IPL teams always look to strengthen their lineup as much as possible heading into every season. As part of the squad building process, teams at times release and retain players. Once the player retention period is over, teams look forward to auctions every calendar year to bolster their squads. IPL 2021 might see an interesting auction where a few key players will be up for grabs.
We at StumpsandBails believe that these released players may go unsold in IPL 2021:
#1 Nathan Coulter-Nile
Nathan Coulter-Nile is a handy lower-order all-rounder who has plied his trade for different teams across various leagues. He was a prized buy for the Mumbai Indians who spent a bomb to acquire him in IPL 2020. Coulter-Nile has been released by MI after a middling season where he performed well below par in an otherwise quality bowling lineup. It is difficult to imagine any IPL team bidding for him in the IPL 2021 auctions and Nathan Coulter-Nile may very well go unsold.
#2 Sheldon Cottrell
Sheldon “Salute” Cottrell came into IPL 2020 with huge expectations. The KXIP thought that they had a valuable buy-in from Cottrell. But 2 games into the league, Cottrell found the going to be pretty difficult. He was taken to cleaners by an unheralded Rahul Tewatia, who scored 5 sixes off him to change the game on its head. Cottrell could never really recover from that assault and was benched for most of the season. KXIP have released Cottrell and he will surely find it difficult to get a buyer going into IPL 2021.
#3 Kedar Jadhav
Kedar Jadhav was pursued by Chennai Super Kings for a whopping INR 7.8 crores in IPL 2018. But apart from his opening game pyrotechnics against Mumbai Indians in 2018, Jadhav has had a pretty ordinary association with CSK. It came as no surprise that CSK release Jadhav heading into IPL 2021 and he might find it nearly impossible to be picked by a franchise in IPL 2021 auctions.
#4 Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali had a disappointing year with Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2020. While people expected RCB to retain him going into IPL 2021, but it wasn’t to be. RCB have released Ali and he is having a pretty ordinary season career-wise too. We feel it will be a surprise if any of the franchisees bid for Moeen Ali and buy him.
#5 Jimmy Neesham
Jimmy Neesham was hot property going into IPL 2020. He was one of New Zealand’s key players in the Cricket World Cup in 2019. KXIP had rightly bid for Neesham and had acquired his service. But Neesham flattered to deceive in what turned to be a disappointing season for the Kiwi all-rounder. Teams may not really go all out to pursue Neesham and he may find it difficult to get a buyer in IPL 2021 auctions.
