IPL 2020: The best XI of released players ahead of the auction

The auction for the 2020 India Premier League season is all set to held in Kolkata on 19 December. After the 14 November trading deadline, all the eight franchises released their comprehensive list of released and retained players.

A lot of obvious decisions taken with respect to retaining and releasing players are now out in the open. At the same time, there were some surprising decisions made too. The next step for all the franchises is obviously to get their strategies right for the auction.

But before that, here’s a look at the best XI of released players.

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Openers: Chris Lynn (captain) and Evin Lewis

Kolkata Knight Riders releasing Australian big-hitter Chris Lynn was the biggest shock of the pre-auction period. And Lynn responded by finishing as the top run-getter in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

Lynn smashed 371 runs in eight matches during the tournament, including a record 91 not out off 30 balls.

It is really hard to comprehend what was going through the KKR management's minds while releasing Lynn. He finished the 2019 season with 405 runs at a strike rate of 139.65, and this was after he had blazed his way to 491 runs in 2018 at a strike rate of 130.23.

Evin Lewis was released by Mumbai Indians, having scored only 48 runs in three matches during the 2019 season. However, the year before that Lewis did reasonably well for MI, with 382 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of 134.80.

Although he hasn’t been a consistent performer, there is no doubting that the West Indian can be a match-winner on his day.

Middle-order: Robin Uthappa (wicket-keeper), Colin Ingram, David Miller

The middle-order is led by Robin Uthappa, who has plenty of experience in the IPL. Uthappa has been a constant presence in the Kolkata Knight Riders outfit for the past few years. In fact, he scored 405 and 660 runs in the two editions that KKR won in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

However, a return of 282 runs from 12 matches last year saw him being released by KKR. Uthappa has the ability to play unorthodox shots, and with his expertise, he can still be handy.

There were high hopes from Colin Ingram when he was purchased by Delhi Capitals for Rs. 6.4 crore ahead of the 2019 auction. He got that price on the back of excellent performances in T20 leagues around the world.

But it just couldn’t come together for Ingram in the IPL, as he managed just 184 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of 119.48. That said, he is definitely someone who can turn games around with his hitting.

David Miller is among the most dangerous hitters in the limited-overs format. Also, he has been a constant presence in the Kings XI Punjab outfit over the years.

Miller smashed a 38-ball hundred against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013, and scored over 400 runs in 2014 as well. In the 2019 season, he finished with reasonable numbers -- 213 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 129.87 - but obviously not good enough for KXIP to retain him.

All-rounders: Chris Morris, Marcus Stoinis, Sam Curran

The versatile Chris Morris has the ability to bowl pin-point yorkers at the death, and he can also clear the field as a lower-order hitter.

Morris has constantly been among the wickets for Delhi Capitals over the last few years. He picked up 13 in the 2019 season as well. However, he didn’t have much to do with the bat, scoring a total of 32 runs.

Marcus Stoinis, like Morris, is renowned for his accurate yorkers. With the bat, he too possesses the big strokes to clear the in-field.

Stoinis scored 211 runs in 10 games for RCB in 2019 at a strike rate of 135.25. With the ball, he managed only two wickets.

That said, Stoinis is definitely a much better player than these numbers suggest.

Sam Curran celebrates a wicket. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com/BCCI)

Sam Curran is another all-rounder who makes it to the playing XI. The left-handed Curran is equally adept with both bat and ball, as India found out during their England tour in 2018.

Curran was purchased for Rs. 7.2 crore by KXIP. He ended the season with 10 wickets in nine games at a strike rate of 19.80, and 95 runs at a strike rate of 172.72.

Given more chances, he should definitely flourish.

Bowlers: Alzarri Joseph, Andrew Tye, Piyush Chawla

West Indies' Alzarri Joseph had a dream debut in IPL 2019 when he blew away Sunrisers Hyderabad with 6 for 12. His pace was something SRH just couldn’t handle.

However, Joseph got injured fielding in a game against Rajasthan Royals and was ruled out of the season after three games. If fit, he has already demonstrated what he can do.

Australia’s limited overs specialist Andrew Tye has the ability to bowl consistent yorkers at the death, and he is also clever with variations in pace. He was the Purple Cap holder in 2018 with 24 wickets for KXIP, and has performed impressively for Australia too in T20Is.

Tye was the first player to take a hat-trick on IPL debut, playing for Gujarat Lions against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017. However, he had an off-year in 2019, with three scalps in six games.

The spin duties of the released XI can be handled by Piyush Chawla.

Like Uthappa, Chawla has been one of the faces for KKR over the years. He can outwit batsmen with his guile as a leg-spinner, evident from the fact that he has 150 IPL scalps to his name.

Chawla claimed 10 wickets in 13 games for KKR in 2019, and was subsequently released by them after a long association.