Australian
Opener Ben McDermott and West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd went unsold
in the previous seasons of IPL. But this season they are hoping to bag hefty deals
banking on their recent impressive performances.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Lucknow Super Giants name announcement sparks meme fest

McDermott
on Monday won the Player of the Tournament in the just concluded Big Bash
League. He was also recalled into the Australian T20 side for the Sri Lanka
series next month. The 27-year-old was also the BBL’s highest run-scorer with
577 at a strike rate of 153.86.

McDermott,
who has played 17 T20Is and two ODIs for Australia, has never featured in the
IPL. This season, he is optimistic about finding a team in the 10-team T20
league.

Also Read: IPL 2022: From David Warner to Yuzvendra Chahal, five players to look out for in mega auction

“There’s
not too much I can do now, it’s all up to those people in charge,”
McDermott was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

“I’m
excited. It’s always an exciting time just to watch, last year I remember Riley
Meredith getting picked up for the big bucks and sitting there watching him in
our hotel rooms in quarantine in New Zealand.”

Also Read: IPL 2022 from March last week to May, mega auction on Feb 12-13: Jay Shah

Last
year, the Australian pace duo of Riley Meredith (Rs 8 crore) and Jhye
Richardson (Rs 14 crore) had landed hefty contracts with Punjab Kings after a
successful BBL season.

Shepherd possess big-hitting
power

Shepherd,
on the other hand, blasted an unbeaten 44 off 28 balls to take West Indies
within one run of England’s total in the second T20 International in Bridgetown
on Sunday.

Also Read: Hardik Pandya will be ‘motivated’ to prove himself as leader: Gary Kirsten

The
27-year-old smashed five maximums and a four-under pressure while also taking a
wicket earlier in the game.

“I
try to focus on what is at hand right now and try and put my all in here,”
Shepherd, who has entered February’s auction with a Rs 75 lakh base price, was
quoted as saying by ‘ESPNCricinfo’.

Also Read: IPL 2022 to be held in India behind closed doors: Report

“Eventually,
if an IPL contract comes, that would be great for me. I’m not saying that I
don’t think about it – I do think about it, but I try not to think about it
during a game, I just focus on wherever the game is and trying to get ourselves
out of a situation,” he added.

Shepherd
is one of the 41 players from the Caribbean who have registered for the mega
auction.

Also Read: IPL 2022: Ahmedabad, Lucknow announce Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul as captains

“It’s
a great platform. For any youngster, it’s their dream to go to the IPL and I’m
no different. I’m trying my best to get myself in there, but at the same time
trying to win a series here.

“It’s
something that I’ve dreamed about for a very long time. My name was in the (auction) for the last three years, so this year, I’m looking forward to
it,” he added.

Also Read: Former IPL cricketer Rajagopal Sathish offered Rs 40 lakhs to fix matches

The
IPL is expanding to a 10 team tournament this year. With two new teams —
Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchises — coming in, a two-day mega auction is slated
to be held in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13.

The
league is set to begin in the last week of March.