Best Unsold XI after IPL 2020 Auction

There were as many as 73 slots available across eight teams, heading into this IPL auction for the 2020 season. However, only 62 players were picked and the rest of them were left disappointed. It happens every year where big names are excluded as only a few can fit in a certain role.

This year, there were multiple international stars who went for big money. However, there were some who’ve done well at the international stage and have a good record but couldn’t find any buyers. There were some surprising names as well. Thus, with the IPL 2020 auction coming to an end, let’s look at the best unsold XI from the auction.

Here’s Best XI from unsold players of IPL 2020 auction

Colin Munro (C)

Only three players in the history of international T20 cricket have hit three or more centuries and Colin Munro is one of them. The New Zealand opener has a good T20I record and strikes in excess of 160 in T20Is. He is an impact player at the top and is a big six-hitter as well.

However, Munro hasn’t been at his best in the IPL. He’s been a part of the IPL for three seasons (2016, 2018 and 2019) across two teams (Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals). But he’s played just 13 games and doesn’t have a great record. He averages a mere 14.75 and has a strike-rate of 125.53 in the IPL.

Hence, despite not being in the highest base-price bracket, Munro couldn’t attract any of the teams. His struggles in the subcontinent may have played a part as well.

Evin Lewis

For the last couple of seasons, Evin Lewis was a part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad. He played 16 games across two seasons and fared slightly below par. The left-handed opener averaged 26.88 while amassing 430 runs and had a strike-rate of 131.1 in the IPL.

Lewis is also a powerful striker of the ball. He is used to giving West Indies and the teams he plays for some fast and solid starts. In T20 cricket, Lewis has an average in excess of 30 and has a strike-rate of 143.06. He even has two tons to his name.

However, all this wasn’t enough to convince any of the eight teams to buy Lewis from the auction. He had a base price of INR 1 crore.

Rohan Kadam

This may not be a name you expect in this list. But the way Rohan Kadam has performed in the last couple of seasons has been excellent. He made his T20 debut last season and has played 20 games so far. In those, Kadam has an average of 49.62 and a strike-rate of 130.37.

Kadam has been a crucial part of Karnataka’s success over the last couple of seasons. He’s batted beautifully at the top and has hit eight half-centuries in T20 cricket. There were a few teams who needed some batting core and Kadam would’ve fit nicely.

Despite keeping a base price of INR 20 lakhs, Kadam went unsold. Rather his name came up twice in the auction, but none of the franchises bid for him.

Heinrich Klaasen (wk)

Heinrich Klaasen would’ve never been any team’s first pick. However, they could’ve had him as one of the latter targets. Over the last couple of years, Klaasen has been picked as a backup wicket-keeping and batting option as well.

The South African stumper has the ability to strike the ball big and long. He has shown it in the past that he can go big as well. However, it’s his inconsistency that would’ve cost him. Moreover, last year, he made just nine runs in two innings while featuring for the RCB

Thus, there was barely anyone who showed interest in Klaasen in the auctions. Thus, he went unsold in the IPL 2020 auction.

Colin de Grandhomme

Colin de Grandhomme is one player who can chip in with both bat and ball and can be effective in the field as well. The New Zealander has been in some good form as well in the recent past. He’s batting really well and has been New Zealand’s No. 4 or No. 5 in the T20I side and can take the game away from the opposition.

The all-rounder played just one season at Kolkata Knight Riders, in 2017, and had a below-average tournament. He played 12 games for KKR before moving to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Under Virat Kohli, de Grandhomme did well in 2018 where he scored 131 runs at an average of 155.95.

But last IPL’s returns weren’t great. He scored 46 runs in four innings and didn’t pick a wicket either. That may have played a role as de Grandhomme was unsold.

Shahrukh Khan

Another domestic player on whom there was quite some hype was Shahrukh Khan. The Tamil Nadu batsman was rated highly and had been doing well in the domestic tournaments. Shahrukh had a couple of excellent Tamil Nadu Premier Leagues (TNPLs).

He even was Tamil Nadu’s finisher in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the start of the Indian domestic season as well. Shahrukh scored 244 runs at an average of 48.80. Moreover, his strike-rate of 125.77 was the second-best in his team.

There were quite a few teams who needed some middle-order batters and finishers. However, none of them looked towards Shahrukh and thus, the 24-year-old went unsold.

Ben Cutting

It’s quite a big surprise that Ben Cutting went unsold in the auction. The Australian all-rounder is a utility cricketer and can be a game-changer. He can be destructive in the lower order and has the knack of picking up key wickets and is also a partnership breaker.

Cutting was the player of the match in the final of the 2016 IPL. He had turned the game for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and despite that, he couldn’t find a regular place in the XI in the following season. He was a part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad for two years and had a pretty decent 2018 season. In 2019, Cutting got just three opportunities and he couldn’t really make the most of it.

But the Queensland all-rounder could have been a very effective option. But no team showed interest in him and thus, he went unsold despite his low base price of INR 75 lakhs.

Tim Southee

For the first time since the 2014 season, Tim Southee doesn’t have an IPL team. It was in 2011 that he made his IPL debut with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before playing for Rajasthan Royals in 2014 and 2015. He was with Mumbai Indians (MI) for a couple of seasons before he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2018.

In 2018, Southee was RCB’s spearhead and played eight games in the season. He didn’t have the best of returns but was decent. However, his form dipped alarmingly in 2019 as he went at 13.11 runs an over. Thus, he played just three games in the season.

Hence, it’s no major surprise that Southee has gone unsold. But the Kiwi pacer hasn’t done too badly in the shortest format in the recent past.

Mustafizur Rahman

After a rollicking start to his career, Mustafizur Rahman seems to have lost the fizz. Over a period of time, batsmen have worked him out as well. Hence, his effectiveness has reduced. Moreover, he has been dealing with a few injuries as well.

In 2016, Mustafizur had an excellent year where he picked up 17 wickets at an economy of 6.90. However, in 2017, he played just one game due to injury and in 2018, he was bought by Mumbai Indians (MI). But he did have a disappointing season where he could pick just seven wickets in as many games. Last season, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not permit him with the World Cup being played right after the IPL.

Also, his recent form hasn’t been great either. Thus, the Bangladesh left-arm fast bowler was overlooked and will not be a part of the 2020 IPL.

Adam Zampa

It was more or less predicted that Adam Zampa will go unsold but the Australian leg-spinner does have a good T20 record. In fact, he has a pretty good IPL record as well. Zampa has played in a couple of seasons and had a decent impact with the Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS).

He took 19 wickets in 11 games at an average of 14.63 and was striking once in almost every two overs. Moreover, he is Australia’s premier spinner in white-ball cricket and has done well too. Overall, in T20s, Zampa has picked up 144 wickets and has an economy of 7.25.

But he could’ve been worth a try and could’ve been in the reserves. He has shown that he is no mug with the bat either. Despite being a decent wrist-spinner, it was disappointing that Zampa has never generated interest among franchises in the auction.

Ish Sodhi

It was pretty surprising when Rajasthan Royals (RR) decided to release Ish Sodhi. The New Zealand leg-spinner has done well every time he’s got an opportunity. It was in the 2018 edition that he was called in as an injury replacement for Zahir Khan.

Since then, he’s played in eight IPL games and has picked up nine wickets. Moreover, he has been economical as well – going at 6.7 runs an over. He is an attacking leg-spinner and has this happy knack of picking up wickets.

Thus, at his base price of INR 75 lakhs, he wasn’t a bad choice after all. Maybe it was the overseas cap limit of eight players that played a part and also, the team compositions. Sodhi was also at the top of the ICC T20I rankings for a long time.