IPL 2023: 5 unsold players who may come in as replacement signings

The IPL 2023 auction took place on December 23 in Kochi and T20 stars from around the world featured at the marquee event. However, with a squad limit of 25 players, not many were able to land an IPL contract and out of the 405 players who went under the hammer, only 80 were able to find buyers.

However, not everything is doom and gloom for the ones who went unsold at the auction. Fans have witnessed players enter the IPL arena as replacements and take the tournament by storm. For instance, in 2011, Chris Gayle came in as an injury replacement for Dirk Nannes and made the tournament his own, hammering 608 runs in 12 games for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Let us look at the players who can come as replacement signings in IPL 2023:

5. Shreyas Gopal 

Shreyas Gopal has been a bankable name in the Indian domestic circuit. The 29-year-old has featured in 57 List-A matches and picked up 89 wickets at an economy of 5.12. He has done a decent job in the IPL and bagged 49 wickets in as many games at an economy of 8.11.

The ace spinner was part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2022 season. However, he failed to break into the starting XI for the majority of the tournament. Shreyas played only a single game, where he leaked runs at 11.33. The Hyderabad franchises decided against investing in him for the upcoming edition. The leg-spinner featured at the IPL 2023 auction but unfortunately did not find a bidder. 

Shreyas has shown glimpses of brilliance in the cash-rich league in the past. Also, the Banglaore-born displayed his bowling might in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022, bagging 12 wickets in 10 matches at an economy of 4.59. Therefore, franchises seeking an Indian spin-bowling replacement might look to add him to their arsenal.