IPL 2021: Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 concluded a few days ago in the UAE and if reports are to be believed, BCCI is planning to hold a mega auction before the start of IPL 2021 season in April-May. But, there’s no confirmation of the same as of now.
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Whether it will be a mega auction or mini-auction that only time will tell, but franchises will be eager to get rid of some players prior to the next season. Here we take a look at the top 10 players who are likely to be released by their respective franchises.
Glenn Maxwell (KXIP): The Australian batsman was a big disappointment in IPL 2020 for Kings XI Punjab’s management who invested a huge amount (Rs 10.75 crores) to buy him from Delhi Capitals.
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Maxwell was given the role to lead KXIP’s middle-order. However, in the 13 matches he played, the all-rounder scored just 108 runs at a dismal average of 15.427. To add to the woes, he failed to produce effective results with the ball too. In the 126 balls bowled, Maxi chipped just three wickets.
Kedar Jadhav (CSK): It was a pain to watch Chennai Super King’s lower order batsman Jadhav bat in IPL 2020. Given his role, the 35-year old had to bat at a high rate from the start, which he failed to do. His unbeaten seven from 12 balls during the 10-run defeat to Kolkata encapsulates his season.
Overall, Jadhav, who is earning Rs 7.8 crores per season, scored 62 runs in eight games at a terrible strike rate of 93.93. Notably, he didn’t hit a single six in IPL 13.
Dinesh Karthik (KKR): The ex- Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper had a harrowed time in the IPL 2020. Karthik was poor with the bat in IPL 2020 showing to which the wicketkeeper-batsman even handed his captaincy to Eoin Morgan in the middle of the tournament. Karthik accumulated 169 runs from 14 matches at a terrible average of 14.08. KKR are likely to get rid of him.
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Jaydev Unadkat (RR): The Rajasthan Royals pacer didn’t live up to the price-tag. After his splendid 2017 performance with Rising Pune Supergiants, he was bought by RR for Rs 11.5 cr. However, he struggled to lead Royals’ bowling attack and come out of Jofra Archer’s shadow. In seven matches in IPL 2020, the pacer managed to take only four wickets while leaking 228 runs.
Imran Tahir (CSK): Chennai Super Kings’ leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who was the 2019 IPL’s Purple Cap winner with 26 wickets, warmed the bench for most of the IPL 2020 as he played just three games in which he picked just a wicket.
Moreover, he is the oldest member of Dad’s army in the CSK’s side and by the time next IPL arrives, Tahir will be 42 years old. Hence, it is safe to assume that the leggie will be released by CSK ahead of IPL 2021 auction.
Andre Russell (KKR): In the world of T20 cricket, few have managed to instil fear in the hearts of opposition bowlers like Andre Russell has in recent years. A vital cog in Kolkata’s lineup, Russell has, time and again, turned the tide in his team’s favour. Owing to his astronomical capabilities, Kolkata shelled out a whopping Rs 8.5 crore to retain his services ahead of the 2020 IPL Auction.
In IPL 2019, Russell scored 510 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 204.81. Much was anticipated from the big man in 2020 but he was unusually quiet in the last season. With 117 runs from 10 matches, Russell looked a pale shadow of himself and given his dismal form and injury concerns in IPL 2020, it is highly unlikely that a franchise will shed a huge sum to acquire his services in the next edition of the cash-rich league.
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Kuldeep Yadav (KKR): Kuldeep is a player that needs no introduction as the chinaman is a crucial part of Team India. But his performance in IPL 2020 was nothing less than a nightmare. Kuldeep, who was retained by the two-time champions for a whopping Rs 5.8 cr in the 2019 edition recorded only five appearances in IPL 2020 and picked just a wicket while giving away 92 runs. Notably, he was ignored by KKR for most games in last season because of his poor run with the leather and it is likely that the franchise will release him ahead of the IPL 2021 auction.
Umesh Yadav (RCB): The general lack of direction once again haunted Indian pacer Umesh in the IPL 2020 as he failed to take any wicket in the two matches he played and conceded runs at 11.85. He was dropped after the match against Kings XI Punjab in which KL Rahul tonked him at all corners of the park to collect 35 runs off his sans-wicket 3-over spell. RCB are unlikely to shell out Rs 4.2 crores to retain his services.
Sheldon Cottrell (KXIP): The ‘Salute Master’ Cottrell raked in a huge mollah at the 2020 auctions when Kings XI Punjab grabbed his services for a whopping Rs 8.5 Crore.
But, unfortunately, the left-arm swing bowler endured a nightmarish campaign; one that was significantly detailed courtesy Rahul Tewatia’s freak assault where he was smashed for five sixes in one over.
Overall, he played six matches and picked as many wickets before he was benched for the rest of the season.
Sunil Narine (KKR): Narine, who was once the talisman of KKR, had a disappointing IPL 2020 as he has failed to contain runs or take wickets and his batting was the biggest letdown, as he has scored just 121 runs in 10 matches at a horrible average of 13.44.
Narine, who earns Rs 12.5 cr per season, was ineffective with the ball as well, as he picked just five wickets in the recently concluded season of the cash-rich league. To add to that, Narine’s bowling action also created trouble for Kolkata as he was reported by on-field umpires for suspect bowling action and was put on warning list which forced KKR to drop him from the playing XI. However, the Windies all-rounder was later cleared to bowl. Kolkata might refrain from retaining him.
Editors pick
