IPL Auction 2020: 5 players who surprisingly went unsold 

#2 Tim Southee

Southee has had a lot of success in the shorter forms of the game

One of the big surprises of this auction was the lack of New Zealand players to have been picked up. Of course, the likes of Kane Williamson, Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner are already there, and have enjoyed success over the last couple of seasons. However, this time around, Jimmy Neesham was the only New Zealand player picked up, and even that was at a very low price, as he was bought by the Kings XI Punjab for 50 lakhs (US $70,000).

It comes as even more of a surprise given the success New Zealand have had in white-ball cricket in recent years, including reaching the World Cup Final in the last two tournaments. One man who has played a part in both of those tournaments is Tim Southee, who went unsold at this year’s auction, The seamer has the ability to pick up wickets at the start of the innings, as well as being useful at the death, so it is a bit of shock no team has decided to pick him up.

Kiwi fast bowler Tim Southee is unsold #IPLAuction

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 19, 2019

#.3 Naman Ojha

Ojha is one of the top wicket-keepers in India

There are a number of very good wicket-keepers in India at the moment. Despite being 38 years old, and perhaps at the end of his international career, MS Dhoni still leads the way, having successfully captained India in all three forms of the game. There are the also the likes of Wriddhiman Saha and Ishan Kishan, although it is the Delhi Capital’s Rishabh Pant who leads the race to replace Dhoni in the India side.

One of the finest out there is Naman Ojha, who went unsold despite having a base price of just 50 lakhs (US $70,000). The 36-year-old may not be the most exciting player to watch like Pant, or have the innovation of some of the other ‘keepers who were picked, but he is still a very reliable player, both with the gloves, and with the bat. He may have been a good pick for the likes of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the Kolkata Knight Riders, who could have done with a backup ‘keeper.