IPL auction 2020: 3 players with base price of Rs. 2 crore who could go unsold

The player list for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 auction was recently released. As many as 332 players will compete for 73 spots at the auction to be held for the first time in Kolkata on 19 December. Of the 332 players, 186 are Indian, 143 foreigners, and three from associate nations.

Seven players, all overseas ones, have listed their name for the auction at a base price of Rs. 2 crore. Prominent names from them include Pat Cummins, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell and Dale Steyn.

Among Indians, Robin Uthappa, who was released by Kolkata Knight Riders, has put his name in the auction list at a base price of Rs. 1.5 crore. Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy, Chris Woakes and Chris Morris are other big names in the Rs. 1.5 crore bracket. Further, Piyush Chawla, Yusuf Pathan and Jaydev Unadkat will enter the auction with base price of Rs. 1 crore.

Here, we take a look at three names with a base price of Rs. 2 crore who are likely to go unsold.

#1 Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood

Aussie medium pacer Josh Hazlewood is currently making headlines after being ruled out of the Boxing Day Test due to a hamstring injury he picked up at Perth against New Zealand. He has listed himself at a base price of Rs. 2 crore, but it is highly unlikely that any of the franchises would opt for him at that high a price.

Hazlewood is a classic line and length Test bowler, who has been a fantastic replacement for the legendary Glenn McGrath - who did a similar job for the Aussies for over a decade. However, Hazlewood doesn’t offer much as far as T20s are concerned.

He last played a T20I for Australia in March 2016. Also, in his overall T20 career, he has only featured in 30 games, in which he has claimed 37 wickets at a strike rate of 18.7.

At the 2018 auction as well, Hazlewood went unsold at a base price of Rs. 2 crore.

#2 Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh

All-rounders are usually in demand at the IPL auctions. However, not many franchises are likely to go after Mitchell Marsh.

The Aussie all-rounder hasn’t been consistent enough for teams to take a punt with him. While he has been in and out of the Australian ODI and Test side, his T20I career has not even taken off.

Marsh has only featured in 11 T20Is till date, and has scored 175 runs at a strike rate of 115.89. With the ball, he has only managed to claim six wickets.

Marsh hasn’t made much of an impression in the Big Bash League either. He played in the 2018-19 season of the Big Bash League, but scored only 122 runs in seven matches and claimed a solitary wicket.

In 2016, Marsh had been purchased by Rising Pune Supergiant for Rs. 4.8 crore. The Aussie all-rounder, rather commendably, opted out of the 2018 IPL auction, to focus on putting his Australia career on track.

While he is back in the auction list this time, one feels he has priced himself a bit too high.

#3 Angelo Mathews

Angelo Mathews

Sri Lankan all-rounder and former captain Angelo Mathews has been a match-winner for his country for a long period of time. However, he is no longer a match-winner in the T20 version of the game.

Mathews last played a T20I for Sri Lanka back in August 2018. Injury and fitness issues have badly affected his career in recent years, as a result of which his bowling and fielding are no longer an asset. That is one of the prime reasons why teams will be hesitant to bid for him.

Mathews’ mediocre IPL record is also likely to go against him. Over the years, he has turned out for Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and Pune Warriors without much success.

In 49 IPL games, Mathews has 724 runs at an average of 23.25 and a strike rate of 125.91, with only one fifty to show for his efforts. With his medium pace, he has picked up 27 wickets at a high average of 39.96, and a strike rate of 29.29.

The veteran all-rounder went unsold in 2019 at a base price of Rs. 2 crore, and there is no strong enough reason for that to change in the auction for IPL 2020.