IPL Auction 2020: 3 released players who impressed in Abu Dhabi T10 League 

The IPL Auction for the 2020 edition of the league is just a few weeks away and all the teams would have kick-started their groundwork for the same. All the franchises monitor the other T20 leagues of the world and, often the fans have seen how the overseas T20 stars earn big-fat contracts in the IPL.

The most recent short-format league that concluded near the auction was the Abu Dhabi T10 League. A lot of big names like Yuvraj Singh, Shane Watson, Andre Russell, Zaheer Khan, Eoin Morgan took part in the tournament. The deadline for the trade window and retention lists coincided with this tourney and hence, the franchises would have observed how the released and retained cricketers played.

While a bunch of retained players shone in the league, there were a few players whom the franchises dropped from their squads and they lit up the T10 League. Here’s a look at the three released players who impressed in the tournament played in Abu Dhabi.

Also see – World Test Championship points table

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#3 Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn won the 'Best Batsman' award

Matches - 8, Runs - 371, Highest Score - 91*, Strike Rate - 236.30

The Australian opener, Chris Lynn, played a vital role in the success that his team, Maratha Arabians achieved in T10 League. His 371 runs guided the Arabians to the championship while he also won the award for the 'Best Batsman of the Tournament'.

Lynn featured in all the eight matches for the Maratha franchise, scoring runs at an average of 53.00. He scored four fifties in the tourney besides hitting 29 fours and 31 sixes. His IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, have released him before the auction and as pointed out by Yuvraj Singh, the team management of KKR have committed a huge mistake.

It is not that the Aussie had under-performed in the IPL. He had scored 405 runs in the previous IPL season hence, it is difficult to understand why the Dinesh Karthik-led franchise let him go.

#2 Sam Billings

Sam Billings will return to the auction pool this year

Matches - 6, Runs - 79, Highest Score - 35*, Strike Rate - 138.59

The runners-up of IPL 2019, Chennai Super Kings, ended their association with merely six players before the auction. While the list featured two domestic stars, it even contained the name of English wicket-keeper batsman, Sam Billings. The 28-year-old Englishman had been impressive in IPL 2018; however, his injury issues allowed him to take part in only one match last season.

Though CSK has released him, he may find a bidder or two in the approaching auction as he played well for the Northern Warriors in the T10 League. Billings played 6 matches for the Warriors, scoring 79 runs at an average of 19.75. He struck 8 fours and 3 sixes during the tourney where his highest score was 35*.

The Kent-born player had even taken a catch and executed a stumping while keeping wickets against Qalandars. Thus, the English player could be a good back-up wicket-keeper option for any franchise. The chances that Chennai Super Kings buy him back are also high after his good performance in U.A.E.

#1 Ben Cutting

Ben Cutting can be the 'X-factor' for any IPL franchise

Matches - 9, Runs - 91, Wickets - 3, Highest Score - 43*, Best Figures - 2/9

The Australian all-rounder, Ben Cutting, has been a match-winner in the shortest format of the game. Though he has achieved little success in the international arena, Cutting is a big name in franchise cricket. He has featured in all the major T20 leagues on the planet and the Indian fans may best remember him for his whirlwind knock in the IPL final of 2016.

He played for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2019; however, the defending champions did away with him before the auction. Since the Brisbane-born player can contribute well in both departments, he would be on the wish-list of the franchises.

His T10 League numbers would motivate more teams to go after him because the all-rounder averaged 91.00 with the bat in this tourney. He got out only once while he even took three wickets with the ball. Playing for the Deccan Gladiators, the 32-year-old entertained the fans in Abu Dhabi with his big hitting as he scored 6 fours and 6 maximums in the 6 innings he played. It will be interesting to see which franchise signs him on 19 December.