Twitter thinks James Neesham deserves a contract in the IPL

James Neesham, the New Zealand all-rounder, made his comeback in the national team after he was dropped following the Black Caps’ defeat against Bangladesh in the 2017 edition of the Champions Trophy in England. He was included to play the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and the 28-year-old hasn’t let his team and supporters down by any stretch of the imagination.

In the first match at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, he came to bat in the fag end of the Kiwis’ innings and scored 47 runs from 13 balls with as many as six sixes. Moreover, he laid into Lankan speedster Thisara Perera and demolished him for 34 runs with five hits into the stands in a single over. The Auckland-born cricketer didn’t flatter to deceive with the leather in hand either.

Neesham at the very best

He went on to pick up three wickets, including the ones of Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka and Dinesh Chandimal and helped his team to a victory by 45 runs. Even in the second match at the same venue, Neesham put forth a stunning all-round show, that not only carved a 21-run victory against the Islanders but also guided them to a series-triumph with one match remaining.

He came to bat in the 38th over and churned out 64 runs from 37 balls with the help of five boundaries and three sixes. While bowling, he got the prized wicket of Gunathilaka and the picked up Lakshan Sandakan. With the World Cup scheduled to be played next year in England and Wales, Neesham has also made a case for himself to be included for the 50-overs extravaganza.

In the meantime, Twitter is ruing the fact that James’ performances are coming after the auction of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which took place a couple of weeks ago. Neesham was registered at a base price of INR 75 lakhs. Unfortunately, his name never went under the hammer. Twitterati reckons the experienced campaigner deserves a place in the IPL.

Here is how Twitter reacted

@JimmyNeesh 'Neesham has been outstanding after his comeback', If he would've been included few days back; with definite cause he'd have been a very big buy in @IPL Auctions.
What a player he is, Just a bizzare blockbuster hitter, who fails a very little for @BLACKCAPS. #NZvSL

— Debapriyo Choudhury (@debapriyo_tweet) January 5, 2019

Neesham on song. Improved his batting miles compared to his last outing in blackcaps shirt. Bit late for IPL?

— Vasanth Kumar (@gully_point) January 5, 2019

Jimmy Neesham Remain Unsold at Auction in IPL 😑 #Pujara #NZvSL

— Pruthvi Ahir (@PruthviAhir9) January 3, 2019

IPL sides thinking which player they can injure to get Neesham in after that that display.
5 sixes in 5 (legal) balls is worth a 5 Crores contract at least.

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) January 3, 2019

Jimmy Neesham has probably just skyrocketed to the top of the watchlist for IPL replacements for the next season! absolutely amazing hitting! #IPL2019 #NZvSL

— S@reth (@sareth10kailas) January 3, 2019

I thought this Jimmy Neesham guy is “all talk no play” kind of guy, going by his Twitter talk. 5 huge sixes in an over is not bad for an IPL contract.

— just_another_guy (@cricLife2093) January 3, 2019

Always wondered why Neesham doesn't play in IPL
Always rated him highly
One of the few all rounders who is a clean hitter 👌
Even performed well vs India in 2016

— Naman#45 ᴷᵉˢᵃʳᶦ (@ImNaman45) January 3, 2019

Crazy batting Jimmy Neesham…. He waited for IPL auction

— Nithin Xavier Muttumpuram (@Nithinxavier777) January 3, 2019

Well played neesham today against lanka.u just lost millions…i wish this odi was before IPL auction..

— Amul (@Amul88636050) January 3, 2019

Does Neesham have an ipl contract?

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) January 3, 2019

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