IPL 2019: Three superstars who might go unsold in next season's auction

As exciting as the Indian Premier League for cricket fans around the world, it is equally excruciating cruel for players. You only play the game until you can contribute successfully. As soon as they underperform, especially when age catches up, irrespective of their past record, they can be very easily overlooked by the same highly competitive franchises that paid a hefty price for them once upon a time.

After all, every franchise plays to win and want to ensure they have the best resources to lift the prestigious trophy.

Over the years, we have seen some highly talented players like the flamboyant Shikhar Dhawan, Universe Boss Chris Gayle, wily spinner Harbhajan Singh, the explosive Kevin Pietersen not been retained or purchased back by their respective franchise purely based on their poor performances last season.

Not only that, many highly renowned international players have even gone unsold in the history of IPL like Kiwi opener Brendon McCullum, Australian spinner Adam Zampa, Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga, South African opener Hashim Amla, and the list just goes on.

In the highly competitive franchise-based T20 tournament, there is just no space for reputations and emotions, it purely down to business – as long as you deliver the goods – you are a star and the day you don’t – things become difficult.

Just like every year, this season of IPL, we have seen some very high-quality cricket by some gifted players but at the same time, have witnessed series of disappointing performances by very few well known international superstars.

Without a doubt, majority of them will be retained back by their respective franchise or bought by another franchise but there are few that just like other years may go unsold and end up not playing IPL 2020.

Here are three players that may not be retained and go unsold for the next year’s IPL.

---

#1 Shane Watson (CSK)

Shane Watson (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

Shane Watson has been part of IPL since it’s very inception and has played 130 games and amassed 3428 runs over the years with 4 centuries and 17 fifties at a very respectable average of 30.88 and has also clinched 92 wickets.

The 37-old-player started his IPL journey playing for Rajasthan Royals, however the infamous ban on the franchise forced him to go in the auction, to be purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore, only to be released two years later after his poor batting form.

The member of two World Cup winning squads was strategically bought by the MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings on their return in 2018 and to everyone surprise, he played incredibly well, scoring over 500 runs and ensuring a CSK third IPL trophy

However, this very season, apart from a 96* against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the explosive batsman has not been himself. Though he always looked in touch but just could not convert them into something substantial. In 13 innings so far, he has only managed to score mere 251 runs – way below expectation.

By his own confession, the Aussie stated, "I would have been dropped by in most teams I have played for," and until and unless, the veteran does not play few back-to-back meaningful innings in the upcoming all-important games, even CSK may just let him go next season.

Eventually, he just may go unsold in next year's auction.

#2 Yusuf Pathan (SRH)

Yusuf Pathan (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

Another outstanding all-rounder, Yusuf Pathan started his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals way back in 2008 and immediately earned the reputation of being one of the most destructive batsmen for his impeccable six-hitting ability. With his superlative batting performance and more than useful spin bowling, the explosive player led RR to win the prestigious trophy in the inaugural IPL itself.

Over the years, the hard-hitting batsmen have played 173 matches and have scored over 3000 runs with 13 fifties and a solitary hundered at an impressive strike rate of 143.09 and has wiped out 42 wickets along the way.

In his 11 years long IPL career, the lower order batsman has always been in demand by franchises for his striking ability and therefore, when the opportunity arose, Kolkata Knight Riders bought him in 2011 and retained him for 6 years until 2017.

However, when the performance wasn’t up to the expectation, the player was again sent back in IPL auction in 2018 and was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad with the aim to strengthen their lower order.

Despite the fact that he did not set the world on fire in his first outing with SRH, he played well enough to be retained for this ongoing IPL 2019 however, unfortunately, this season has shaped out to be the worst season in his entire IPL career with a mere 37 runs in 9 games.

Also, the fact that top order specifically David Warner and Jonny Bairstow did most of the destruction did not really help his cause. To make it even worse, he has not been a regular member of playing XI for SRH this season.

The 36-year-old will only hope SRH to qualify to playoffs that may just provide him with few last opportunities to prove himself however by the looks of things, it appears that irrespective of the eventual outcome, this season could very well be the last season for this incredible player, not only with SRH but in the IPL.

#3 Yuvraj Singh (MI)

Yuvraj Singh (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

Yuvraj Singh has been a fabulous servant of Indian cricket and has played some incredible match-winning knocks for team India. At his peak, he was one of the most destructive batsmen around in the world of cricket. Just when he was taking his game to a different level altogether, he was unfortunately diagnosed with life threating lung cancer.

It happened right after he was adjudged the Man of the Tournament in world’s most prestigious global event, the ICC World Cup 2011, where his spectacular performance enabled India to win back the trophy after long wait of 28 years.

Just like other Indian star players in the first season, the left-handed all-rounder started his IPL as an ‘icon player’ with Kings XI Punjab however over the years, his below-par performances forced him back at the auction table, only to picked up by other franchises at quite a dashing price – Kings XI Punjab (2008-2010, 2018), Pune Warriors India (2011 - 2013), Royal Challengers Bangalore (2014), Delhi Capitals (2015), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016-2017) and currently, Mumbai Indians (2019).

However, noticeably, this year, for the very first time in the history of IPL, there was no buyer for his services at the auction up until Mumbai Indians bought him over at a later stage.

Once recruited, the renowned batsman was slated to strengthen the MI’s middle order and started his journey with a fantastic knock of 53 in the very first game against Delhi Capitals. Unfortunately, he could not continue his form and lost his place in the side after a few poor performances, 75 runs in four matches.

Since then, Yuvraj has been warming the bench at the dugout deep down waiting for another opportunity to play the game he loves.

Considering his poor run of form in the second consecutive season and aging body, IPL 2019 will most probably turn out to be last year for the 37-year-old veteran playing the marquee T20 league.