Summary: The VIVO IPL 2020 player auction list is out! And as the franchises, players and fans, all gear up for ‘the Day’, find out which player is gonna be an underdog and which one is going to be a miss this season.

With December comes many festivities along with the end of the current year and the much-awaited VIVO IPL 2020 Auction of Indian and international players. While the initial list had 997 players competing against each other for the highest bid, the final list has been narrowed down to just 332 cricketers, after the eight franchises submitted their list of players.

A total of 186 Indian players, 143 overseas players and 3 players from Associate Nations are set to go under the hammer in Kolkata on December 19^th. As INR 2 crore is the highest reserve price for a player, seven overseas players- Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Dale Steyn & Angelo Mathews have opted to be slotted in the highest bracket.

Out of all the Indian Players that will be up for grabs in the auction, Robin Uthappa is the only Indian player with a base price of INR 1.5 crore in the Auction List, while others include Piyush Chawla, Yusuf Pathan and Jaydev Unakat with their base price set at INR 1 crore.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is undoubtedly the flag-bearer for all the T-20 leagues around the world. IPL has garnered much-coveted attention from millions of cricket fans, from all across the world since the very beginning. And it would be an understatement to say that everyone including the fanbase, players, experts and the owners of all the eight franchises are more than excited for the upcoming IPL auction.

The IPL Auction is the first step that can lead a team to the IPL Trophy and the grand winning amount. This might be the reason why several IPL coaches emphasis so much on the importance of the auction because they know that a soft thump of the hammer at the auction table can turn the tables around with their best buys.

While the prices are set on the basis of a player`s performance throughout the year in other tournaments and international matches, it is difficult to predict in advance, if a million-dollar player can justify the amount they are auctioned for. Some players like MS Dhoni, Ben Stokes, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja have managed to live up to the expectations in the past, cricketers like Jaydev Unadkat, Pawan Negi, Shane Watson, and Yuvraj Singh have led their team and fans down with their below-the-average performance.

Although, it would be difficult to predict which player is going to shine in the IPL 2020, let us have a look at 5 players that according to many “Cricket Pandits” could break the bank in the 2020 IPL Auction:

Chris Lynn- Australia

When Kolkata Knight Rider or KKR parted ways with this star player, many eyebrows were raised in disbelief. Because this star player of Australia can be destructive for the opponents, single-handedly! But, blame it on his inconsistent showing combined with a hefty price-tag, the decision taken by KKR looks by far- JUSTIFIED! But it wouldn`t come as a surprise if KKR themselves decide to go back for Lynn in the IPL Auction 2020 as his performances haven`t been too bad. Chris Lynn has proved with his recent performances that given a chance, he could still be lethal for the opposition in the shorter formats of the game. And with that, we might see a tough bidding game between RCB, Kings XI Punjab and KKR.

Chris Morris- South Africa

Chris Morris with his expertise is an efficient bowler and a tailor-fit for the T-20 format. He is a specialist when it comes to bowling and collect wickets at the death over. But when Delhi Capitals traded Trent Boult to Mumbai Indians, and release this excellent South African player to the auction pool, it took everyone by surprise. However, in doing so, the team has beefed up its wallet by many folds and the move can be termed as excellent, considering Morris`s current form and fitness. But as unpredictable as the format of the IPL is, there could be other teams taking a shot at the amazing Chris Morris. You never know!

Tom Banton- England

This young kid on the block has had everyone in awe after his outstanding opening with Babar Azam. Tom Banton came under the spotlight after he ripped the opposite team with his smashing 549 runs at a mouth-watering strike rate of 161.47. This performance escalated his career and the selectors gave him a nod to join the senior team for the T20 part of the ongoing tour of New Zealand. Although he couldn`t register big scores, his blazing performance in the T10 League in Abu Dhabi has proved is prodigious talent. His calculative shots and reverse sweeps against the quick bowlers might fetch him a great price at the upcoming VIVO IPL 2020 Auction.

Mitchell Starc- Australia

As Mitchell Starc is all set to make a comeback, despite his mediocre performance in the last two seasons of IPL, all the franchises would be vying for his services. Like we mentioned earlier, Mitchell Starc did go for big money in 2018 with the KKR splurging whopping amount of 9.4 crores. However, this left-arm fast bowler was laid down by injuries and had to pull out of the IPL. This year, KKR isn`t willing to take a risk and this could be the reason behind their decision to release him in the auction pool. While Starc hasn`t played in the IPL since the 2016 edition, it wouldn`t be an understatement to say that he can guarantee 20 wickets per season, provided he stays fit. On December, 19<sup>th</sup>, 2019 in Kolkata, we wouldn`t we surprise to see all the major franchises including KKR bidding against each other to acquire his services, thanks to his previous stint.

Eoin Morgan- England

Another player that is all set to fetch higher bid and big bucks is the captain of the England Cricket Team- Eoin Morgan. Unlike Mitchell Starc, Morgan was not injured, but he had been out of favor with the IPL franchises because of his poor performance. But as we say that it takes only some time to turn the tables around. Morgan with his star-studded performance has set all eyes upon him. Morgan is one of the world`s best middle-order batsmen and his innings during the 2019 World Cup has earned him a huge respect. He is one of the most lethal batsmen against the spinners. Also, his ability to start hitting big shots, without requiring time to get settled have put him on a radar of IPL franchises, which is why a huge amount for this English Skipper, wouldn`t be surprising.

David Miller- South Africa

David Miller is a superb middle-order batsman, who is in a dire need to get in touch with his magical skills of hitting sixes in any match. He is not only a big-hitting batsman but also a terrific fielder who can definitely contribute to a team`s victory. His expertise is invaluable, but would he attract huge bids at the auction? That will be surely interesting to know!

Excerpts: With IPL Franchises showcasing a very aggressive attitude with their retention policy this time, it is hard to predict which player will go home with one-big-fat-wallet. Unpredictability is what keeps the IPL interesting and fans like us totally HITCHED! So watch out for the upcoming IPL 2020 AUCTION in Kolkata that will be aired on December 19, 2020.