10 Players who did well in IPL but failed in PSL

Both IPL & PSL are two top-notch leagues in the realm of T20 cricket and both of them are very highly relished by T20 superstars. While the IPL might surely edge out in terms of glamour and cash, the PSL each year has been getting better and sizeable.

Also, now with its highly growing popularity, a plethora of overseas giants who jubilantly play in the IPL have started to participate in Pakistan’s T20 carnival. Moreover, with Pakistan also being a very fervent cricket-loving nation, the stage then eventually gets fantabulous to exhibit one’s prowess in the league.

However, there have been some set of players who when it comes to exhibiting their true flair have unfortunately malfunctioned, unlike in the IPL where they brim with prosperity. Hence, in this list here are –

Players who dominated in IPL but failed to do the same in PSL

1. Chris Gayle

Being an early envoy of T20 cricket, Chris Gayle has runs all-round the world and is a staunching run-machine when it comes to the shortest format. Whether it’s the record for most runs scored or most centuries amassed or about hitting a profusion of sixes, the universal boss seals them with daunting superiority.

Now such affluence and prosperity is also well evident in IPL but gets certainly retreated when it comes to the PSL. In the IPL, the West Indian cricketer has been making his appearances since 2009 and has played a total of 140 games. By collectively representing teams like KKR, RCB & PBKS, Gayle has notched a total of 4950 runs at a remarkable average of 40.24. Despite getting older, the veteran is still bossing up and has been averaging above 40 especially for PBKS in the last few seasons.

However, while collectively representing three teams in PSL ( Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars & Quetta Gladiators), the universal boss has in total played 16 games and has amassed 370 runs at an average of 23.12. In terms of centuries or fifties, Gayle has mere two half-centuries scores and is yet in due to reach the three figures. And most importantly, even in terms of strike rate, Chris Gayle exhibits a subservient number of 136.53 which is slightly less than his IPL strike rate of almost 150. Hence, the above stats are significantly notifying us that a real Gayle-storm is yet to be conceived in the PSL.

2. Brendon McCullum

Although this NZ legend has retired now, there’s no doubt that McCullum was one of the best enthralling batters during his time in T20 cricket. Just like Chris Gayle, even McCullum was an early pioneer in regards to the shorter format and certainly has played heaps of T20 games all around the world. Especially in the IPL, it was his unbeaten knock of 158* that had unveiled the Indian T20 carnival in a true sense.

Hence, his love affair with the IPL was always visible in his performances especially when it was his prime with the CSK franchise. Overall, by representing five IPL teams (RCB, CSK, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Gujarat Lions & KKR) the kiwi legend has in total played 109 matches and has notched 2880 runs at an average of almost 28. Along with these stats, the veteran cricketer also has 2 tons and 13 fifties alongside an overall strike rate of 131.74.

However in PSL, while playing for Lahore Qalandars in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, McCullum played a total of 18 games where he could just average around 20 while amassing 311 runs. Even his strike which was just 114.33 had seen a dip compared to the IPL. Hence, by exhibiting such low-key numbers surely the explosive batting of McCullum wasn’t much unveiled while appearing in the PSL.

3. Lendl Simmons

Lendl Simmons’s rousing batting is highly acknowledged in the realm of T20 cricket and has also won many prime matches for West Indies. Despite now being 36-year-old, his action-packed gameplay is still very well welcomed by most teams in T20 leagues, and was also once an integral member of the invincible MI franchise.

While representing MI for four consecutive years (2014 – 2017), Simmons played a total of 29 games in which he had amassed a tally of 1079 runs at an average of almost 40 (39.86). The right-handed batsman used to tonk the ball at a strike of 126.64 which also has yielded him a collection of 11 half-centuries and a single century.

Whereas in the PSL if we compare, Lendl has in total played eight games in which he has collectively scored 210 runs at an average of just below 30 (29.85). While the average might still be considerable, it’s the overall strike rate (87.85) that takes a drastic dip compared to IPL. Overall, in general, Lendl Simmons is highly an explosive batter but his eruption is yet to be witnessed in PSL.

4. Kevin Pietersen

While the English team had considerably taken a prolonged time to adapt to T20 cricket, Kevin Pietersen on the other hand was always the shrewdest who wanted to excel in the shortest format. No wonder why when England had won their first T20 World Cup in 2010, Pietersen was a formidable prospect who had approached T20 cricket in an untrammeled way.

Even in the IPL, Pietersen had made adequate appearances as in total he had got featured in 36 games for four different franchises (RCB, RPS, SRH & DD). The right-hander in those dashing appearances had scored a total of over one thousand runs (1001) at an average of 37.07. In terms of strike rate, Pietersen had amassed runs at 134.72 which also includes his four fifties and a single hundred.

However, in PSL, Pietersen could mainly score 611 runs at an average of 26.56 which is reasonably low as compared to his IPL average. In fact, when even compared to his overall T20 average of 34 and other stats, the PSL figures surely encircle his dip.

5. Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali, who has constantly been a regular player in the global T20 circuit has been given a variety of roles to perform. With the bat, we have seen him open the innings, and also has played in the middle as well in the lower-middle order. Some teams even cast him to go up and freely perform as an explosive hitter. While his T20 game has constantly received an exploration, the all-rounder has also made a routine appearance in both these tournaments.

In the IPL, while repressing RCB & CSK, Moeen has collectively played a total of 25 games and has scored 515 runs at an average of 24.52. Although his average of 24.52 might seem a little bleak, the cricketer as mentioned before has often performed various roles. Hence in terms of strike rate, Moeen has procured runs by whacking the ball at a rate of 157.97.

But in 2020 PSL, despite being a top-order player, Moeen had an inferior tournament wherein in his 9 games he only had scored 138 runs for the Multan team. The constant low scores only made him average 17.25 that too at a strike rate of 106.74. Hence, very immaculately the drastic difference does highlight his unpleasant time in the PSL.

6. Andre Russell

There’s barely anyone who whacks the ball as hard as Andre Russell and as a result, the global T20 Leagues often do get elated when there’s a Russell-Muscle show happening. He leaves no stone unturned to hit gigantic sixes and perhaps now is an ultimate match-winner for any team in the shortest format.

Perhaps in the IPL, Andre Russell’s presence is immensely felt as overall from his 81 matches, the all-rounder has scored 1680 runs and has scalped 68 wickets. To highlight his consistency, Russell averages around 29.47 and has a momentous strike rate of 179.29. In total there have been 9 fifties and 142 empowering sixes that have been produced from his blade in the IPL.

However in the PSL, Andre Russell has collectively got featured in 13 instances and while playing for Multan Sultan and Islamabad United combined, only a total of 134 runs have scorched from his bat. By amassing runs at a mere average of 12.18, the PSL fans have barely seen the real Russell-Muscle show.

7. Dwayne Bravo

With Dwayne Bravo being someone who has fetched maximum wickets as a pacer in T20s, it certainly makes him a legend of the shortest format. For the longest of times, he has enclosed thrilling victories with his invigorating bowling and also has hammered the ball in stands through his effective batting. Hence, perhaps that’s the reason why even if he is aging, most global teams want to heartily cast him for their affairs.

His long-haul association in the IPL has allowed him to become the tournament’s fourth-highest wicket-taker as from his realm of 144 matches, Bravo has scalped a mammoth cluster of 156 wickets. His overall economy rate has taken a recent hit but Bravo still doesn’t concedes above 8.38 runs. Even in terms of batting, Bravo has amassed a total of 1510 runs at an average of 22.87 alongside also having a strike rate of close to 130.

However, in the PSL, Bravo has played two seasons (one for Lahore Qalandars in 2016 and Quetta Gladiators in 2019) and has bowled in 14 games in a similar economy to what he has in the IPL. Overall, his bowling has only yielded him 11 wickets, and even in terms of batting, he’s just scored 134 runs at an average of 14.89.

8.  Dale Steyn

While Steyn might not be highly known for T20 cricket, the speedster currently has been exploring the phenomena of the shortest format. Although during his prime, Steyn used to get regularly featured in the IPL, his PSL appearances have also started to become regular since 2020.

Despite now getting swayed from the world’s biggest T20 carnival, Dale Steyn has stupendous overall IPL numbers. In total, the pacer has played 95 games and has picked 97 wickets at an astonishing economy of 6.91.

Whereas in the PSL, Steyn has played for Islamabad United and for Quetta Gladiators wherein from his 7 games he has grabbed 7 wickets. But with his economy rate almost touching 9, surely the PSL viewers have missed his past vigorous prime.

9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Just like senior Rashid Khan, even Mujeeb’s spin bowling is highly relished in the majority of Global T20 Leagues. The 20-year old has now become a prominent figure when it comes to finger spin in T20s. Highly known for his variations, Mujeeb is valiantly acknowledged for bowling in all passages of play even if it’s death over to cope with. Hence, with someone who has a lot of fortitude, the teams in the T20s love casting him as their breakthrough bowler.

In the IPL, while representing Punjab and SRH franchise, Mujeeb has in total played 19 games and has 19 scalps under him. While earlier his economy used to take a hit, the spinner still only concedes runs around 8.18. Although his IPL sample size might be small, it gets even smaller when it comes to PSL.

So far in the PSL, Mujeeb has only played 4 games for Peshawar Zalmi and has looked just reasonable. In his appearances, the spinner has merely grabbed 2 wickets at an economy of 8.56 but its average of 68.50 makes him look shoddy. No doubt the sample size of 4 matches is highly restrictive to distinguish but overall, the PSL occurrence does look subservient than IPL.

10. Mitchell McClenaghan

Very soon when Mitchell McClenaghan had scalped most wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy of 2013, the kiwi pacer had received a massive reckoning in world cricket. Soon his IPL journey began wherein he continued his rally of being a wicket-taker as a left-arm pacer. While highly been renowned to play for the MI franchise, McClenaghan is now seen exploring other T20 leagues as well.

To sum his IPL career, the NZ pacer has in total played 56 games and has fetched a rally of 71 wickets at an economy of 8.49. McClenaghan also has a single four-wicket haul and has a respectable average of 25.39.

Further, to compare him against his PSL performances, the NZ pacer has only played 5 games but his wicket tally and his average have certainly got swamped. Overall, despite again comparing on small sample size, McClenaghan could only manage 2 wickets and had leaked runs at an average of 78.