The second phase of IPL 2021 is all set to resume in September-October this year. The tournament will return to the United Arab Emirates. According to reports, vaccinated fans will have permission to attend the games. It will be a treat to watch IPL again. However, some key players may miss out.
Many fans would know that the T20 World Cup will happen after the IPL. Also, many teams have international matches. So, their key players might be unavailable. The same thing happened in PSL recently. So, here are five key players who might miss the IPL tournament in UAE.
1. Pat Cummins will miss the second phase of IPL 2021
Pat Cummins is confirmed to miss IPL 2021. His KKR teammate Dinesh Karthik confirmed this news. First, a report emerged claiming Cummins would not return to the league. Soon, Karthik confirmed this report. Finally, he revealed Cummins himself said he would not come.
Cummins is the most expensive player in the KKR squad. He is a right-arm fast bowler who can also bat well. His absence will hurt the Knight Riders in IPL 2021. However, the good thing is Lockie Ferguson will get an opportunity to play now.
2. Sam Curran might miss the second phase of IPL 2021
England was the first country to clarify that their players will likely be unavailable for IPL 2021. The reason behind it was their international games. Also, England is looking forward to the T20 World Cup and The Ashes. Sam Curran is one of the top all-rounders in England. He is a part of CSK in IPL 2021.
Curran has been one of the top performers for Chennai. But it is unlikely that he will play IPL 2021. Curran has done well in white-ball cricket. England will likely include him in their T20 World Cup. Hence, CSK may have to play without their star all-rounder.
3. Mustafizur Rahman
Bangladesh has confirmed their players will not play the second phase of IPL 2021. It means Mustafizur Rahman will not come. Rahman is a part of the RR squad. He was one of the best fast bowlers for his team this year. The left-arm pacer played seven matches and scalped eight wickets in IPL 2021.
Rahman has performed exceptionally well in the white-ball arena. And, the batsmen find it a little challenging to tackle his pace and cutters. RR had lost too many overseas players in the first phase of IPL 2021. RR could be in deep trouble as players from England and Bangladesh unlikely to come for the remaining games.
4. Jos Buttler
Another Rajasthan Royals player who might miss the second phase of IPL is Jos Buttler. The wicket-keeper batsman looked in fine nick as he scored his first T20 ton against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Buttler supported the other batsmen to perfection. The Indian players in the RR squad looked up to him as a senior.
In case Buttler is unavailable, RR will have to alter their entire team combination. Buttler featured in seven games during the first phase of IPL 2021. He aggregated 254 runs for his team. The Royals relied on him in the batting unit. Unfortunately, Buttler might not play IPL 2021.
5. Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow has been one of the best batters for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Although SRH struggled in IPL 2021, Bairstow continued to score runs for them. If Bairstow is unavailable, SRH will have to rethink its combinations. Bairstow provided solid starts to the Orange Army. He played seven matches in the first phase of IPL this year.
The right-handed batsman managed to score 248 runs in those games. If England players are not available, even Bairstow will miss out. Since SRH could not do well in the first phase, their chances of qualifying for the playoffs will become very low if Bairstow does not participate in the second phase. It will be interesting to see what happens next in this direction.
