Cricketers who were close to playing IPL but opted out at last moment

Started in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has turned out to be Cricket's biggest T20 league. The legacy of the league is providing a platform for the youngsters to prove themselves against the best players in the world. Some of the best Indian players in recent times, like Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, have been shaped up in the IPL.

Players from all parts of the world wish to be a part of the league, as the best players are a part of the tournament, and the contracts can fetch colossal money to be a part of the teams for a few months. Not many players would want to miss being a part of the cash-rich league. However, there are instances where some of the players are forced to opt out due to different reasons.

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Here are the five cricketers who were close to playing IPL but opted out at the last moment:

5. Mark Wood in 2021 (To spend time with his family)

Mark Wood was one of the most sought-after bowlers during the IPL 2021. As the dates neared for the auctions, the express pacer registered his name for the league at the base price of INR 2 crores. However, even before the auction commenced, the right-arm pacer withdrew his name from the list of players to go under the hammer.

The English pacer claimed he wanted to spend some time with his family during the tough times. Wood claimed to have thought a lot about his decision and claimed it was difficult for him to ignore the money he could've made by playing the league. However, keeping in mind the Test series against India and the T20 World Cup, Wood pulled out.