The first week of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Premier League 2021</a> is done and dusted. Out of the seven matches being played so far, two matches in Mumbai had some really high scores while the other five matches have been not so good for the batsmen. Four of those five have been played in Chennai while the other two being in Mumbai.

In this one week, fans have witnessed some tight matches and the quality of cricket has been as high as one would expect with the IPL. However, some players have not started their campaign on a high.

Here is a round-up for the week, with the Flop XI of the first week of the 14th edition of the IPL:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239285" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239285" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha of SRH. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> was forced to start with Wriddhiman Saha as an opener during the latter half of the IPL 2020 season, in order to accommodate Kane Williamson. The plan had worked well for them then. However, in IPL 2021, Saha has returned with scores of 7 and 1 in the two matches so far.

He scored a painful 9-ball 1 against Bangalore when Hyderabad needed him to score quickly with the new ball on a pitch where the ball was going to hold up in later overs. Going by the stats, Saha’s average in Chennai is second-worst for him at any venue, while his strike rate has been the lowest at the venue.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-339465" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manan-Vohra.jpg" alt="Manan Vohra" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-339465" class="wp-caption-text">Manan Vohra. (Photo Source: Instagram)</figcaption>

Having not played a single match in the past two seasons of the IPL, Manan Vohra returned to the league in<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/rr-rajasthan-royals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rajasthan Royals’</a> opening match of this season. He played a couple of really good shots, one of which was a beautiful flick for six. But, he was dismissed for 12 by a stunning followthrough catch by Arshdeep Singh.

In the second match as well, he hit two beautiful fours off Chris Woakes, before top-edging one in the air. He scored only nine runs in that match. Rajasthan got out of jail in that match against Delhi. But if he fails in a couple of more matches at the top order, then Sanju Samson might have to re-think his place in the side.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-504427" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manish-Pandey.jpg" alt="Manish Pandey" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-504427" class="wp-caption-text">Manish Pandey. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Manish Pandey was sent at no. 3 for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> ahead of a power-hitter like Jonny Bairstow. In the first match, he scored 61 runs from 44 balls during a run chase against Kolkata. SRH lost a couple of early wickets but Pandey steadied the ship in their run chase of 188 runs. However, there were stages in the game, where he could have taken the role of an aggressor.

There wasn’t an effort from him to increase the run rate between overs 15 and 20. Because of this, he was criticized by some experts. In the next match, he scored 38 runs from as many balls, before he got out trying to play a big shot off the very next ball after Bairstow’s dismissal. In Chennai, Hyderabad needed an experienced batter to bat responsibly and guide the chase. Sadly, Pandey has failed them twice now.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-452767" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Marcus-stoinis.jpg" alt="Marcus Stoinis" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-452767" class="wp-caption-text">Marcus Stoinis. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

There are two parts of Marcus Stoinis to focus on. Firstly, let us talk about his batting. He scored a 9-ball 14 in the first match against Chennai. But, his runs came when the match was almost sealed by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/dc-delhi-capitals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delhi</a>, courtesy of the openers. In the second match, he scored a duck when Delhi needed him to get together with captain Pant and form a partnership.

Having lost three early wickets on a good batting wicket, Stoinis could have used this opportunity but instead fell for a 5-ball zero. As far as bowling is concerned, he has bowled only three overs in the two matches. He has conceded 41 runs in those three overs and hasn’t looked as effective he was in the last season.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-328110" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Vijay-Shankar-1.jpg" alt="Vijay Shankar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-328110" class="wp-caption-text">Vijay Shankar. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)</figcaption>

Make no mistake, Vijay Shankar is a good option as a No. 6 or No.7 in T20s. But, maybe on a slowish pitch, like the one where<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> played on, he needs to spend some more time at the crease before looking to go for big shots. Clearly, coming out and slogging from ball one could be his thing where the pitch has some pace to work with.

Against Kolkata, he scored a 7-ball 11 and failed to close out a match. Like Pandey, Shankar was part of another collapse just a few days later against Bangalore when he scored only three. With Kedar Jadhav waiting in the wings, Shankar would be aware that his place in the side could be under threat if he fails to deliver. With the ball as well, he has bowled only one over for 14 runs.

6. MS Dhoni (C &amp; WK)

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-504270" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-3.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-504270" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

MS Dhoni returned to professional cricket for the first time since playing in the IPL 2020. However, his return wasn’t quite what he would have liked. In the first match against Delhi, he looked scratchy during his two-ball duck. Avesh Khan bowled him with a beautiful ball as the former international returned to the dugout.

On top of that, he faced an INR 12 lakh fine with an offense of slow over-rate. He is even at the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-heres-why-csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-can-face-a-one-match-ban/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risk of getting banned</a> if he commits this offense again in the next two matches. Throughout his career, MS Dhoni has always found ways to come back stronger and answer his critics. His numbers since IPL 2020 are the lowest it has ever been for him, so it will be interesting to see if he can make another turnaround happen against the odds.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-456552" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Tewatia-of-RR.jpg" alt="Rahul Tewatia" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456552" class="wp-caption-text">Rahul Tewatia. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Rahul Tewatia was one of the finds of the 2020 season. He scored 255 runs with a good average and a strike rate and also picked up 10 wickets. However, so far in the<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> IPL 2021</a>, Tewatia has looked like a shadow of his 2020’s outing. In the first match, he bowled only two overs and conceded 25 runs from that. With the bat, in that match, he scored only two runs.

In the second match, which was a low-scoring one, he conceded 27 runs from his three overs. Though he contributed 19 with the bat, he wasn’t able to finish the job for the Rajasthan Royals. Last year, Steve Smith as a captain used Tewatia brilliantly to get the most out of him. Sanju Samson might have to think about how Tewatia could be used in the best way possible.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-459689" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Tom-Curran.jpg" alt="Tom Curran" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459689" class="wp-caption-text">Tom Curran. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

When Tom Curran was signed by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/dc-delhi-capitals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delhi Capitals</a> ahead of this season, it wasn’t expected that he would be starting in the first XI for them. However, injury to Anrich Nortje meant Curran got an opportunity first up. Unfortunately, his record in the two matches hasn’t been anything remarkable.

Though he did get a wicket in the first match against Chennai, he suffered a brutal assault at the death from his younger brother, Sam Curran. He ended with figures with 1 for 40 in that match. In the next match, he was handed over the responsibility to finish the match by defending 12 runs, which he failed to do against Rajasthan. He gave 35 runs in 3.4 overs in that low-scoring match, without picking a wicket.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-447751" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yuzvendra-Chahal.jpg" alt="Yuzvendra Chahal" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-447751" class="wp-caption-text">Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Yuzvendra Chahal has looked a touch out of rhythm so far in the IPL 2021. The leg-spinner who has been a regular player in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/rcb-royal-challengers-bangalore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Royal Challengers Bangalore</a> XI for the past two or three years has struggled to get wickets on the Chennai pitch, which generally supports spin bowlers. In the first match, he conceded 41 runs in his four overs.

His performance did improve marginally in the second match when he conceded 29 runs from his four overs. But, yet again he failed to take a wicket. RCB has won both their matches, so far, and arguably their best-ever spinner hasn’t taken a wicket yet. For them to break their streak and win the title, Chahal will have to come back in form in the upcoming weeks.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-506389" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Harbhajan-Singh.jpg" alt="Harbhajan Singh" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-506389" class="wp-caption-text">Harbhajan Singh. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Some eyebrows were raised when Harbhajan Singh was bought by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/kkr-kolkata-knight-riders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> in the IPL 2021 auction. Captain Eoin Morgan said ahead of the start of the season that his addition has provided a balance to the side. However, the veteran off-spinner has not been trusted by his captain in the middle overs.

In both the matches so far, Harbhajan opened the bowling for KKR, only because there was a left-handed opening batsman in the opposition. Fortunately or not, they were removed early on both occasions by other bowlers and Morgan replaced Harbhajan from the attack. He didn’t come back to bowl in the first match but bowled one extra over in the second match. He has conceded 25 runs from three overs in this season, without picking up any wickets.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-455975" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Murugan-Ashwin.jpg" alt="Murugan Ashwin" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-455975" class="wp-caption-text">Murugan Ashwin. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Murugan Ashwin bowled with quite a brave heart in the last season of the IPL. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/punjab-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punjab Kings</a> surprised some experts when they opted for Murugan Ashwin ahead of Ravi Bishnoi to play in the starting XI as the lone spinner. The bait of Ashwin didn’t work a great deal for the Punjab captain KL Rahul.

In the team’s opening match against Rajasthan, Murugan Ashwin conceded 43 runs from his four overs. In his last over, he was smashed for three sixes, which shifted the momentum towards the Rajasthan team in the run chase. Luckily, Punjab managed to sneak in a win. There are chances he might sit out the next match in Wankhede.

Watch Ben McDermott&#8217;s Rapid Fire &#8211;

The first week of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Premier League 2021</a> is done and dusted. Out of the seven matches being played so far, two matches in Mumbai had some really high scores while the other five matches have been not so good for the batsmen. Four of those five have been played in Chennai while the other two being in Mumbai. 
In this one week, fans have witnessed some tight matches and the quality of cricket has been as high as one would expect with the IPL. However, some players have not started their campaign on a high.
<h3>Here is a round-up for the week, with the Flop XI of the first week of the 14th edition of the IPL:</h3>
<h3>1. Wriddhiman Saha</h3>
<figure id="attachment_239285" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239285" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-239285" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha" width="600" height="447" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239285" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha of SRH. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> was forced to start with Wriddhiman Saha as an opener during the latter half of the IPL 2020 season, in order to accommodate Kane Williamson. The plan had worked well for them then. However, in IPL 2021, Saha has returned with scores of 7 and 1 in the two matches so far.
He scored a painful 9-ball 1 against Bangalore when Hyderabad needed him to score quickly with the new ball on a pitch where the ball was going to hold up in later overs. Going by the stats, Saha’s average in Chennai is second-worst for him at any venue, while his strike rate has been the lowest at the venue. 
<h3>2. Manan Vohra </h3>
<figure id="attachment_339465" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-339465" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-339465" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manan-Vohra.jpg" alt="Manan Vohra" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-339465" class="wp-caption-text">Manan Vohra. (Photo Source: Instagram)</figcaption></figure>
Having not played a single match in the past two seasons of the IPL, Manan Vohra returned to the league in<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/rr-rajasthan-royals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rajasthan Royals’</a> opening match of this season. He played a couple of really good shots, one of which was a beautiful flick for six. But, he was dismissed for 12 by a stunning followthrough catch by Arshdeep Singh. 
In the second match as well, he hit two beautiful fours off Chris Woakes, before top-edging one in the air. He scored only nine runs in that match. Rajasthan got out of jail in that match against Delhi. But if he fails in a couple of more matches at the top order, then Sanju Samson might have to re-think his place in the side. 
<h3>3. Manish Pandey </h3>
<figure id="attachment_504427" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-504427" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-504427" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manish-Pandey.jpg" alt="Manish Pandey" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-504427" class="wp-caption-text">Manish Pandey. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Manish Pandey was sent at no. 3 for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> ahead of a power-hitter like Jonny Bairstow. In the first match, he scored 61 runs from 44 balls during a run chase against Kolkata. SRH lost a couple of early wickets but Pandey steadied the ship in their run chase of 188 runs. However, there were stages in the game, where he could have taken the role of an aggressor. 
There wasn’t an effort from him to increase the run rate between overs 15 and 20. Because of this, he was criticized by some experts. In the next match, he scored 38 runs from as many balls, before he got out trying to play a big shot off the very next ball after Bairstow’s dismissal. In Chennai, Hyderabad needed an experienced batter to bat responsibly and guide the chase. Sadly, Pandey has failed them twice now. 
<h3>4. Marcus Stoinis</h3>
<figure id="attachment_452767" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-452767" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-452767" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Marcus-stoinis.jpg" alt="Marcus Stoinis" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-452767" class="wp-caption-text">Marcus Stoinis. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
There are two parts of Marcus Stoinis to focus on. Firstly, let us talk about his batting. He scored a 9-ball 14 in the first match against Chennai. But, his runs came when the match was almost sealed by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/dc-delhi-capitals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delhi</a>, courtesy of the openers. In the second match, he scored a duck when Delhi needed him to get together with captain Pant and form a partnership.
Having lost three early wickets on a good batting wicket, Stoinis could have used this opportunity but instead fell for a 5-ball zero. As far as bowling is concerned, he has bowled only three overs in the two matches. He has conceded 41 runs in those three overs and hasn’t looked as effective he was in the last season. 
<h3>5. Vijay Shankar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_328110" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-328110" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-328110" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Vijay-Shankar-1.jpg" alt="Vijay Shankar" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-328110" class="wp-caption-text">Vijay Shankar. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
Make no mistake, Vijay Shankar is a good option as a No. 6 or No.7 in T20s. But, maybe on a slowish pitch, like the one where<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> played on, he needs to spend some more time at the crease before looking to go for big shots. Clearly, coming out and slogging from ball one could be his thing where the pitch has some pace to work with. 
Against Kolkata, he scored a 7-ball 11 and failed to close out a match. Like Pandey, Shankar was part of another collapse just a few days later against Bangalore when he scored only three. With Kedar Jadhav waiting in the wings, Shankar would be aware that his place in the side could be under threat if he fails to deliver. With the ball as well, he has bowled only one over for 14 runs. 
<h3>6. MS Dhoni (C &amp; WK)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_504270" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-504270" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-504270" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-3.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-504270" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
MS Dhoni returned to professional cricket for the first time since playing in the IPL 2020. However, his return wasn’t quite what he would have liked. In the first match against Delhi, he looked scratchy during his two-ball duck. Avesh Khan bowled him with a beautiful ball as the former international returned to the dugout. 
On top of that, he faced an INR 12 lakh fine with an offense of slow over-rate. He is even at the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-heres-why-csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-can-face-a-one-match-ban/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risk of getting banned</a> if he commits this offense again in the next two matches. Throughout his career, MS Dhoni has always found ways to come back stronger and answer his critics. His numbers since IPL 2020 are the lowest it has ever been for him, so it will be interesting to see if he can make another turnaround happen against the odds. 
<h3>7. Rahul Tewatia </h3>
<figure id="attachment_456552" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456552" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-456552" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Tewatia-of-RR.jpg" alt="Rahul Tewatia" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456552" class="wp-caption-text">Rahul Tewatia. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Rahul Tewatia was one of the finds of the 2020 season. He scored 255 runs with a good average and a strike rate and also picked up 10 wickets. However, so far in the<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> IPL 2021</a>, Tewatia has looked like a shadow of his 2020’s outing. In the first match, he bowled only two overs and conceded 25 runs from that. With the bat, in that match, he scored only two runs. 
In the second match, which was a low-scoring one, he conceded 27 runs from his three overs. Though he contributed 19 with the bat, he wasn’t able to finish the job for the Rajasthan Royals. Last year, Steve Smith as a captain used Tewatia brilliantly to get the most out of him. Sanju Samson might have to think about how Tewatia could be used in the best way possible. 
<h3>8. Tom Curran</h3>
<figure id="attachment_459689" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-459689" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-459689" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Tom-Curran.jpg" alt="Tom Curran" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459689" class="wp-caption-text">Tom Curran. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
When Tom Curran was signed by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/dc-delhi-capitals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delhi Capitals</a> ahead of this season, it wasn’t expected that he would be starting in the first XI for them. However, injury to Anrich Nortje meant Curran got an opportunity first up. Unfortunately, his record in the two matches hasn’t been anything remarkable. 
Though he did get a wicket in the first match against Chennai, he suffered a brutal assault at the death from his younger brother, Sam Curran. He ended with figures with 1 for 40 in that match. In the next match, he was handed over the responsibility to finish the match by defending 12 runs, which he failed to do against Rajasthan. He gave 35 runs in 3.4 overs in that low-scoring match, without picking a wicket. 
<h3>9. Yuzvendra Chahal </h3>
<figure id="attachment_447751" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-447751" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-447751" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yuzvendra-Chahal.jpg" alt="Yuzvendra Chahal" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-447751" class="wp-caption-text">Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Yuzvendra Chahal has looked a touch out of rhythm so far in the IPL 2021. The leg-spinner who has been a regular player in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/rcb-royal-challengers-bangalore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Royal Challengers Bangalore</a> XI for the past two or three years has struggled to get wickets on the Chennai pitch, which generally supports spin bowlers. In the first match, he conceded 41 runs in his four overs. 
His performance did improve marginally in the second match when he conceded 29 runs from his four overs. But, yet again he failed to take a wicket. RCB has won both their matches, so far, and arguably their best-ever spinner hasn’t taken a wicket yet. For them to break their streak and win the title, Chahal will have to come back in form in the upcoming weeks. 
<h3>10. Harbhajan Singh </h3>
<figure id="attachment_506389" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-506389" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-506389" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Harbhajan-Singh.jpg" alt="Harbhajan Singh" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-506389" class="wp-caption-text">Harbhajan Singh. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Some eyebrows were raised when Harbhajan Singh was bought by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/kkr-kolkata-knight-riders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> in the IPL 2021 auction. Captain Eoin Morgan said ahead of the start of the season that his addition has provided a balance to the side. However, the veteran off-spinner has not been trusted by his captain in the middle overs. 
In both the matches so far, Harbhajan opened the bowling for KKR, only because there was a left-handed opening batsman in the opposition. Fortunately or not, they were removed early on both occasions by other bowlers and Morgan replaced Harbhajan from the attack. He didn’t come back to bowl in the first match but bowled one extra over in the second match. He has conceded 25 runs from three overs in this season, without picking up any wickets. 
<h3>11. Murugan Ashwin </h3>
<figure id="attachment_455975" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-455975" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-455975" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Murugan-Ashwin.jpg" alt="Murugan Ashwin" width="640" height="391" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-455975" class="wp-caption-text">Murugan Ashwin. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Murugan Ashwin bowled with quite a brave heart in the last season of the IPL. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/punjab-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punjab Kings</a> surprised some experts when they opted for Murugan Ashwin ahead of Ravi Bishnoi to play in the starting XI as the lone spinner. The bait of Ashwin didn’t work a great deal for the Punjab captain KL Rahul. 
In the team’s opening match against Rajasthan, Murugan Ashwin conceded 43 runs from his four overs. In his last over, he was smashed for three sixes, which shifted the momentum towards the Rajasthan team in the run chase. Luckily, Punjab managed to sneak in a win. There are chances he might sit out the next match in Wankhede. 
<h3 class="p1">Watch Ben McDermott&#8217;s Rapid Fire &#8211; </h3>
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The first week of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Premier League 2021</a> is done and dusted. Out of the seven matches being played so far, two matches in Mumbai had some really high scores while the other five matches have been not so good for the batsmen. Four of those five have been played in Chennai while the other two being in Mumbai. 
In this one week, fans have witnessed some tight matches and the quality of cricket has been as high as one would expect with the IPL. However, some players have not started their campaign on a high.
<h3>Here is a round-up for the week, with the Flop XI of the first week of the 14th edition of the IPL:</h3>
<h3>1. Wriddhiman Saha</h3>
<figure id="attachment_239285" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239285" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239285" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Wriddhiman-Saha.jpg" alt="Wriddhiman Saha" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239285" class="wp-caption-text">Wriddhiman Saha of SRH. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> was forced to start with Wriddhiman Saha as an opener during the latter half of the IPL 2020 season, in order to accommodate Kane Williamson. The plan had worked well for them then. However, in IPL 2021, Saha has returned with scores of 7 and 1 in the two matches so far.
He scored a painful 9-ball 1 against Bangalore when Hyderabad needed him to score quickly with the new ball on a pitch where the ball was going to hold up in later overs. Going by the stats, Saha’s average in Chennai is second-worst for him at any venue, while his strike rate has been the lowest at the venue. 
<h3>2. Manan Vohra </h3>
<figure id="attachment_339465" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-339465" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-339465" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manan-Vohra.jpg" alt="Manan Vohra" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-339465" class="wp-caption-text">Manan Vohra. (Photo Source: Instagram)</figcaption></figure>
Having not played a single match in the past two seasons of the IPL, Manan Vohra returned to the league in<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/rr-rajasthan-royals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Rajasthan Royals’</a> opening match of this season. He played a couple of really good shots, one of which was a beautiful flick for six. But, he was dismissed for 12 by a stunning followthrough catch by Arshdeep Singh. 
In the second match as well, he hit two beautiful fours off Chris Woakes, before top-edging one in the air. He scored only nine runs in that match. Rajasthan got out of jail in that match against Delhi. But if he fails in a couple of more matches at the top order, then Sanju Samson might have to re-think his place in the side. 
<h3>3. Manish Pandey </h3>
<figure id="attachment_504427" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-504427" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-504427" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Manish-Pandey.jpg" alt="Manish Pandey" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-504427" class="wp-caption-text">Manish Pandey. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Manish Pandey was sent at no. 3 for <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> ahead of a power-hitter like Jonny Bairstow. In the first match, he scored 61 runs from 44 balls during a run chase against Kolkata. SRH lost a couple of early wickets but Pandey steadied the ship in their run chase of 188 runs. However, there were stages in the game, where he could have taken the role of an aggressor. 
There wasn’t an effort from him to increase the run rate between overs 15 and 20. Because of this, he was criticized by some experts. In the next match, he scored 38 runs from as many balls, before he got out trying to play a big shot off the very next ball after Bairstow’s dismissal. In Chennai, Hyderabad needed an experienced batter to bat responsibly and guide the chase. Sadly, Pandey has failed them twice now. 
<h3>4. Marcus Stoinis</h3>
<figure id="attachment_452767" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-452767" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-452767" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Marcus-stoinis.jpg" alt="Marcus Stoinis" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-452767" class="wp-caption-text">Marcus Stoinis. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
There are two parts of Marcus Stoinis to focus on. Firstly, let us talk about his batting. He scored a 9-ball 14 in the first match against Chennai. But, his runs came when the match was almost sealed by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/dc-delhi-capitals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delhi</a>, courtesy of the openers. In the second match, he scored a duck when Delhi needed him to get together with captain Pant and form a partnership.
Having lost three early wickets on a good batting wicket, Stoinis could have used this opportunity but instead fell for a 5-ball zero. As far as bowling is concerned, he has bowled only three overs in the two matches. He has conceded 41 runs in those three overs and hasn’t looked as effective he was in the last season. 
<h3>5. Vijay Shankar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_328110" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-328110" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-328110" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Vijay-Shankar-1.jpg" alt="Vijay Shankar" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-328110" class="wp-caption-text">Vijay Shankar. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
Make no mistake, Vijay Shankar is a good option as a No. 6 or No.7 in T20s. But, maybe on a slowish pitch, like the one where<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/srh-sunrisers-hyderabad/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sunrisers Hyderabad</a> played on, he needs to spend some more time at the crease before looking to go for big shots. Clearly, coming out and slogging from ball one could be his thing where the pitch has some pace to work with. 
Against Kolkata, he scored a 7-ball 11 and failed to close out a match. Like Pandey, Shankar was part of another collapse just a few days later against Bangalore when he scored only three. With Kedar Jadhav waiting in the wings, Shankar would be aware that his place in the side could be under threat if he fails to deliver. With the ball as well, he has bowled only one over for 14 runs. 
<h3>6. MS Dhoni (C &amp; WK)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_504270" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-504270" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-504270" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-3.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-504270" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
MS Dhoni returned to professional cricket for the first time since playing in the IPL 2020. However, his return wasn’t quite what he would have liked. In the first match against Delhi, he looked scratchy during his two-ball duck. Avesh Khan bowled him with a beautiful ball as the former international returned to the dugout. 
On top of that, he faced an INR 12 lakh fine with an offense of slow over-rate. He is even at the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2021-heres-why-csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-can-face-a-one-match-ban/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risk of getting banned</a> if he commits this offense again in the next two matches. Throughout his career, MS Dhoni has always found ways to come back stronger and answer his critics. His numbers since IPL 2020 are the lowest it has ever been for him, so it will be interesting to see if he can make another turnaround happen against the odds. 
<h3>7. Rahul Tewatia </h3>
<figure id="attachment_456552" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456552" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-456552" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rahul-Tewatia-of-RR.jpg" alt="Rahul Tewatia" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456552" class="wp-caption-text">Rahul Tewatia. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Rahul Tewatia was one of the finds of the 2020 season. He scored 255 runs with a good average and a strike rate and also picked up 10 wickets. However, so far in the<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> IPL 2021</a>, Tewatia has looked like a shadow of his 2020’s outing. In the first match, he bowled only two overs and conceded 25 runs from that. With the bat, in that match, he scored only two runs. 
In the second match, which was a low-scoring one, he conceded 27 runs from his three overs. Though he contributed 19 with the bat, he wasn’t able to finish the job for the Rajasthan Royals. Last year, Steve Smith as a captain used Tewatia brilliantly to get the most out of him. Sanju Samson might have to think about how Tewatia could be used in the best way possible. 
<h3>8. Tom Curran</h3>
<figure id="attachment_459689" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-459689" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-459689" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Tom-Curran.jpg" alt="Tom Curran" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-459689" class="wp-caption-text">Tom Curran. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
When Tom Curran was signed by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/dc-delhi-capitals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Delhi Capitals</a> ahead of this season, it wasn’t expected that he would be starting in the first XI for them. However, injury to Anrich Nortje meant Curran got an opportunity first up. Unfortunately, his record in the two matches hasn’t been anything remarkable. 
Though he did get a wicket in the first match against Chennai, he suffered a brutal assault at the death from his younger brother, Sam Curran. He ended with figures with 1 for 40 in that match. In the next match, he was handed over the responsibility to finish the match by defending 12 runs, which he failed to do against Rajasthan. He gave 35 runs in 3.4 overs in that low-scoring match, without picking a wicket. 
<h3>9. Yuzvendra Chahal </h3>
<figure id="attachment_447751" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-447751" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-447751" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Yuzvendra-Chahal.jpg" alt="Yuzvendra Chahal" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-447751" class="wp-caption-text">Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Yuzvendra Chahal has looked a touch out of rhythm so far in the IPL 2021. The leg-spinner who has been a regular player in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/rcb-royal-challengers-bangalore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Royal Challengers Bangalore</a> XI for the past two or three years has struggled to get wickets on the Chennai pitch, which generally supports spin bowlers. In the first match, he conceded 41 runs in his four overs. 
His performance did improve marginally in the second match when he conceded 29 runs from his four overs. But, yet again he failed to take a wicket. RCB has won both their matches, so far, and arguably their best-ever spinner hasn’t taken a wicket yet. For them to break their streak and win the title, Chahal will have to come back in form in the upcoming weeks. 
<h3>10. Harbhajan Singh </h3>
<figure id="attachment_506389" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-506389" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-506389" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Harbhajan-Singh.jpg" alt="Harbhajan Singh" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-506389" class="wp-caption-text">Harbhajan Singh. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Some eyebrows were raised when Harbhajan Singh was bought by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/kkr-kolkata-knight-riders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> in the IPL 2021 auction. Captain Eoin Morgan said ahead of the start of the season that his addition has provided a balance to the side. However, the veteran off-spinner has not been trusted by his captain in the middle overs. 
In both the matches so far, Harbhajan opened the bowling for KKR, only because there was a left-handed opening batsman in the opposition. Fortunately or not, they were removed early on both occasions by other bowlers and Morgan replaced Harbhajan from the attack. He didn’t come back to bowl in the first match but bowled one extra over in the second match. He has conceded 25 runs from three overs in this season, without picking up any wickets. 
<h3>11. Murugan Ashwin </h3>
<figure id="attachment_455975" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-455975" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-455975" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Murugan-Ashwin.jpg" alt="Murugan Ashwin" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-455975" class="wp-caption-text">Murugan Ashwin. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
Murugan Ashwin bowled with quite a brave heart in the last season of the IPL. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/punjab-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punjab Kings</a> surprised some experts when they opted for Murugan Ashwin ahead of Ravi Bishnoi to play in the starting XI as the lone spinner. The bait of Ashwin didn’t work a great deal for the Punjab captain KL Rahul. 
In the team’s opening match against Rajasthan, Murugan Ashwin conceded 43 runs from his four overs. In his last over, he was smashed for three sixes, which shifted the momentum towards the Rajasthan team in the run chase. Luckily, Punjab managed to sneak in a win. There are chances he might sit out the next match in Wankhede. 
<h3 class="p1">Watch Ben McDermott&#8217;s Rapid Fire &#8211; </h3>
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RCB has started their season with two straight wins while Sunrisers Hyderabad has lost both their matches so far.

Flop XI from the first week of IPL 2021

Here is the Flop XI from the first week of the IPL 2021, when a total of seven matches were played, with all teams featuring once at least