IPL 2019: Best Unsold XI

CricWiz
Have we seen the last of these greats in the IPL ?
Have we seen the last of these greats in the IPL ?

The IPL auctions have a history of being full of action, drama and surprises, and the auction for IPL 2019 was no different.

There has been a lot of chaos and uncertainty over a lot of things about IPL 2019, with the final schedule and venue for the tournament still being undecided. That certainly made the task for the franchises even more arduous than usual.

While in all likelihood IPL 2019 will be shifted to South Africa, there has been no confirmation about that. Moreover, some of the big names might not be available for the entire duration of the season due to the impending World Cup.

All these things collectively led to some major surprises at the auction. While some unheard-of names were bought for big bucks, some well-established and proven customers were left scratching their heads after being unsold.

While those players might be thoroughly disappointed with the snub, that is just how the IPL auction pans out every year. A number of factors like availability, utility as a T20 player and past IPL record contributed to these high profile players' failure to attract any bidders at the auction.

Here, we look at the best XI of players who remained unsold at the auction.

#1 Brendon McCullum

McCullum played for RCB in IPL 2018
McCullum played for RCB in IPL 2018

The man who set the ball rolling for IPL in the tournament's inaugural match went unsold at the 2019 auction.

The talismanic opener is known for his aggressive batting, and has played some scintillating knocks for the sides he has represented in the cash rich league. His retirement did not affect his demand in the IPL; the former Kiwi skipper was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the 2018 auction.

However, he failed to perform as per expectations, scoring just 127 runs in the season, and was eventually released by the franchise. To make things worse for McCullum, he got no buyers at the 2019 auction.

#2 Alex Hales

Hales wasn't retained by the Sunrisers
Hales wasn't retained by the Sunrisers

Alex Hales was called up by Sunrisers Hyderabad as a replacement for David Warner in IPL 2018. The English batsman did reasonably well, making 148 runs in 6 matches at an average of 24.66.

But due to the return of Warner, Hales wasn't retained by the Sunrisers.

The English opener hasn't been in top form lately, and has been fighting for a place in the England limited-overs team due to the presence of Johnny Bairstow and Jason Roy at the top of the order. That might have played a huge role in his fate at the auction.

#3 Hashim Amla

Amla has two IPL centuries to his name
Amla has two IPL centuries to his name

Hashim Amla would consider himself extremely unlucky at missing out on a contract. The IPL numbers of the ace South African batsman make his snub look bizzare and beyond logic.

Amla has scored 577 runs in 16 matches at an outstanding average of 44.38 and a phenomenal strike-rate of 141.76. He also has two IPL tons to his name.

Amla last played in the IPL in 2017, for Kings XI Punjab.

#4 Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara last played in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab
Pujara last played in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab

Cheteshwar Pujara went unsold once again at the IPL auction. The India Test number 3 is going through a purple patch in Australia, where he won the man-of-the-match award in the first Test after playing a couple of gritty knocks.

But Test credentials have no bearing at the auctions, and Pujara found no buyers.

#5 Manoj Tiwary

Tiwary in action for Rising Pune Supergiant
Tiwary in action for Rising Pune Supergiant

Manoj Tiwary was one of the few capped Indian batsmen who went unsold at the auction. Tiwary has been part of four different teams in the IPL, and has been in good form of late.

The West Bengal batsman played some vital cameos for Rising Pune Supergiant in IPL 2017, and was thus picked by Kings XI Punjab for 1 crore in 2018. However, the 33-year-old failed to deliver for the Kings and scored just 47 runs in 5 matches.

He was not retained for IPL 2019 by the Punjab-based franchise. And today, with a base price of 50 lakh, Tiwary found no takers.

#6 Naman Ojha (Wicket-keeper)

Ojha's form has dipped in the last few years
Ojha's form has dipped in the last few years

There were a couple of teams that were looking for wicket-keeping options, and Naman Ojha was expected to get picked by one those teams. But it was not to be.

After a promising start to his IPL career, Ojha has looked completely out of sorts since IPL 2015. He failed to contribute with the bat playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and was released after IPL 2017.

The wicket-keeper batsman was bought by Delhi Daredevils at a price of 1.4 crore at the IPL 2018 auction earlier this year. However, he played just one game for the franchise all season.

At the age of 35, Ojha's IPL career seems all but over.

#7 Angelo Mathews

Mathews' base price was 2 Cr
Mathews' base price was 2 Cr

Angelo Mathews has not been able to do justice to his talent in the IPL. The former Sri Lankan captain has often underperformed for his IPL teams in the past, and that seems to have played a huge role in him being unsold.

Moreover, his possible unavailability due to World Cup preparations, coupled with his high base price of INR 2 crore, didn't help his cause.

#8 Chris Woakes

Woakes was bought by RCB for 7.4 crore at the last auction
Woakes was bought by RCB for 7.4 crore at the last auction

After being one of the most expensive buys in two straight IPL auctions, Chris Woakes went unsold at the auction for IPL 2019.

Woakes is an integral part of the England team across formats, and wouldn't have been available for the entire length of the tournament. Also, the all-rounder, who was bought for a jaw-dropping sum of 7.4 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore last year, wasn't at his best in IPL 2018.

Even though he took 8 wickets in 5 matches for RCB, Woakes leaked runs at an economy of 10.36 runs per over. He failed on the batting front too, scoring a meagre 17 runs.

#9 Jason Holder

Holder failed to attract any buyers
Holder failed to attract any buyers

On a day when his fellow West Indies players were making millions, Jason Holder failed to attract any buyers.

The West Indies captain has played for three different franchises in the IPL before. On West Indies' recent tour of India, Holder contributed with both bat and ball, but that wasn't enough to earn him an IPL contract.

#10 Adam Zampa

Zampa has an impressive IPL record
Zampa has an impressive IPL record

Adam Zampa has been a consistent performer for Australia. The leg-spinner troubled most of the Indian batsmen in the recently concluded T20 series Down Under, and has an economy of 6 in T20 internationals.

Zampa's IPL record isn't bad either. In 11 IPL matches, he has snapped 19 wickets while giving away runs at a decent economy of 7.55.

Unavailability due to Australia's tight schedule might be a reason for IPL teams not going for Zampa.

#11 Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn might not be seen playing in the IPL again
Dale Steyn might not be seen playing in the IPL again

One of the most dreaded fast bowlers of all time, Dale Steyn wasn't in the wishlist of IPL teams at the auction.

Steyn is looking in rollicking form, and delivered a strong performance in the ODI series against Australia. The Proteas speedster took 7 wickets in 3 matches in a bid for a place in the upcoming World Cup.

However, Steyn, a veteran of 90 IPL games, couldn't make it to the list of sold players at this year's auction.

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Edited by Musab Abid