IPL 2018: 5 unsold bowlers who might return as injury replacements

IPL auction has always been as unpredictable as the league itself. It's an event where luck has a bigger say than the stats. Over the years, IPL auction has seen even the best of players being bought cheaply while lesser known players signing multi-crore deals. The auction brings hundreds of surprises ahead of the tournament every other year.

There are many players who are left out of the buying list due to many constraints that come the teams' way. While some players do not have much stats to show, there are others who get ignored even after performing consistently on the international level. On the other hand, some just do not fit in the scheme of things.

However, the IPL rules give such a player another chance to sneak in through a way that of as a replacement for an injured player. Here are few bowlers who unluckily went unsold in the auction but may find their way back in the league as injury replacements.

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#5 Morne Morkel

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Morne Morkel, the South African pacer, has been one of the best bowlers in the world across all the three formats. Morkel, who is currently playing for South Africa in the home Test series against Australia, will retire from international cricket after the series.

Though he is nearing mid-thirties, his pace has not declined a bit and he is as effective a bowler he used to be years ago. Playing in 44 T20s for South Africa, Morkel has taken 47 wickets at an economy of 7.50.

In the IPL, however, he has not enjoyed much success. His best season came in 2012, where he took 25 wickets in 16 matches. Overall, in the IPL, he has taken 77 wickets in 70 matches.

Morkel forms a potent replacement option for a fast bowler that can bowl at the death as well. Maybe, he can fit in the role for his former team KKR whose injury list is getting longer and longer.

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