3 Players from MSL 2019 who can earn big bids in IPL 2020

The franchises might have an eye on the performances of these players.

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Ravi Bopara
Ravi Bopara. (Photo Source: Twitter)

It’s the start of another T20 league and it’s the Mzansi Super League (MSL) which is back with its second season. It is a tournament that is looking to have a big impact on South African cricket. Hence, it is a perfect opportunity for the players to step up and show what they’ve got.

Moreover, the five-week tournament is happening on the verge of the IPL auctions. The 2020 season which will start in April will have the player auction on the 19th of December. Thus, it is an extra incentive for the players as well. Everybody wants to take part in the IPL which is deemed as one of the best T20 leagues in the world.

With six teams eyeing that elusive trophy, the players will also be looking to make a mark not only in South African cricket but also for the IPL auction which is not too far away.

Here are three players from the 2019 season of the MSL who could earn big bids in the 2020 season of the IPL:

1. JJ Smuts (Nelson Mandela Bay Giants)

JJ Smuts
JJ Smuts. (Photo by Paul Harding/PA Images via Getty Images)

Jon-Jon Smuts is a very experienced cricketer and has been playing domestic cricket since 2007. He’s featured in more than 100 games across all formats but has played just eight international games, with all of them coming in T20I cricket. Smuts is one player who can have an impact with both bat and ball.

The left-arm spinner can also take the new ball and be effective. He can also be destructive with the bat in the top order. He showed that in the final of the CSA T20 Challenge earlier this year when he struck a fine 121 which went in vain.

Smuts had a very good MSL season last year. The Warriors all-rounder scored 219 runs and picked up seven wickets as well. Thus, the 31-year-old will once again be the key for this side, Nelson Mandela Bay Giants. But he may well get some big bids in the IPL as well.

2. Rassie van der Dussen (Jozi Stars)

Rassie van der Dussen, South Africa
Rassie van der Dussen. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The way Rassie van der Dussen has batted over the last year or so has been brilliant. He has been one of South Africa’s best batsmen in white-ball cricket. Be it T20s or ODIs, van der Dussen has shone brightly. In fact, he is South Africa’s leading run-getter in ODI cricket this year and also, the second-highest in T20Is.

It was only last October that he made his international debut in a T20I against Zimbabwe and within a year, he’s become one of South Africa’s mainstays. He was also the leading run-getter in the MSL last year. He aggregated 469 runs in 11 innings and led Jozi Stars to the title in the maiden season.

The 30-year-old was in great form in the Global T20 Canada (GLT20) where he averaged 52.00 and scored runs at a strike-rate in excess of 160. Hence, van der Dussen has been in the spotlight and has been performing well. Thus, another good season of the MSL may well land him an IPL contract which may see him earn some high bids.

3. Ravi Bopara (Durban Heat)

Ravi Bopara
Ravi Bopara. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Despite being one of the top T20 all-rounders in the world, Ravi Bopara hasn’t played a lot in the IPL. In fact, his 24 games have come across three seasons which spanned over six years. He played for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in 2009 and 2010 before missing out for the next five years. Bopara returned to the IPL in 2015 where he represented Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in nine games.

Bopara has been in fine form this season. He scored 291 runs at an average of 48.50 in the T20 Blast this year. These runs came at a strike-rate of 162.56. He also picked up 12 wickets in the tournament. It was his all-round effort (2/30 and unbeaten 36 off 22 balls) which took Essex to the title in the final.

The England all-rounder is a big-match player but he is pretty underrated as well. He can quietly go about his job in all three departments and go unnoticed. Bopara will be turning out for the Durban Heat in the upcoming MSL. Given his form, there is a decent chance that he may attract some big bids in the IPL auctions for the 2020 season as well.

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