IPL 2020: 5 unsold players from 2019 who can attract huge bids in the 2020 auction

The IPL auction is an important event in the cricketing calendar. The proceedings of this day determine the career graph of many players who aim to be a part of the lucrative league. A huge bid fetched in the auction can act as a breakthrough for any player and make him an overnight sensation, while a no-bid can spur a decline in his career.

The IPL gives players, especially uncapped Indians, a fair chance to showcase their talent before the world. The youngsters are given an opportunity to rub shoulders with the best in the world and gain useful insights to emerge as better cricketers.

Every year there are some players who get neglected and find no buyers at the auction table. Even in 2019, there were a few players who failed to find a home at any franchise and returned disappointed from the auction.

However, with another edition of the league approaching, some of those unsold players will enter the auction with enhanced reputations - which could encourage the franchises to bid for them this time.

Here, we take a look at five unsold players from the 2019 auction who might attract huge bids this year:

#1 Chris Woakes

Chris Woakes

The English all-rounder made his IPL debut in 2017 for Kolkata Knight Riders, and was one of their key players. Chris Woakes had a brilliant maiden outing in the IPL, picking up 17 wickets in 13 matches for KKR.

However, despite being one of the costliest buys in 2018, Woakes had a disappointing season for RCB and was thus released ahead of the auction in 2019.

In 2019, the 30-year-old saw no bids for himself in the auction. His huge base price, coupled with the expectation that he would miss the business end of the tournament due to his national commitments, prevented him from getting an opportunity to once again feature in the IPL.

However, the prolific all-rounder could well inspire a bidding war in the upcoming IPL auction. His recent success for England as an all-format player would make him a desired commodity for most of the teams.

Woakes' progress in the white-ball format has been second to none in the past one year. Moreover, his skills with the new ball complement his handy batting skills; he is a decent striker of the ball in the lower order.

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#2 James Neesham

James Neesham

James Neesham has failed to make a long-lasting mark for himself in the IPL. In 2014 he was bought by Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils), but got to feature in only four games. He then shifted base to KKR for the next season, but an injury saw him ruled out of the entire season.

Since then, Neesham has tried his luck repeatedly but has returned disappointed each time in the IPL auction. However, the auction in December could put an end to that since he will likely be on the wish-list of more than a couple of teams.

In the recent past, Neesham has been able to carve out an image for himself as a capable all-rounder in the shorter formats. He was a regular in the Kiwis’ playing XI for the entire duration of the World Cup in England.

A proper seam bowler who possesses the ability to strike big at the death, Neesham can add value in all the three departments to any team in the league. His numbers in T20 cricket speak loud and clear; with 1462 runs at a strike rate nearing 140 along with 102 wickets, Neesham has earned every right to be a part of the IPL for the upcoming edition.

#3 Jason Holder

Jason Holder - Chennai Super Kings

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder is one of the best in the business right now, especially in the Test format. In the past year or so Holder has virtually carried the West Indies team on his shoulders by consistently leading from the front.

A decent striker of the ball, Holder is also renowned for his accurate seam bowling. In the recently concluded CPL, he captained Barbados Tridents to their second CPL title.

In his 100 T20 appearances, Holder has claimed 77 wickets with an economy of 7.66. He is more than handy with the bat too, and his tally of 706 runs at a strike rate of 120+ reinforces that.

The West Indies Test skipper would hope to get a bid in the upcoming auction after going unsold in the last two seasons. He last featured in the IPL for the Kolkata Knight Riders, in the 2016 edition.

It would be fitting if the 27-year-old is offered another opportunity to showcase his improved skills.

#4 Hazratullah Zazai

Hazratullah Zazai

The young and aggressive Afghan opener Hazratullah Zazai has made the entire world sit up and take notice of his devastating skills in the T20 format. Earlier this year, Zazai played a blistering knock against Ireland as Afghanistan scored 278 - the highest ever team total in a T20 match.

The left-handed opener scored an unbeaten 162 off just 62 balls, hitting 11 fours and 16 sixes.

In his 39 appearances in T20s, the southpaw boasts of a tally of 1282 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 160. On the back of his spectacular performances, Zazai even broke into the top 10 of the rankings for T20I batsmen.

Despite such inspired efforts, Zazai failed to get a bid in the IPL last year. With another auction approaching, the 21-year-old would hope to attract the attention of one of the franchises and get an opportunity to play in the world’s most widely followed T20 league.

#5 Kusal Perera

Kusal Perera

The flamboyant Sri Lankan opener Kusal Perera has earned a lot of respect in the eyes of the cricket fraternity, especially after his exploits in a match-winning cause against South Africa earlier this year.

Perera, who declined an IPL contract offered by Sunrisers Hyderabad to join the team as a replacement for David Warner, wanted to re-claim his spot in the Test squad. The left-hander succeeded in his goal as he now is a regular for Sri Lanka in every format of the game.

An attacking player, Perera has been really successful for Sri Lanka at the top of the order. In 39 T20Is for the team, the 29-year-old has amassed 1071 runs at a strike rate of 136.

The southpaw could incite several IPL teams to bid for him considering his attacking profile as an opener even in the shorter formats. With most teams struggling to find the right combination at the top, Perera can be the solution they are looking for.