IPL 2023: 10 Underrated players who can earn big at auction

The eagerness for the IPL 2023 auction continues to grow with each passing day. Ahead of the marquee event, franchises have released a total of 90 players from their squads who do not fit into their plans going forward. The player auction will feature a lot of top-drawer cricketers who have proven their mettle in the shortest format time and time again. But some of these stars despite being match-winners in the T20 circuit, have been overlooked in the Indian Premier League. However, at the upcoming event, these players can not only find bidders but can also go for the big bucks. Here are the underrated players who can earn big at the auction: 10. Joshua Little Joshua Little has been a sensation in the T20 circuit. The 23-year-old has featured in 83 games in the shortest format and bagged 105 wickets at an economy of 7.34. He can make the ball talk at the start of the innings and is also impeccable with his variations at the death. Little has been quite astonishing in the international arena this calendar year and bagged 39 wickets in 26 T20Is played thus far. The Dublin-born was Ireland’s wrecker-in-chief with the ball at the recent T20 World Cup 2022 and took 11 wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.00. It included a spectacular hat-trick against New Zealand. Little’s improved bowling displays were there for everyone to see at The Hundred 2022 which saw him take 13 wickets in mere five games that he played for Manchester Originals at an economy of 7.42. A left-arm pacer brings variety to an attack and Little being in a rich vein of form in the shortest format, many IPL franchises could be interested in signing him. Thus, one could witness teams going hammer and tongs to pick the Irish pacer at the upcoming auction. 9. Sheldon Jackson Sheldon Jackson has been a prolific run-getter in the Indian domestic circuit. He has featured in 80 first-class games and amassed 6020 runs at an average of 50.16. Talking about the shortest format, the middle-order batter has scored 1690 runs in 77 games at a strike rate of 119.77. Jackson has been in and around the IPL circuit for over a decade but has played just nine games. Kolkata Knight Riders invested in him for multiple stints but never gave him a consistent run. The KKR management did give the wicketkeeper batter five opportunities in the 2022 season but they came lower down the order and Jackson was forced to bat out of place as he normally bats higher up the order in the domestic circuit. Thus, the think tank could not bring out the best of the ace batter as he could only manage 23 runs in five matches. The KKR franchise did not retain the Saurashtra batter for the 2023 season and Jackson will again go under the hammer at the auction. The Bhavnagar-born is technically solid and has shown his batting might in the domestic circuit time and time again. Moreover, he is safe behind the stumps and showed his wicketkeeping brilliance in the last IPL edition. Thus, franchises looking for a solid wicketkeeper-batter might look to pick him at the auction. 8. Kusal Mendis Kusal Mendis has been a run-bank for Sri Lanka in the white-ball circuit. In the shortest format, he has played 49 games and scored 1059 runs at a strike rate of 129.62. Mendis was quite outstanding at the recently culminated T20 extravaganza in Australia. The wicketkeeper-batter was entrusted to provide his side with brisk starts and he did it with perfection. He featured in eight games and aggregated 223 runs at a tremendous strike rate of 142.94, including two majestic half-centuries. The Moratuwa-born has the ability to target any part of the ground and can take any bowling line-up apart with his stroke play. Also, Mendis is someone who can hold the innings together and steady the ship when the team is in trouble. Besides his batting skills, he is an excellent keeper. Thus, the ace batter brings a lot to the table, and many franchises could raise their paddle to grab him at the IPL 2023 auction. 7. Ish Sodhi Ish Sodhi has been a proven performer for New Zealand in the T20 circuit. He has featured in 88 T20Is and has bagged 111 scalps at an economy of 8.03. The 30-year-old has been used as a wicket-taking option in the middle phase of the innings and has delivered the goods time and time again. Sodhi has made match-winning contributions to his national side and become an integral part of the New Zealand bowling set-up. The ace spinner fared well at the T20 carnival in Australia picking six scalps in five games at a superb economy of 6.72. The Ludhiana-born has also done a great job in terms the chances he has got in the Indian Premier League, taking nine scalps in eight matches at an economy of 6.7. The Kiwi leg-spinner is a courageous bowler and unafraid to lure the batters with his flight. Sodhi’s wicket-taking ability makes him an asset to any side and franchises could pick him at the auction to bolster their spin-bowling department. 6. Daryl Mitchell Daryl Mitchell has been a regular feature for the Black Caps in the shortest format. The 31-year-old has played 41 T20Is and scored 786 runs at a strike rate of 139.11. Also, he is quite handy with the ball and bagged seven wickets for his national side. Rajasthan Royals picked the Kiwi all-rounder at the 2022 mega auction to add depth to the side. The Hamilton-born made two appearances for Sanju Samson & co. and could only score 33 runs. He was not given a longer run and got dropped from the side. RR decided against retaining the flamboyant batter for the 16th edition of the cash-rich league. Mitchell has been prolific with the bat in the T20Is this calendar year, having amassed 394 runs in 16 matches at an impressive strike rate of 143.79. Further, he gives versatility to any side with his ability to bat both at the top and in the middle order. Besides his batting skills, the Kiwi cricketer provides a useful medium-pace option to the side. With the New Zealand all-rounder up for grabs at the upcoming auction, many franchises could try to add him to their squad. 5. Dasun Shanaka Dasun Shanaka has been an inspirational leader for Sri Lanka and led them from the front on many occasions. He has played the role of a finisher and has played many match-winning knocks for the team. The 31-year-old has featured in 82 T20Is and scored 1204 runs at a strike rate of 117.57. The Negombo-born has been in pristine touch in 2022. Shanaka has played 25 T20Is and smashed 497 runs at a strike rate of 135.79. The ace batter’s ability to soak in pressure and thrive in crunch situations has been the key to his success. Besides Shanaka’s finishing prowess, he is a wily customer with the ball and bagged 21 wickets at an economy of 8.10 in T20 internationals. He has the ability to deceive batters with his variations and bowl in the slog overs as well. A seam-bowling all-rounder always has been in high demand in the IPL market and someone of Shanaka’s caliber could be a valuable addition to any side. Therefore, franchises could go all guns blazing to rope him in at the forthcoming auction. 4. Tabraiz Shamsi Tabraiz Shamsi has been a pivotal figure in South Africa’s T20 set-up. He is known to bamboozle batters with his variations and provide his side with crucial breakthroughs. The left-arm wrist spinner has played 59 T20Is and bagged 73 wickets at an economy of 7.14. The 32-year-old has also weaved his magic in T20 competitions around the world. Overall, Shamsi has played 204 games in the shortest format and bagged an insane tally of 237 wickets at an economy of 7.23. He is a bowler with a lot of heart and doesn't crumble under pressure. A left-arm wrist spinner is a rare breed in world cricket and thus, the inclusion of Shamsi in any team will bring variety to the bowling unit. Moreover, the bowling of the Johannesburg-born will be more lethal in the spin-friendly conditions of India. Therefore, he could a tempting option for IPL franchises at the forthcoming player auction. 3. Sikandar Raza Sikandar Raza has been a giant of a player in the T20 circuit. He has made 151 appearances in the shortest format and aggregated 3033 runs at a strike rate of 130.39. Also, the 36-year-old has bagged 74 wickets at an economy of 7.27. Raza has set the international circuit on fire with his jaw-dropping performances of late. He has taken top-quality attacks to the cleaners and scored 735 runs in 24 T20Is at a stunning strike rate of 150.92. Further, he has strangled batters with his consistent line and length and bagged 25 scalps at an economy of 6.13. With the bat, the veteran all-rounder can act as a floater in the batting line-up, and on the bowling front, he is someone who can bowl at any phase of the game. Thus, Raza offers a complete package to any side with his all-round prowess and many franchises could go hammer and tongs to sign him at the upcoming auction. 2. Dawid Malan Dawid Malan has been a consistent performer in the shortest format. The southpaw has played 290 T20 games and piled up 7895 runs at a strike rate of 129.44. He has been exceptional in the international arena as well and scored 1748 runs at a strike rate of 135.71. Malan is someone who reads the game situation exceedingly well and adapts accordingly. He can shepherd the innings beautifully and allows stroke makers around him to play with freedom. The 35-year-old has an aggressive aspect to his game too and can put any bowling line-up under the pump with his stroke play. Generally a middle-order batter, the Roehampton-born has shown the flexibility to open the innings. Malan started the proceedings with the bat for Trent Rockets in The Hundred 2022 and did a fantastic job, smashing 377 runs in nine games at an amazing strike rate of 166.81. With the top-order batter up for grabs at the IPL 2023 auction, many franchises could be eager to add the England batter in their teams. 1. Paul Stirling Paul Stirling is one of the greatest batters Ireland has ever produced. In the international arena, the 32-year-old has been the mainstay of the batting line-up for over a decade and accumulated 3181 runs in 121 matches at a strike rate of 134.78. Stirling is a ferocious striker of the cricket ball and on his day can demolish even the top-drawer bowling attacks. The veteran batter has shown his batting might in T20 leagues around the world and amassed truckloads of runs. Stirling has played a total of 319 matches in the shortest format and notched up a staggering tally of 7818 runs at a superb strike rate of 141.86. Stirling plays a fearless brand of cricket and can take the attack to the opposition right from the get-go. Moreover, the Belfast-born is handy with his off-spin and can be used in case of a favourable match-up. IPL franchises in need of an opening batter could target the swashbuckling batter at the upcoming auction and the Irish batter’s first gig at the cash-rich league is on the cards.

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IPL 2023: 10 Underrated players who can earn big at auction

IPL 2023 auction is scheduled to be held on December 23 in Kochi.

3. Sikandar Raza

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