After a record-breaking IPL auction for the 2023 tournament, a number of big-name players missed out on franchise deals. Here’s an XI of unsold overseas players in the 2023 IPL auction that would give most sides a tough challenge.

Wisden’s IPL 2023 auction unsold overseas XI

Paul Stirling – Ireland

Base price: INR 50 lakh

While Josh Little became the first Irish player ever sold in the IPL at this year’s auction, there was no place for Paul Stirling in any of the franchise squads. The top-order batter strikes at 134.78 in T20Is and registered his top score of 115* last year against Zimbabwe.

Tom Banton (wk) – England

Base price: INR 2 crore

Somerset’s wicketkeeper-batter drew international attention in 2019 when he made England’s white ball squad for the first time. His flamboyance and ability to score all-round the wicket have drawn comparisons to Jos Buttler and Kevin Pietersen. Although his form has been inconsistent over the past two-years, he’s a batter who can take bowling attacks apart quickly.

Dawid Malan – England

Base price: INR 1.5 crore

A T20 World Cup winner with 14 fifties and a century to his name, Malan once again finds himself on the fringe of the franchise T20 scene. He was bought by Punjab Kings in the 2021 IPL auction but withdrew for the second half of the competition in the UAE.

Rassie van der Dussen – South Africa

Base price: INR 2 crore

After a disappointing season for Rajasthan Royals in last years edition of the tournament, averaging 11.00 in the three matches he played, it’s perhaps unsurprising van der Dussen failed to pick up a deal this year. Nevertheless, he showed his worth in the T20 format earlier this year when he scored an unbeaten 75 from 46 balls against India.

Travis Head – Australia

Base price: INR 2 crore

Head was recalled to Australia’s white-ball squad in 2022, making two ODI centuries and scoring 26 from 14 balls in the only T20I he played this year. His impressive counter-attacking recent performances in the Test format have drawn comparisons to Adam Gilchrist.

Dasun Shanaka – Sri Lanka

Base price: INR 50 lakh

A standout year in T20Is wasn’t enough for Shanaka to pick up and IPL gig. He scored two half-centuries for Sri Lanka this year, striking at 135.79 and took four wickets in 14 overs. A batting all-rounder, he would be handy player to have given his right-arm seam bowling and experience in other global franchise leagues.

Mohammad Nabi – Afghanistan

Base price: INR 1 crore

Nabi is the second best T20I all-rounder in the world according to the ICC rankings, having taken 11 wickets and scored 163 runs in 2022. He was the first ever Afghanistan player to be sold in the IPL, bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017 and was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.

Wayne Parnell – South Africa

Base price: INR 75 lakh

After re-entering the fray for South Africa earlier this year, Parnell has been instrumental in T20Is with the ball, taking 16 wickets in 13 matches including a five-for against Ireland in August. He’s also useful with the bat, averaging 21.00 in T20Is.

Chris Jordan – England

Base price: INR 2 crore

Another World Cup winner who couldn’t pick an IPL deal, Jordan recovered from a finger injury to play in the semi-final and final for England in Australia, taking five wickets across both matches. Specialising at the death and as a useful lower order batter and a gun fielder, Jordan adds value in all three departments.

Mujeeb ur Rahman – Afghanistan

Base price: INR 1 crore

After making his international debut as a 16-year-old, Mujeeb made his first appearance in the IPL less than a year later for Kings XI Punjab. He picked up 14 wickets in his debut season at less than seven runs an over and is currently in the top-ten T20I bowlers in the world in the ICC rankings.

Tabraiz Shamsi – South Africa

Base price: INR 1 crore

Not Shamsi’s best year in T20Is but he picked up his career best figures of 5-24 against England in August. He was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 before being bought by Rajasthan Royals in 2021, only featuring in one match that season without taking a wicket.

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