The cricketing action for the Indian fans is right on the horizon as after the tour of the England cricket team, the Indian Premier League, one of the biggest festivals of the country’s cricket is set to be played. As the IPL 2021 auction closes in, the teams have gone to the drawing board and the team admins must be working their minds off, trying to draw off the best combination for their team.
During this process, there are certain players who might not be in the plans for the teams for this tournament. So, here’s a look at 5 such players who were released by the franchises and might go unsold in the IPL 2021 auction.
1. Murali Vijay
The veteran Indian opener, Murali Vijay was released by the Chennai Super Kings when the teams released their list of retained and released players. This would put him in the auction pool, up for grabs in the IPL 2021 auction. But, things do not look good for him on the front as of now because it is very well possible that he may not find a buyer this time around.
Once, one of the mainstays of the Chennai based franchise, has been finding it difficult to find form in the last few of seasons and has virtually spent the last 3 IPL seasons warming the bench. Even in the domestic circuit and other games his numbers aren’t good enough for him to get a buyer and end in a side.
2. Harbhajan Singh
Once the mainstay of the Mumbai Indians, who then moved on to playing for the Chennai Super Kings after being released by his last IPL franchise, will again be finding himself in the auction pool. With loads of experience behind his back, he may sound to be an interesting prospect.
But given the minimal amount of time he has spent playing cricket off late, it would be a surprise to everyone if the teams bid on him and award him with a spot in their side. With almost all the teams looking at a framework overhaul, and he doesn’t seem to fit into any of the sides given the way the players of his category have been performing.
3. Isuru Udana
The Sri Lankan pace bowling sensation, Isuru Udana was picked up by the Royals Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2020. But much to his dismay, he was not able to perform up to the mark that Virat Kohli and Co. have set for the side, and was eventually dropped from the team ahead of the IPL 2021 auction.
His bowling was not that cutting edge and he gave away runs easily. To add to this misery, he was not able to compensate for him runs away with the wickets. His figures for IPL 2020 read, 8 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 9.72 runs per over. In his games in the Lanka Premier League 2020 too, he was not looking good and it would be really hard for him to land a spot in any team for IPL 2021.
4. Tom Banton
Tom Banton came into IPL 2020 with great promise, having done well in the English domestic tournaments, but his presence in the two matches that he played during the course of the tournament, very optimistically put, unimpressive.
After that tournament, it seemed that as if he had lost the charm that he initially had. In the last two recorded matches of his, the performances have not looked promising. And, given the way the number of stats that are looked at before a player is picked into an IPL team added with the fact that his charm that he used to have when he broke into the scene, it will be a tough time for him to find a buyer in IPL 2021 auction.
5. Billy Stanlake
Billy Stanlake’s story is one that is to say the least, heartbreaking for any cricket fan. At the time when he was picked up by the Sun Risers Hyderabad, in IPL 2018, everyone, including the fans of the team and the tournament, in general, looked to be up and ready to enjoy watching him bowl.
What followed for him was a run, down-hill that has brought him to the point where there seems to be no return for him into IPL, at least in the 2021 season of the tournament. He was injured before he could even play a game for the side, and after that things have not been going all well for him. Prior to that, his performances in the IPL were decent, but they won’t be enough for him to start a bidding war in IPL 2021 auctions.
