IPL 2021: Flop XI of the league stage

Fans have been treated with some T20 madness in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. The league stage of the competition saw many nail-biting encounters as teams weren’t ready to quit until the very last ball. In these matches, we also saw many batters and bowlers unleashing their best over the 22 yards and earning praises from different corners.

While stalwarts like Faf du Plessis and Jasprit Bumrah lived up to the expectations, youngsters like Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi burst onto the scenes. However, there were also some players who couldn’t deliver as per their liking. With T20 being a format of twists and turns, being consistent is a daunting task.

Moreover, the Indian Premier League sees T20 stars from worldwide plying their trades. While some embrace the challenge with brilliance, several also endure failures. With the league stage of IPL 2021 coming to an end, we’ll look at the players who struggled to make a significant mark.

Here’s the flop XI of IPL 2021:

1. David Warner

This season has been nothing but forgettable for David Warner. While he was Sunrisers Hyderabad captain at the start of the tournament, he couldn’t find a place in the team’s dug-out in the latter stages. Warner, who has been one of the most consistent batters in IPL history, struggled to score freely in the first leg.

Although he scored a couple of half-centuries, SRH endured one defeat after another. In order to change the fortunes, the team management decided to sack Warner midway in the first leg, giving the leadership responsibilities to Kane Williamson. What was even more shocking that Warner even got dropped from the playing XI.

With Jonny Bairstow pulling out of the second leg, Warner played a couple of games after the season resumption. However, scores of 0 and 2 meant the southpaw is sacked again. In the last few matches, Warner didn’t even get to travel with the team to the stadium as he wasn’t in the first 19. He was spotted cheering SRH from stands during their clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Matches – 8 | Runs – 195 | Average – 24.37 | Strike Rate – 107.7 | Highest Score – 57

2. Wriddhiman Saha

Warner’s opening partner is none other than his SRH teammate Wriddhiman Saha. This shows how IPL 2021 panned out for Sunrisers Hyderabad. While Saha played just a handful of matches in the first leg, he was given regular chances after the season resumption. However, what remained constant is Saha not performing to his potential.

Delivering consistently has been an issue for Saha since the last few seasons. However, it won’t be wrong to say that he endured his hardest time in IPL 2021. Given the opening position, the wicketkeeper struggled to make use of the powerplay restrictions. He also got cheaply in most of the games.

In fact, his strike rate this season is below 100. These numbers aren’t impressive by any standards and Saha won’t be pleased either.  Although he was pretty solid with the gloves in hand, his failures at the top order hurt SRH in many games.

Matches – 9 | Runs – 131 | Average – 14.55 | Strike Rate – 93.6 | Highest Score – 44

3. Nicholas Pooran

What an unfortunate turnaround this has been for Nicholas Pooran! The Caribbean dasher was in the form of his life in IPL 2020 as he played several sensational knocks. While Punjab Kings expected him to shine in the 2021 edition as well, Pooran couldn’t live up to the expectations. The left-handed batsman endured regular failures as PBKS lost one game after another.

He even got dropped in the first leg. However, the team management again showcased faith in him after the season resumption. After all, IPL 2021 also took place in UAE. Unfortunately for PBKS, Pooran couldn’t overcome his lean patch. Notably, Punjab, in the second installment, lost a couple of matches by narrow margins.

Had Pooran contributed even some bit in those games, the KL Rahul-led side might have been in the playoffs. However, it was a season where nothing at all went the southpaw’s say. With the mega auction taking place next year, PBKS aren’t expected to retain the left-handed batter.

Matches – 12 | Runs – 85 | Average – 7.72| Strike Rate – 111.84| Highest Score – 32

4. Eoin Morgan

Many believed Eoin Morgan should also be sacked as captain midway through the season, just like Warner. After all, the England international hardly delivered in the batting department. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team management persisted with him. Hailed as one of the finest white-ball captains going around, Morgan impressed with his tactics and leadership skills.

However, the same can’t be said about his batting. The left-handed batter struggled to get going on the slow and spin-friendly tracks. While he played a couple of handy knocks, his strike rate wasn’t on the higher side. Owing to the same, Morgan features in this unfortunate list.

Fortunately for KKR, youngsters like Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi and Venkatesh Iyer delivered more often than not, taking KKR to several wins. Notably, the playoff stage is yet to be played and it would be interesting to see if Morgan can make up for his failures.

Matches – 14 | Runs – 124 | Average – 12.40| Strike Rate – 102.47| Highest Score – 47*

5. Hardik Pandya

One of the most prominent names to flop in IPL 2021 is Hardik Pandya. Hailed as one of the clean hitters of the ball, Pandya couldn’t unleash big hits at will. On most of the occasions, he also got out while trying to up the ante. With the T20 World Cup 2021 being just around the corner, fans weren’t amused with Pandya’s mediocre show.

Notably, the all-rounder struggled with fitness issues throughout the tournament and subsequently, didn’t bowl a single over. He also missed a handful of matches due to the same. All these factors hurt Mumbai Indians big time as they couldn’t advance to the next stage.

With the mega auction taking place next year and MI having several big players in the ranks, the Junior Pandya might not be retained. However, some impressive performances in the national jersey can turn things around.

Matches – 12 | Runs – 127 | Average – 14.11| Strike Rate – 113.39| Highest Score – 40*

6. MS Dhoni (C & WK)

Arguably the best captain ever in the history of the game, MS Dhoni is also a part of this not-so-elite line-up. Having retired from international cricket last year, Dhoni continued to ply his trade for Chennai Super Kings in IPL. Although his glovework and on-field decisions were précised as ever, the veteran was nothing but disappointing with the bat in hand.

Coming to bat lower down the order, Dhoni often found himself in action during the death overs. While Dhoni, during his heydays, was a nemesis for bowlers in this juncture of the game, he struggled heavily in the 2021 edition. His inability to accumulate quick runs also put CSK in a spot of bother a couple of times.

Fortunately for Dhoni and CSK, the other batters came to the party and took the three-time champions to the playoffs. With Dhoni enduring hard times with the bat consistently, it would be interesting to see if the CSK management retains him. It has to be noted that the 40-year-old has expressed desire of featuring in the 2022 edition.

Matches – 14 | Runs – 96 I Average – 13.71| Strike Rate – 95.04| Highest Score – 18

7. Daniel Christian

From Big Bash League to the Caribbean Premier League and T20 Blast, the Australian all-rounder has many prominent T20 titles in his cabinet. He, now, aims to get his hands on the IPL trophy as well. The veteran might well do so with Royal Challengers Bangalore enjoying a sensational run in the competition.

However, as far as individual performance is concerned, Christian doesn’t have much to show. While he couldn’t make a significant mark in the bowling department, he literally did nothing with the bat in hand. Christian has just accumulated five runs from seven matches. With the ball in hand, he took three wickets in seven outings.

Despite these performances, Christian was considered ahead of Kyle Jamieson and Wanindu Hasaranga. With RCB now advancing to the playoff stage, many believe the team management should give chance to some else. However, what matters is the think tank of RCB skipper Virat Kohli and the team management.

Matches – 8 | Runs – 5 | Average – 1.00| Strike Rate – 31.25| Wickets – 4 | Economy Rate – 8.40

8. Rahul Tewatia

Is Rahul Tewatia one of those one-season wonders? Many fans and experts think so. The all-rounder was one of the finds of IPL 2020. He even got awarded with a national call-up. While Tewatia was expected to make a park this season as well, he couldn’t do so. While he failed to make significant contributions with the bat, his bowling wasn’t must effective either.

As a result, Rajasthan Royals couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. With the tracks being slow and spin-friendly, Tewatia couldn’t play explosive cameos like he did last season. However, the more surprising part was his failure with the ball. After all, these conditions are tailor-made for spinners.

Alongside being unable to take wickets, the leg-spinners was also taken to cleaners most of the times. In RR’s last league-stage game, Tewatia did score a fighting 44 but it only narrowed down the margin of Rajasthan’s defeat. Hence, just like many players in this XI, the all-rounder is all but likely to find himself in the auction pool ahead of next season’s auction.

Matches – 14 | Runs – 155 I Average – 15.50| Strike Rate – 105.44| Wickets – 8 | Economy Rate – 9.18

9. Ravichandran Ashwin

Although Ravichandran Ashwin is a part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, his performance in IPL 2021 won’t excite the team management much. Regarded as one of the finest spinners going around, Ashwin hasn’t performed as per his standards in this competition. Operating in the middle overs, the off-spinner struggled to take wickets.

He was also taken to the cleaners at times. It has to be noted that Delhi Capitals’ bowling attack also comprises Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, and Anrich Nortje. As all these bowlers have been impressive, Ashwin’s dismal raises even more eyebrows. In 10 outings, the 35-year-old was only able to take five wickets.

These numbers aren’t impressive and hence, DC don’t have many reasons to retain Ashwin next season. Nevertheless, the talismanic cricketer will be plying his trade in the playoffs. Hence, Ashwin can make up for his failures with some impressive spells in the high-stake games.

Matches – 11 | Wickets – 5 | Economy Rate – 7.33| Best Figures – 1/20

10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Besides Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s dismal show is also a worrying sign for Team India ahead of the T20 World Cup. Having won the Purple cap twice, the right-arm pacer has been a prolific performer in the gala competition. Alongside keeping the scoring rate down, Bhuvneshwar is also known to take wickets at any stage of the game.

Unfortunately, the veteran fast bowler could do neither in IPL 2021. He leaked runs consistently in the powerplay overs and his spells in death overs weren’t impressive either. As a result, the opposition team got to score runs and SRH lost one game after another.

With Bhuvneshwar being far away from his best, he isn’t a sure starter in India’s XI for the global event.  Moreover, SRH, after such a forgettable season, must go under a revamp. Hence, Bhuvneshwar might well get another team in IPL 2022.

Matches – 11 | Wickets – 6 | Economy Rate – 7.97| Best Figures – 1/16

11. Sandeep Sharma

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s partner-in-crime Sandeep Sharma completes this season. Although the right-arm pacer hasn’t played a lot of international cricket, he’s a proven IPL star. In fact, his numbers ahead of the season were pretty much identical to that of Jasprit Bumrah. However, the 2021 edition of the competition didn’t see Sandeep making the ball talk.

While Sharma didn’t get regular chances in the first leg, the team management gave him a substantial run after the season resumption. However, it was a season of players letting down SRH. As a result, the pacer endured regular failures.

With Sandeep not having pace in his arsenal, his inability to swing the ball cost him big time. Like in previous seasons, he wasn’t a force to reckon with in the death overs either. Hence, the 28-years-old now needs to make a mark in the domestic circuit to put up a better show next season.

Matches – 7 | Wickets – 3 | Economy Rate – 8.63| Best Figures – 1/20