The IPL 2020 Auction is set to be held on December 19 in Kolkata and the anticipation is growing louder with each passing day.
A total of 73 players were released by the eight teams last month. Meanwhile, 971 players have put themselves in the auction pool with several high-profile stars keeping their base price higher.
One expects an exciting period in this one-day affair.
According to a report in ESPN Cricinfo, seven players have set their prices at Rs. 2 crores.
Whereas, around nine players have kept their base prices at Rs 1.5 crore. Many others have Rs 1 crore base prices as well.
There are some exciting names on offer and players like Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell expecting to get massive amounts.
Moreover, several released players can also draw massive bids.
However, there are some other experienced guns as well who might not see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Ahead of the IPL 202o auction, we look at five players with the top base prices who might get snubbed.
Josh Hazlewood (2 crores) – The Aussie sensation likely to miss an IPL ticket
The Australian pacer has been a revelation in Tests for Australia for a while now.
He has gone on to become quite the force for the Aussies in the longest format.
In 2019, he has already claimed 32 scalps and is the second-highest wicket-taker for Australia after Cummins (51).
However, when it comes to limited-overs cricket, Hazlewood has been kept out in order to protect him from injuries of late.
Hazlewood hasn’t featured in the IPL and doesn’t possess much experience in the shortest format.
With teams looking for certain kinds of caliber and experience in T20s, Hazlewood doesn’t possess the qualities.
Looking at this, he may get ignored. Last season, he had a base price of Rs 2 crore. But teams preferred to ignore him in the auction. And we might see a similar fate dawning upon the right-arm pacer.
Angelo Mathews (2 crores) – The veteran Lankan ace lacks the cutting edge
Veteran Sri Lankan player Angelo Mathews last featured in the IPL back in 2017 for Delhi.
Prior to that, Mathews played five seasons in the global T20 league.
He has amassed 724 runs, besides taking 27 wickets from 49 matches.
In 2017, the Lankan ace played just three games and was subsequently released.
Interestingly, he was ignored last season after choosing to keep a high base price of Rs 2 crore.
Given that he has chosen the same route for the 2020 auction, the chances of him being roped in appear to be slim.
Teams won’t prefer someone at his age anymore.
Also, post the World Cup 2019, he hasn’t played limited-overs cricket for the national team.
Dale Steyn (2 crores) – Injuries a concern for the Proteas legend
South Africa’s star bowler Dale Steyn has been bothered a lot by injuries of late and that might hinder his chance of earning an IPL contract.
In IPL 2019, the right-arm fast bowler was chosen as a replacement bowler by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for Nathan Coulter-Nile.
The Proteas stalwart ended up playing two games before being injured. RCB released him last month and the Steyn is now in the auction pool.
However, given his repeated injury woes, teams will not be willing to take a huge risk.
He also missed the 2019 World Cup with an injury and hasn’t been selected in the limited-overs squad since then.
One thing that might work in his favor is the current game time in T20 leagues.
Robin Uthappa (1.5 crore) – The KKR stalwart’s IPL journey could be stalled
Robin Uthappa was a strong member of the Kolkata Knight Riders over the last few seasons in the IPL. However, the eastern giants decided to release him after he hasn’t quite made an impact of late. Uthappa has slowed down and that has affected his growth and impact.
Given his age, teams might let him pass by and focus on something else for the price. His IPL journey could come to an end. Does he have the character to produce the goods? He struck the ball at 115.10 last season and 132.45 the season prior to that. Uthappa is a top-order batsman and the rate of scoring is something that bothers him.
Shaun Marsh (1.5 crores) – The Australian could miss the bus
Senior Australian cricketer Shaun Marsh is likely to get snubbed by IPL teams in the upcoming auction.
He is someone who currently isn’t a part of the Aussie set-up post the 2019 World Cup.
Marsh has been a regular feature for Western Australia in domestic cricket of late. He has got some sound scores as well.
However, that might not be enough for the left-handed batsman to earn a contract.
He didn’t find any takers in IPL 2018 and 2019 and there is little hope that franchises will opt for him this time as well.
To have such a costly sum riding on him, Marsh will be ignored on December 19.
The 36-year-old has featured in 173 T20s and has an average of 38.86.
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