IPL 2020: 3 West Indian players who could get big bids in the auction

When it comes to T20 cricket, the West Indies players are always at the forefront. They are just tailor-made for the shortest format of the game. If you look at the squads of the various IPL franchises, there is a West Indies player somewhere there playing a vital role for the team.

While most of the West Indies players, who featured in the last season of the IPL, got retained by their respective franchises, a couple of them were released and are back in the auction. There are a couple of other West Indies players who are in the IPL auction for the first time.

In all likelihood, the franchises will be interested in most West Indies players who are there in the IPL 2020 auction but here are the 3 who could get big bids at the auction.

#3 Sheldon Cottrell

Sheldon Cottrell

Sheldon Cottrell is a left-arm fast bowler who always adds a different dimension to the bowling attack. The angle that they create from over the wicket is never easy for a right-hander to tackle that and if they are capable of swinging the ball back in as well which Cottrell is, it’s the icing on the cake.

Cottrell, apart from swinging the new ball, can also bowl yorkers in the death. He has a slightly round-arm action which helps him fire the yorkers in with a lower trajectory. If he gets his rhythm right, he can be a really tricky customer to face.

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Delhi Capitals, having released Trent Boult, might bid for Cottrell as they would need a strike bowler to pair up with Kagiso Rabada. Chennai Super Kings might also go for Cottrell as they would be looking for David Willey’s replacement.

Cottrell, so far, has 29 wickets to his name in 21 T20 internationals for West Indies at an average of 19.82.

#2 Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis - Mumbai Indians

Evin Lewis is one of the most destructive T20 batsmen in the international circuit at the moment, but Mumbai Indians, surprisingly, decided not to retain his services for IPL 2020.

Lewis’ returns with the bat in the last IPL season were not impressive which led to his ouster from the MI squad. The left-hander could score only 48 runs in the 3 games he played at a strike rate of less than a hundred.

The Trinidadian, however, seems to have regained his old touch now as he is striking the ball cleanly for West Indies at the moment in the ongoing T20I series against India.

Lewis has this ability to take on the bowlers straightaway and maximise the power-play when the fielding restrictions are on. If it’s his day, he will make sure he puts his team on the driving seat at the end of the power-play. His striking ability makes him a really exciting prospect and the bidding price might go quite high for the southpaw in the upcoming auction.

#1 Brandon King

Brandon King

Brandon King was the highest run-scorer in the Caribbean Premier League 2019. He scored 496 runs in 12 matches at an average of 55.11 and a strike rate of 148.94. The right-hander hit 11 sixes for his team Guyana Amazon Warriors in one of the playoff games during the tournament.

King is a top-order batsman and generally opens the innings in T20 cricket. Rajasthan Royals, having released Ajinkya Rahane, are looking for an opener and King might be on their radar. KKR might be the other franchise going for King as they also have a vacant spot at the top of the order after the departure of Chris Lynn.

King has a nice amalgamation of touch and power game. He is a wonderful timer of the ball, but he has got quite a bit of muscle power as well and when he hits a cricket ball with purpose, he can clear any ground in the world.