy is capable of. The right-handed opener was one of the prime reasons England went on to lift the 2019 World Cup, as he almost single-handedly destroyed opposition bowling attacks. Roy is credited with turning around England's fortunes midway through the tournament; he was asked to play a must-win game against India despite not attaining complete fitness, and he made his presence count.

If impact and form are parameters to go by, Roy should be at the top of the list for most team owners. They would all be aware of how dangerous Roy can be, and would want to have him on-board.

3. Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn

The Australian right-handed batsman started off his IPL career with the Hyderabad franchise but rose to great heights with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Chris Lynn, who first came into the limelight for taking a match-defining catch to dismiss AB de Villiers at the boundary line, came into his own during the 2017 edition.

Lynn has enjoyed three brilliant seasons with KKR scoring 295, 491 and 405 runs in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.

It came as a surprise to many when KKR released their star opener prior to the 2020 auctions, but that has made the auction more interesting than usual. All of the other franchises would be eyeing the big-hitting right-hander because of the sheer impact he brings to the table, and that could set off a bidding war.

4. Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer

Shimron Hetmyer is considered an extremely promising batsman owing to his big hitting abilities, which have helped him take giant strides in West Indies cricket in a short span of time.

Hetmyer started off his IPL career with the Royal Challengers Bangalore amidst a lot of fanfare, but failed to impress in a star-studded line-up led by skipper Virat Kohli. He managed a mere 90 runs in 5 innings, with his highest score of 75 coming in the team’s last game.

Even though the lack of big contributions prompted RCB to release him, Hetmyer’s recent success against India - wherein he has single-handedly won games for his side - could well give him another opportunity to make it count at the IPL.