Sunstar TV Bureau: In an IPL auction that saw franchises splurge the cash, with South African all-rounder Chris Morris becoming the costliest player in the history of the tournament, there were some big names who went unsold.
Here are a few players who would have expected to rake in big bucks but surprisingly found no takers in the auction:
Aaron Finch
Australian limited overs captain Aaron Finch, who was released by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) before the auction, surprisingly went unsold. Finch could not live up to the expectations last season, scoring only 268 runs in 12 matches and hitting only one half-century.
Alex Hales
Top order England batsman Alex Hales would have expected to be on be on the watchlist of many franchises after his swashbuckling form in the Big Bash League but went unsold. Hales, who has been sidelines by the England Cricket Board for his off-field conduct, had scored 543 runs for Sydney Thunders at an average of 38.79 and strike rate of 161.61.
Sam Billings
Like Hales and Roy, Sam Billings was the other English batsman who did not find any takers in the auction. The wicket-keeper could have been a great acquisition for any franchise because he can be a genuine matchwinner with the bat.
Martin Guptill
For the second consecutive year, New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill has gone unsold. Guptill, who had been released by Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the IPL 2020 auction, had found no takers last year as well.
Mitchell McClenaghan
Even when the likes of Riley Meredith went for Rs 8 crore at the auction, fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan went unsold. The Kiwi quick has become a good performer in the IPL and had at one time led the Mumbai Indians bowling lineup.
McClenaghen’s IPL stats are great, with 71 wickets from 56 matches. He also has a good ability to bowl Yorkers at the death. But of late, with age catching up with him, he has been out of favour.
