IPL 2021 Auction: 5 Legendary Overseas Players Who Might Go Unsold

IPL 2021 auction takes a countdown with just two days remaining for the final showdown. With 292 players available for the auction, IPL 2021 auction will be a definite entertaining event to look upon. Franchises like Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are all set to bet on the best choices of players.

IPL 2021 auction is set to be held in Chennai on Thursday, February 18. Due to the stiff competition in the Indian Premier League, it’s often tough for players to attract franchisees. Talking about overseas players’ auction, the segment witnessed a tough competition as many well-known players are part of the auctions.

Franchises have a limited place for overseas players in the team, so they take a keen interest while choosing the best players for themselves. Here we will look at five legendary overseas players who might go unsold in IPL 2021 auction.

Aaron Finch

Australian batsman Aaron Finch was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2020. However, after he could not perform very well with the bat, he was dropped by RCB. Last season, Aaron Finch scored 268 runs in 12 matches. This consisted of just one half-century.

RCB had a lot of expectations from Aaron Finch which he failed to deliver. The 34-year-old faces tough competition in the openers’ slot. Since IPL 2017 season, the Australian cricketer has managed to score only 3 half-centuries in 35 matches. So stats are not in Finch’s favour and he might lose on to attract buyers.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith, who was once Rajasthan Royals’ skipper, ultimately saw his departure from the franchises ahead of IPL 2021 auction. Apart from his under-performances in IPL, controversies have also hit Steve Smith’s career. Recently, after he was caught in an ugly incident of removing Rishabh Pant’s guard during Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, he became unpopular among the Indian cricket fans.

Rajasthan Royals, who has some big names like Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, David Miller and Jos Buttler in the squad, finished at the last spot in IPL 2020. This came as a big blow to RR franchise, who are the first winners of Indian Premier League tournament in 2008.

Steve Smith scored 311 runs in 14 matches in IPL 2020 season, which consisted of 3 fifties. However, RR expected more from the right-handed batsman which he could not deliver. With a base of massive Rs. 2 crore, Smith has great chances to remain unsold during the IPL 2021 auction.

Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill was absent from the last edition of the Indian Premier League. The New Zealand batsman was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad at Rs. 1 crore price in IPL 2019 auction. He was later dropped by SRH and went unsold in IPL 2020 auction with 1 crore base price.

In IPL 2021 auction, the left-handed batsman has lowered his base price to Rs 50 lakh. He has played 12 matches in IPL tournaments so far, in which he hit just 1 fifty. So Martin Guptill’s poor record in IPL can lead franchises to opt-out from buying him.

Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne is eyeing a debut in IPL 2021 with the upcoming auctions on February 18, 2021. Marnus Labuschagne is among the latest youngsters from Australia, who has come to the limelight in recent time. The batting all-rounder has emerged as a great player in Tests, but he is not that appealing in the limited-overs format.

Marnus Labuschagne played for Brisbane Heat in Big Bash 2020-21, but largely failed to show his magic in the T20 format. His relatively weak ability in the T20 formats can affect his chance to attract a franchise in IPL 2021 auction.

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell has a great reputation in the international format, however, he miserable fail in IPL tournaments. Kings XI Punjab or Punjab Kings- which is going to be the new name for the franchise in IPL 2021- retained the maximum 9 players ahead of IPL 2021 auction.

Maxwell could only score 108 runs in 13 matches he played in IPL 2020, which made franchise to release him. He has also failed in the role of a finisher in IPL- something he is widely popular for. So he poses a challenge in attracting any buyer in IPL 2021 auction.