IPL 2020: 5 players who could return to their former franchises

The IPL auction ahead of the 2020 edition of the league has generated more excitement than such an auction normally does. With 73 spots open between 8 teams, a total of 971 players, including 258 overseas players, have registered for the auction. The 8 franchises have a combined purse of Rs. 207.65 crore to spend, and Kings XI Punjab, with Rs 42.70 crore to spend, have the largest purse of all the teams.

In the 12 seasons of IPL so far, there has been considerable movement of players between multiple franchises. After all, the schedule and intensity of T20 leagues around the world is such that players are more valued for their skill in absolute terms, and failure is very rarely tolerated.

It is not unusual to see players having represented 4 or even 5 franchises over the history of the IPL. Players like Parthiv Patel and Irfan Pathan are part of an elite club of players to have played for 6 teams.

Also see - India vs West Indies schedule 2019

In such a competitive climate, it is quite possible that many players may find themselves playing for a franchise they may have already represented in the past, even if only on the bench and not on the field. This list is a collection of players who might end up at their old franchises after the player auction on 19 December 2019.

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1. Colin Munro (KKR)

Colin Munro

The hard-hitting Kiwi opener spent the major part of the last 2 seasons at the Delhi Capitals as a reserve opener behind the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw. However, with his old franchise Kolkata Knight Riders having released Chris Lynn and on the lookout for an overseas batsman to replace him, Munro could be the perfect fit.

Currently sitting at number 4 in the ICC world rankings for T20 International batsmen, Munro is one of only two players in the world to have scored three T20I hundreds, and also holds the record for the second fastest 50 in the format. Despite his lukewarm ODI returns in recent times, he remains a heavyweight in the world of T20 with a career strike rate of 145.55 and more than 5600 runs in the format.

But aside from being an international heavyweight, Munro also has an impressive record in franchise T20 tournaments around the world - such as the Pakistan Super League and the Caribbean Premier League. He was the highest run-scorer in the 2018 Caribbean Premier League, as he took his Trinbago Knight Riders franchise (which is incidentally managed by the same parent company as his former franchise KKR) to the title.

With the first six powerplay overs being such a crucial phase of T20 cricket, having an explosive opener is a bonus to any team. And KKR would eagerly welcome a batsman like Munro back into their fold for 2020.

2. Robin Uthappa (RCB)

Robin Uthappa's 374 runs at 31.16 are his best returns for his first IPL franchise

After finishing as wooden spoon holders for consecutive seasons, change seems to be the buzzword for the Bengaluru franchise. It started with a fresh set of faces in the backroom staff, including Mike Hesson as director of cricket and Simon Katich as coach. And the mantra of change continued with the franchise releasing a whopping 12 players from their roster ahead of the 2020 season.

Auction strategy will be one of the primary talking points for the new management, as their previous high value purchases have failed to fire consistently for the team (Shimron Hetmyer and Pawan Negi come to mind). On top of their shopping list at the moment would be a batsman, preferably Indian, who can hold their famously fragile middle order together while having the firepower to go big at the death.

KKR's release of their long-time 'keeper Robin Uthappa may have answered both needs for RCB.

Uthappa was the wicketkeeper for RCB in the 2009 and 2010 seasons, but was released from the franchise after unflattering returns with the bat. Since then, he has been at Pune Warriors and the Kolkata Knight Riders, with whom he has the experience of winning the IPL crown in 2014.

Uthappa's safe hands as a keeper and his aggressiveness as a batsman could be the exact skill set that his old franchise RCB would be looking to have.

3. Tim Southee (MI)

Tim Southee in action for RCB

Yet another Kiwi released from his 2019 franchise, the right-arm quick offers an attractive option to franchises looking for an experienced overseas fast bowler. His ex-franchise Mumbai Indians would be looking for just such a player to replenish their overseas fast bowling stocks, having released Beuran Hendricks, Adam Milne, Jason Behrendorff and Alzarri Joseph.

Southee is something of an IPL workhorse, having represented Chennai Super Kings in 2011, Rajasthan Royals in 2014 and 2015, Mumbai Indians in 2016 and 2017, and finally Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018 and 2019. In his experience of 7 seasons in the IPL, he has won the title twice, first with CSK in 2011 and then with Mumbai in 2017.

In addition to his IPL experience, Southee comes into 2020 as captain (albeit on a temporary basis) of his national Twenty20 side. He led his side to a close 3-2 series loss against England at home (which was decided, unsurprisingly, by a Super Over).

Even as Mumbai Indians have released a large clutch of overseas fast bowlers, their former spearhead could be one they look out for on the 19th of December.

4. Glenn Maxwell (KXIP)

Glenn Maxwell shows off his power against Rising Pune Supergiant

Kings XI Punjab will no doubt be on the lookout for a power hitter to replace the released David Miller, and there appears to be no better replacement than 2014 Man of the Series Glenn Maxwell. He has been on a break from the IPL after being signed by the then Delhi Daredevils in the 2018 auction.

Maxwell has established himself as a short-format regular for Australia, and he recently hit 305 runs at a strike rate of 150.99 in the 2019 Vitality Blast in England. Before his self-enforced hiatus from international cricket due to his struggles with mental health, he scored 231 runs in three T20 internationals for Australia, including a devastating 55-ball 113 in Bengaluru against India in a chase of 193.

The Kings XI would be keen to welcome back one of their biggest stars, who has since returned successfully to the club cricket scene in his native Victoria. Maxwell still provides immense value to any T20 side with his potent blend of power-hitting in the middle overs and part-time off-spin bowling.

5. Eoin Morgan (RCB)

Eoin Morgan with the bat for his former team RCB

Eoin Morgan is yet another international star who hasn't quite managed to make a mark for himself on the IPL stage. The former Irish international, who has led the English to a maiden 50-over World Cup and the top 3 in the ICC international T20I rankings, retains his core strength of left-handed elegance with more than a decent serving of power and unorthodoxy to go with it.

Morgan's power-hitting prowess was on display not only during the World Cup earlier this year (most notably during his innings of 148* in just 71 balls with 17 sixes against Afghanistan) but also during England’s recently concluded T20I series in New Zealand where he finished as the second highest run-scorer with 192 runs at a strike rate of 192.9.

Morgan is another IPL journeyman with the experience of having been in four different IPL dressing rooms (RCB in 2010, KKR from 2011-2013, SRH in 2015 and 2016 and finally KXIP in 2017). He would be looking to rectify his below-par IPL statistics with a few important knocks, having been included in the Auction List at a base price of INR 1.5 crore.

His talents as a finisher at the death would be especially appreciated by his former franchise RCB, who seek to find players to take the pressure off their ever-reliable due of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.