A total of 346 players approximately are expected to go under the hammer at the Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction 2019 on Tuesday in Jaipur.
A total of 346 players approximately are expected to go under the hammer at the Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction 2019 on Tuesday in Jaipur.
This time around the highest base price is two crore INR and as many as nine players have been listed in that category including the lone Indian pacer Jaydev Unadkat, who was the highest buy of the IPL 2018.
Several high-profile players were released, and the franchises would look to strengthen their squads in the auction in two days.
We look at five big players, who might go unsold in the 2019 IPL auction:
1. Yuvraj Singh
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It won't be surprising if the Indian southpaw ends up among the players unsold at the IPL Auction 2019. It's been for a while now that Yuvraj has been out of touch. He also has not been performing well in the Ranji circuit. Talking of his performance in the previous edition of the IPL, he scores just 65 runs off eight matches for Punjab. PC: AFP
2. Brendon McCullum
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Although the veteran Kiwi retired from international cricket a few years back, he has been playing franchise cricket. There was a time when he could be any bowler's nightmare on his day, but not only has he lost that touch but also has not been consistent and this could work against him. He played six matches for Royal Challengers Banglore, in which he scored only 127 runs at an average of just 21.16. PC: BCCI
3. Naman Ojha
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The wicketkeeper-batsman, who made his IPL debut in 2009 with Rajasthan Royals, had decent seaoons until 2015 when his downfall began. In 2015 IPL, Ojha scored 137 runs at a poor average of 13.70. Despite that, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) him in 2016. However, after he failed in the next two seasons, SRH did not retain him in 2018 and he eventually moved to Delhi Daredevils (Delhi Capitals). With Rishabh Pant in Delhi, Ojha got just one game that season where he scored a mere one run. With so many young talented wicketkeeper-batsman, it's unlikely to see a 35-year-old Ojha getting sold. PC: PTI
4. Mitchell Johnson
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The Aussie fast bowler had a poor IPL with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the last season. Johnson bagged two wickets in six matches at an awful average of 108. He has not only played a single professional match since IPL 2018, but he also recorded an economy rate of 10.28 in IPL 2018 and that would certainly not help his case at the IPL auction 2019. PC: Twitter
5. Mitchell Starc
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Starc might miss out on an IPL franchise for more than one reason. The Australian pacer, who was dumped by his previous club, Kolkata Knight Riders via text message, is an injury prone player. He missed out 2018 edition due to an injury and prior to that, he had participated in just two seasons (2014 and 2015).
With Cricket Australia prioritising World Cup over IPL and given Starc's injury woes, the IPL teams will not want to risk by picking him. PC: AFP
