Top 4 Indian players who will go unsold at the auction

The IPL auction is an important event for both the franchise owners as well as for the cricket fans. The teams go into the auction to complete the pieces remaining in the puzzle and hence build up a formidable team capable of challenging others for the prestigious trophy.

Usually, Indian players are in high demand at the auction due to the limation for the teams to play just four foreign players in their starting XI. Despite this, some Indian players tend to go unsold at the auction due to reasons such as poor form and not being able to adapt themselves to the T20 format. Hence, we have seen in the past few auctions that competent Test players often remain unsold at the auction.

Let us have a look at the top 4 Indian players who will remain unsold at the auction.

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#4 Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma, over the years, has undoubtedly lost his charm in the limited overs format and particularly in the IPL. Having been picked by the Kings XI Punjab for the 2017 season, he was subsequently released after a dismal season and hence remained unsold in last year's auction.

Due to his transformation as a Test specialist in the previous few years, Sharma has adapted to bowling the specific line and length required in that format of the game.

The deliveries considered to be effective in Test matches are unfortunately smashed out of the park in T20s. Also, he sometimes tends to overstep and hence give a free hit to the batsman on the next delivery. Sharma's IPL record since 2008 is quite lacklustre. In 76 matches, he has picked up 59 wickets at an average of 37.81 and economy rate of 8.17.

Hence, due to the above stats and his style of bowling, it is less likely that any IPL franchise will pick Ishant Sharma at the auction.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara

Australia v India - 1st Test: Day 4

Cheteshwar Pujara has been in top form in Australia, having scored a crucial century and a half-century in the first Test at Adelaide. Despite this, his solid technique and patience are not considered to be a suitable quality in the high voltage Indian Premier League where the crowd expects each ball to go over the boundary. His inability to muscle the ball to the fence and clear the ropes affects his chances of getting picked at the auction every year.

Despite this, Pujara has appeared for three different franchises (KKR, RCB, and KXIP) from 2008 to 2014. In 30 matches, he has scored 390 runs at a below-par average of 20.52 and a strike rate of 99.74.

Due to his defensive style of batting and inability to slog the ball over the fence, Pujara will probably go unsold again at the auction.

#2 Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami has been one of those few Indian fast bowlers who has failed to impress the fans in the Indian Premier League. Despite being one of the most experienced speedsters in India, Shami has been unable to adapt his line and length as per the T20 format due to appearing only in Test cricket for India at the moment.

Hence, particularly during the death overs last season, he failed to bowl the perfect yorker length, was extremely costly concerning his figures and so let his team down.

Mohammed Shami had a disappointing last season for the erstwhile Delhi Daredevils, having picked up three wickets in just four matches at an average of 48 and 10.40. His figures in the previous few previous seasons too haven't been satisfactory.

Hence, there is a big question mark about whether any IPL franchise will pick Shami at the auction or not.

#1 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh is probably one of the most experienced campaigners in the Indian Premier League who is available in the auction. Having played in the IPL since 2008, he was also the most expensive player overall bought at the 2015 IPL auction by the former Delhi Daredevils team.

He has been entirely inconsistent in the last few seasons, hasn't been timing the ball well and hence has been unable to provide a valuable contribution to his side in the crucial death overs. Also, he tends to be susceptible to bouncers which are bowled at a shoulder level.

Having played for the Kings XI Punjab last season, Yuvraj Singh managed to score just 65 runs in 8 matches at a paltry average of 10.83 and strike rate of 89.04. Hence, he was rightfully released by them before the auction.

Due to his inconsistency, there is less chance that any IPL franchise will bid for him at the auction.