IPL 2020 auction: 3 players likely to earn their maiden contract

As the auction date for 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) nears, all the eight franchises must be busy strategising their plans. The closing of the trading window saw a lot of expected players being retained and released. However, there were quite a few surprises in store as well once the complete list of retained and released players were put out by the franchises.

One of the key objectives of the IPL auction for franchises is to get the balance of the squad right in terms of experience, fresh blood as well as versatility in talent. While previous experience and success in IPL count for a lot when the players go under the hammer, every time we see fresh talent from across the globe, who have made their name in domestic cricket, also coming into focus. This year has been no different.

So, here’s a look at three new faces who are highly likely to make their IPL debut in 2020.

#1 Tom Banton

Tom Banton

The English youngster Tom Banton has build up tremendous reputation over the last few months to the point that Daily Mail even came out with a report stating Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings were interested in signing Tom Banton. That’s not all, Banton himself revealed recently to ESPNCricinfo that he would love to play for MI. Banton got two impressive fifties in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, including a blazing 80 off 28 for Qalandars against Karnataka Tuskers.

Banton grabbed eyeballs by notching up 454 runs for Somerset in their successful One-Day Cup campaign, and then smashed 549 in the Vitality Blast, which included a 100 from 52 balls against Kent. His reverse-slaps and scoops have invited comparisons with Kevin Pietersen, Jos Buttler and even AB de Villiers. Banton has all the qualities to be an IPL superstar. That he would be picked is more or less a certainty. Whether he can live up to the hype is what remains to be seen.

#2 Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal

17-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal became an overnight sensation by smashing 203 from 154 balls against Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. With this knock, which featured 17 fours and 12 sixes, Jaiswal became the youngest to score a List A double-century.

The youngster amassed 564 in six matches with three hundreds and a fifty. He blasted an unbeaten 60 off 38 balls in the quarter-final against Chhattisgarh. However, Mumbai were out of the semi-final race after rain interrupted the game.

Jaiswal, who once sold pani puri at Azad Maidan in Mumbai to earn a living, continued his great run with an unbeaten 108 from 83 balls in an U-19 game against Afghanistan at Lucknow. There is every chance of him getting a decent IPL contract.

#3 Hayden Walsh Jr

Hayden Walsh Jr

He may be 27, but Hayden Walsh Jr is pretty much young in terms of experience. The leg-spinner from USA made a massive impression in the Caribbean Premier League this year. Walsh played a major role in Barbados Tridents’ CPL 2019 triumph with an impressive haul of 22 wickets in nine games at an economy rate of 8.28.

Walsh was immediately rewarded with a spot in the West Indies T20I and ODI squad for the series against Afghanistan. The leggie has highly impressive numbers in T20s with 30 wickets in 20 matches at a strike rate of 12.5. With his wicket-taking ability, Walsh should be in demand at the IPL 2020 auction.