IPL Auction 2017: 5 players who are likely to go unsold

351 players are to set to go under the hammer in IPL Auction 2017 that will take place in Bengaluru on February 20. With plenty of international stars and domestic starlets in the mix, it looks set to be a fascinating affair.

While there will be plenty of players who will get the big bucks (here's looking at some of you England stars), there are others who are unlikely to be as lucky. Given the limited amount of players that each team can accommodate, several players are likely to go unsold.

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Among them are likely to be plenty of stars, who, as a combination of their base price, age and the combination of the squads of each IPL side, might go unsold.

Here are five players who are likely to go unsold in IPL auction 2017:

Brad Haddin

Following in the footsteps of Adam Gilchrist, Brad Haddin carved out a successful international career and once that was done, a domestic T20 career as well from being an attacking batsman aside from being a keeper.

Haddin has played 91 T20 matches and has a decent average and strike rate, but has never played consistently in the IPL and at the age of 39 with a base price of INR 1.5 crore, it looks as though that looks set to continue ahead of IPL Auction 2017, for which he has put his name alongside 13 other international keepers.

The main reason for Haddin remaining unsold is the fact that all eight IPL sides have established first-choice keepers and some have more than one (Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore). Because the keeper is a specialist position and it is highly unlikely that any team will play more than one regularly, they are unlikely to splash the cash on a 39-year-old keeper who they might have to release ahead of IPL 2018.

Marlon Samuels

With some players, it is the price tag that is likely to mean that they aren't picked. With some, it is the perception that surrounds them which might mean they don't get picked. With Marlon Samuels, it is a bit of both.

Despite the fact that he has two Man of the Match awards in the two World T20 finals that he won for West Indies, Marlon Samuels has never been regarded as highly as some of his counterparts when it comes to T20s. That perception has meant that he has only played in the IPL in one season, for the now defunct, Pune Warriors India.

That coupled with the fact that he has a base price of INR 1 crore might detract any potential suitors from going for his signature. Especially, considering the fact that the majority of the players will go back into the auction pool next year and Samuels just turned 36.

Kyle Abbott

At the age of 29, after just 60 international matches to his name, Kyle Abbott turned his back on international cricket and signed up a kolpak deal with English county side Hampshire. And while there is no doubt that he is an effective T20 bowler and will be a good signing for most sides even with a base price of INR 1.5 crore, he still is likely to go unsold.

Unlike other players on this list, who are either old and too expensive for teams to take a punt on, Abbott is in the prime of his career as he showed when he played for Kings XI Punjab last year, he is also a very good T20 bowler. But the fact that he has a county contract means that teams might look past him when they go into the auction.

With the County Championship and the English domestic season clashing with the IPL and having just signed a kolpak deal with Hampshire, it is unlikely that Abbott will be available for the whole season. And considering his high base price, teams will look elsewhere especially when you consider the amount they might have to pay to buy a player who not only won't play the whole season, but might also be released ahead of next year's auction.

Angelo Mathews

Despite being bought for INR 7.5 crore in IPL 2015, Angelo Mathews was released by Delhi Daredevils the following year. The Sri Lankan captain has put his name into the auction pool once again but with a base price of INR 2 crore, it looks as though he might not have an IPL team for two years in a row.

An all-rounder is never considered as a luxury, especially in T20s. So even if the price seems high, teams will always go for a proven all-rounder, if they feel he will add value to the side. The problem for Mathews is that teams that don't have a lot of money, already have plenty of all-rounders and foreigners in their squad and there are a few teams who don't have the cash to go big on more than one player.

Considering the fact that he is currently injured and hasn't been especially explosive with either bat or ball of late for Sri Lanka, he is unlikely to be high on any franchise's list. With a high base price and the possibility of being released the following year, teams might look for a high-profile option or a cheaper one, which might mean Mathews might go unsold.

Nathan Lyon

Battling against public perception isn't easy but that is exactly what Nathan Lyon has had to do throughout his career. How else can you explain the fact that despite picking up more than a wicket a game and going at just over 7 in his T20 career, Lyon has played almost double the amount of Tests as he has T20s?

However, the 29-year-old off-spinner's biggest hurdle to being picked in the IPL Auction 2017 isn't perception as much as competition from not just younger spinners, but also those with a much lower base price. With a base price of INR 1.5 crore, Lyon won't come cheap and with a limited budget, the possibility of release next year and the fact that he hasn't played as many T20s might count against Lyon.

But the off-spinner, who has never played in the IPL, has competition from the likes of Imran Tahir, Brad Hogg, Ish Sodhi, Rashid Khan (all proven T20 performers) and also the likes of Mitchell Santner, Pawan Negi, Karn Sharma (who also provide a handy option with the bat) and all those players have a base price of INR 50 lakh or less, which might mean the franchises opt for one of them ahead of the Australian with nearly 250 international wickets.