IPL Auction is on December 23 at Kochi and all the teams will look to but their Bookmarks even for a Hefty price. Its a Mini-Auction, the Stakes are really high. Total of 405 Cricketers from around the globe are going to test their luck towards some Filthy rich Employers.
IPL’s one of the main reason of creation was to find Young homegrown talents and give them a platform. And it is no secret that IPL has provided a lot of players with immense abilities as well as flexibility especially in Batting. On the other side of things are the Ageing Veterans who are looking to find an opportunity to prove their mettle to complete the young generation.
In this feature let’s discuss about the 5 Oldest players who have enrolled themselves in the Indian premier League.
1. Amit Mishra – Every fan of Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad will remember the name of Amit Mishra, an Ace among aces in Leg spinning and helping the team remove dangerous batters. His IPL stats suggests that he is the 3-rd highest wicket taker in the tournament’s history.
This year Mishra is having a Go once again at the age of 40 in IPL auctions. He has been also out of the Indian team circuit for 6 years now. The last time he appeared for India in a T20 game was February 1, 2017. However, his wicket taking knack appears in figures of playing only 10 T20I games for India are 16 wickets.
With 166 IPL wickets under his belt in 154 appearances Amit Mishra could be in high demand for the role of an extra homegrown experienced Spinner at this Auction.
2. Mohammad Nabi – After relinquishing his captaincy from the national team Mohammad Nabi might be looking to prove a point and try to re-invent his career. The 37-year-old is well ahead of his best days but it will be interesting to see if teams will look at him as an option.
His IPL record hasn’t been much impressive, showing only glimpses of his excellency but never really keeping it consistent. The only time he played more than 5 games in a season was in 2019 when he played 8 fixtures for Sunrisers Hyderabad. 2019 was perhaps his best year in the IPL as he picked 8 wickets and amassed 115 runs. Overall, Nabi has 180 runs and 13 wickets under his belt while playing for SRH.
He signed with Kolkata Knight Riders last season but unfortunately the veteran all-rounder did not get any playing time for the team. On the back of a disappointing season in international cricket with Afghanistan in the ICC T20 World Cup, Nabi will try to test his luck when the auction comes around.
3. David Wiese – The Former South-African All-rounder before he took Namibian citizenship was a well known player in the IPL Circuit. He did not just have moments but he had the grit to keep it consistent and beneficial for his side. He made his T20I debut for the Proteas in 2013 and went on to play 20 matches for a span of 3 years in 2016.
Wiese was a late bloomer who rose to prominence in the shorter formats as an imposing allrounder with the ability to take pace off the ball and a booming lofted shot. He began his career with Easterns before becoming a regular at the provincial union and the Titans club in 2005.
David Wiese is also a 37-year-old All-rounder who has played in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore (2015-2016). In his short stint he played only 8 matches and picked 16 wickets. He is also eligible in the among the 405 pleayers going into the auction.
4. Sikander Raza – After a pretty impressive T20 World cup campaign leading Zimbabwe, Sikander Raza will hope to find suitors on December 23rd. Raza could be rewarded for his performance and decision making in the world cup last month. He was the mastermind behind Zimbabwe’s triumph over Pakistan in their second Super 12 match.
Raza has appeared in 66 Twenty20 Internationals for Zimbabwe, hitting 1259 runs with a strike rate of 128.86. Given his influence on subcontinent pitches, he can be extremely useful. In the shortest format, the all-rounder took 38 wickets at an economy rate of 7.18. Raza can be a particularly hazardous custodian in India, where the ball frequently turns.
Even if the Sialkot-born all-rounder isn’t in top form right now, Raza has the ability to wreck havoc in the auction room. Franchises, like Jonker, favour batting all-rounders, and Raza may be a terrific addition to any team.
5. Christiaan Jonker – Born on September 24, 1976, in Rustenburg, South Africa. The veteran made his T20I debut against India in 2018, but only played a few games before being discarded. However, in domestic cricket, Jonker has been outstanding, hitting 2333 runs in 121 T20 matches.
His strike rate in the shortest format of 130.11 can solve a lot of difficulties for various teams in the cash-rich league. The all-rounder can act as an anchor while also accelerating when necessary. Furthermore, his bowling abilities might benefit any IPL side. Franchises frequently search for batters who can bowl in the middle overs, and Jonker fits the bill perfectly.
However, the issue with Jonker, however, has been his form. The all-rounder scored 87 runs and did not bowl a single over in his past five T20 innings.
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