IPL 2020 Auction: 3 T20 league winning captains who might earn expensive contracts

The popularity of the shortest format of the game is evident with the number of domestic T20 leagues being held across the globe every year. Countries like Canada and Afghanistan have shown interests in staging their own T20 leagues and have succeeded in their attempts which is really commendable. For fans, the excitement and entertainment levels have only gone high with the anticipation of 'who is going to clinch the title this time' during each of those tournaments.

Players who perform well in one of these tournaments get to earn contracts with teams in other leagues. Similarly, the winning captains will also be in demand during the drafts and auctions of various leagues. Without much ado, let us look at three T20 league-winning captains of 2019 who might get to experience the 'double delight' of winning their domestic leagues and earning a lucrative IPL contract at the 2020 IPL auction which is set to be held in Kolkata on December 19th.

Also see - India West Indies schedule

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#3 Jason Holder

Jason Holder

It was surprising to see a player like Holder go unsold at last year’s auction with a base price of INR 75 lakhs. The Windies’ Test captain led Barbados Tridents to the 2019 Caribbean Premier League title defeating the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final by 27 runs last month.

The towering all-rounder from Bridgetown is known for his lethal spells apart from his lusty blows with the bat down the order. Despite representing three IPL franchises, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, Holder hasn’t had a memorable stint in the league so far.

The 2019 CPL-winning skipper and the No 1-ranked Test all-rounder certainly deserves an IPL contract this time having proved himself across formats. With 725 runs 80 wickets in 103 T20 appearances, the 28-year-old whose last IPL appearance was way back in 2016 might be hoping for his fortunes to change so that he could make a mark in the 2020 IPL.

Having a quality and proven all-rounder in their ranks would prove to be an advantage for any franchise in the IPL. Hence, we could expect Holder to be back with a bang, not just on the field but also off it by acquiring an expensive contract.

#2 Temba Bavuma

Temba Bavuma (left) of Highveld Lions

Bavuma did not just lead the Lions to their third CSA T20 challenge (Ram Slam T20) title in May this year, but also produced a captain's knock (104 off just 63 balls) in the all-important final against Warriors at Johannesburg. The Protea batsman's splendid display with the bat helped Lions attain the glory by clinching the high scoring game by 11 runs against the JJ Smuts-led side.

Though a regular fixture in the South African Test squad, the 29-year-old has proved his credentials in the shortest format of the game having amassed 1515 runs in 67 T20 appearances that include six half-centuries and a century.

Bavuma, who made his T20I debut against India at Mohali in September 2019, was unfortunate to have missed out on a half-century in that game (was dismissed for 49) having played so well. With 76 runs in two innings during the three-match T20I series which ended 1-1, the talented batsman has displayed his ability to score runs in the T20 format on Indian conditions. This could lead to him earning a lucrative IPL contract for himself.

#1 Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch

Finch marshalled Melbourne Renegades to their first-ever Big Bash League title in February this year as his side defeated Glenn Maxwell-led arch-rivals, Melbourne Stars at Marvel Stadium.

The Australian limited-overs skipper, who holds the record for the highest individual score in a T20I inning (scored 172 off 76 balls against Zimbabwe at Harare in July 2018), has so far represented seven different franchises in the IPL- Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab.

Finch who was released by Kings XI Punjab ahead of 2019 IPL auction owing to his lacklustre performance with the bat skipped the last IPL edition considering the workload ahead of 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and Ashes. The 33-year-old had a fantastic 2019 World Cup campaign where he led the five-time winners to a semi-final finish apart from scoring 507 runs in 10 matches.

The opening batsman who has 1737 IPL runs to his name will be hoping to strike a big deal at the auction and will be aiming to maintain his excellent run in the 2020 IPL as well.