5 Unsold bowlers who can get a chance in IPL 2020 as replacements

Replacement signings have a fairy-tale of their own. Remember the now ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle, who came as a replacement for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011, and ended up with the Orange Cap? Or Doug Bollinger, who came as a replacement and helped CSK end up as the champions despite the team losing 5 of its first seven games?

Many players do go unsold in the IPL auctions, but this doesn’t mean that they can’t compete neck-to-neck in the world’s toughest league. With growing intensity in the game, the number of injuries has grown up significantly, and the teams always keep in mind a good backup option, who can replace that player.

Moreover, bowlers tend to pick up far more injuries than the batsmen, since their action and dynamism can be fatal on their own body. Therefore, we might see many replacement signings this year as well.

Let us take a look at 5 such bowlers, who may have gone unsold in the auctions, but can certainly come back:

1. Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman has not been at his best for the past year. Also, the past two years in the tournament hasn’t borne any fruit for ‘The Fizz’. This was the primary reason for him being unsold ahead of this year’s auction, despite the fact that he had scalped 20 wickets in 8 games in the World Cup 2019.

Despite not being able to find a franchise, it’s impossible to ignore him. The left-arm pacer has the ability to run through any opposition on his day. Besides, his off-cutters that tend to go away from the right-hander have now been a force to reckon with for years now. With all these variations up his sleeve, he can be a very useful prospect.

Of late, Mustafizur has been playing in the Bangladeshi Premier League and scalped 18 wickets in the last 10 games. With form on his side, it won’t be a surprise if he is roped in by any of the franchises in the mid-season.

2. Alzarri Joseph

In the last season, Alzarri Joseph was brought in as a replacement by the Mumbai Indians. And the pacer went on to script a fairy-tale, scalping six wickets for 11 runs in his debut game to make it the best bowling figures by any bowler in the tournament history. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ruled him out of the season after 3 games.

It was a huge disappointment when the West-Indian went unsold in the auction. However, the teams would need an in-form bowler in the mid-season, and he can be a perfect replacement for any of the teams. With his height and a thunderbolt pace, he can be a thorn in the flesh f even the most dangerous batsmen.

The 23-year old has been in red-hot form of late. Playing for Windies against Ireland, he has scalped two 4-fers in as many games. If he can continue to b consistent, he would fall on the wishlist on many franchises.

3. Adam Zampa

Wrist spinners are always in-demand in the T20 cricket. And Adam Zampa is the 5th ranked T20I bowler at the moment. It’s a shame that such a bowler went unsold in the auctions. Moreover, he last played this tournament in 2017 and has gone unsold in the last three auctions.

The 27-year-old has been featuring in the ongoing Big Bash League and scalped 10 wickets in seven games so far. Moreover, he was been conceding runs at just 5.96 runs per over. With his variations and skills, he has become a handy T20 bowler, someone who can give you wickets in the middle overs, without being leaky.

Zampa will have a point to prove in Australia’s upcoming tour to India. If he continues to impress, he can be roped in by the franchises as a replacement. He has improved a lot since playing his last IPL in 2017 and deserves another chance to prove himself in the world’s toughest league.

4. Vinay Kumar

Since a dream season in 2013 where he scalped 23 wickets in 16 games, Vinay Kumar has completely lost his golden touch. He has failed to scalp wickets in every season that followed, a major reason for him being unsold in this year’s auction.

However, with his experience of 105 games, Vinay can be a good replacement option for any team. The 35-year-old can guide the youngsters in the team, and help them deliver as a team, as he did while captaining an ‘underdog’ Puducherry in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His own form was exceptional in the tournament as he ended up with 11 wickets in 7 games.

Vinay might not feature in the playing XI, but his sole presence even on the bench gives confidence to the bowling attack. Such an experienced and in-form seasoned veteran can’t go ignored, and some or the other team will surely procure his services in the mid-season.

5. Kesrick Williams

Kesrick Williams had very recently become a new trend, both on-field and off-field. The West Indian grabbed headlines when Virat Kohli took him on demand, and later emulated his trademark ‘notebook’ celebration. However, he won hearts when he came back to dismiss the same man in the next game.

Williams holds the distinction of having scalped the most number of T20 wickets since his debut. He is a bit inconsistent, but a deadly option if he gets some assistance from the pitch. His slower ones and other variations best fit the needs of this format. Therefore, he can be a handy customer for any of the teams.

Teams like Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, whose home ground offer slow tracks, can benefit from his service. The teams will surely need a bowler who can bowl well in the middle overs and death in the latter half of the tournament, and he can be a very good option for the same.​