IPL Auctions 2019: Best XI from unsold players

The Indian Premier League auctions has never been short of surprises. Either by not bidding for top names of the game or spending a massive amount on some unknown players, the auction is one of the most unpredictable gatherings in the world.

This time also it happened as players like Hashim Amla and Brendon McCullum could not find any buyers for themselves while uncapped players like Shivam Dubey and Vikram Chakravarthy became million dollar babies overnight.

Here is the playing XI from the unsold category in the auctions.

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Openers (Alex Hales and Brendon McCullum)

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Trinbago Knight Riders - 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Tournament

It was quite shocking to see the omission of Brendon McCullum's name from this IPL as he is one of the highest run-getters in the history of T20 Cricket and scores run at a massive strike rate. Alex Hales is another player who has been picked in this team to open alongside McCullum to maintain a right-left combination. Hales made his debut in the last year's IPL as a replacement for David Warner in Sunrisers Hyderabad where he had a decent time. McCullum will also be captaining the side.

Middle Order (Reeza Hendricks, Saurabh Tiwary and Manoj Tiwary)

Australia v South Africa - 1st ODI

Reeza Hendricks was one of those players who was expected to make big money at this year's auctions after he had a tremendous time in the Super League of South Africa. But that did not come to pass. Saurabh Tiwary and Manoj Tiwary are the other two players who will occupy the spots of the middle order batsmen with Hendricks as both of them have done well in the past.

Wicket Keeper (Naman Ojha)

Middlesex v Rajasthan Royals - Twenty20 Charity Match

Naman Ojha has great experience of over 100 games in the Indian Premier League where he has played for three different franchises Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He can play a vital role at the middle overs of the innings with his conventional style of batting.

All Rounders (Rishi Dhawan and Parvez Rasool)

Australia v India - Game 4

Both of these all-rounders have continuously done well for the India A and India B teams apart from their respective regional teams which should have fetched them buyers, but that was not to be. They can play a vital role in any team by providing a perfect balance to the side with their all-round abilities at the lower order.

Bowlers (Vinay Kumar, Dale Steyn and Rahul Sharma)

Australia v South Africa - 3rd ODI

Dale Steyn was another player who was expected to start a bidding war at the auctions after he made a brilliant comeback to the international cricket.

Apart from Steyn, Rahul Sharma and Vinay Kumar are the other two bowlers who went unsold in the auctions but make their way to this side after their successful run at the domestic circuit.

Playing XI: Brendon McCullum (Captain, overseas), Alex Hales (overseas), Reeza Hendricks (overseas), Saurabh Tiwary, Manoj Tiwary, Naman Ojha (Wicketkeeper), Rishi Dhawan, Parvez Rasool, Vinay Kumar, Dale Steyn (overseas) and Rahul Sharma.

Special Mentions: Hashim Amla, Kusal Perera, Jason Holder, Adam Zama and Chris Woakes are some of the players who were unlucky as they were not bought at the auctions and could also not make their way to this side as all of them are overseas players and could not fit in this squad.