IPL 2021: Team-wise one batsman who might be benched for whole season

When it comes to the Indian Premier League, team combination is more exigent than individual capability. Imran Tahir, one of the world’s finest spinner at the moment, was a benchwarmer for the majority of the 2020 IPL tournament, despite winning the purple cap the previous season. Cricket is a team sport and might be unfair at times. Brilliant individual talents have succumbed, to get the team combination right in the Indian Premier League over the years. Rotation Policy is an alternative that flickers hope for the second-best player in the line. Batsmen are more likely to be benched since the competition is very high and all-rounders are preferred in the shorter format of the game. IPL 2021: Team-wise one batsman who might be benched for whole season Punjab Kings- Sarfaraz Khan Kings XI Punjab’s Sarfaraz Khan (Photo Source: Surjeet Yadav/IANS) He is a sensational crude hitting talent, having a strike rate of 141 in the Indian Premier League. A finisher by position, his place in the starting eleven is almost uncertain as SMAT hero Sharukh Khan might be preferred to effectuate his role. Sarfaraz played only three matches last season and did not make use of the opportunity. He hasn’t played regular domestic cricket like his Indian counterparts. Rustiness might cost him his place in the starting eleven. Sarfaraz Khan might be considered to start a game, given Punjab Kings need to rest their power-hitting core for a match or two. The practicability of that situation is dubious simply because of the availability of other proven talents on the bench. Delhi Capitals- Sam Billings Sam Billings (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) He was brought into the team as a back-up wicketkeeper. Sam Billings starting a IPL game for DC is doubtful. It is because only 4 foreign nationals are allowed to start a game for a franchise. Rabada, Nortje, and Stoinis are definite picks any day. That leaves the fourth spot up for grabs amongst Steve Smith, Shivron Hetmeyer, Tom Curran, and Sam Billings. Though the fourth spot selection might be a predicament situation for the management, it should be a relatively easier decision to bench Billings out of the lot. Sam Curran will definitely start a game if Pant gets injured. Playing him as a pure batsman is not feasible for the management at the moment because of the populous number of pure batsmen in the playing eleven. Mumbai Indians- Chris Lynn Chris Lynn. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Yet another second fiddle, Chris Lynn falls prey to the four foreigners policy of the IPL. With De Kock, Boult, Pollard, and Coulter Nile/ Milne being the four foreign options, Lynn’s services to Mumbai Indians on the pitch is a question mark. He might have to warm the bench for the majority of the tournament and will surely be called up if there is an injury crisis. Mumbai Indians have got their winning eleven right and it would be startling if they ever want to perturb it. He sets foot in IPL 2021 after having a brilliant Big Bash averaging 33, striking at a rate of 159. Lynn will be definitely called up to the first team if Mumbai Indians are positioned first or second with a few games in hand. Royal Challengers Bengaluru- Josh Philippe Josh Philippe. (Photo Source: Getty Images) He was assimilated after his success in Big Bash 2019/20 and was given ample opportunities in IPL 2020 before ABD decided to pad up behind the stumps giving rise to an extra foreigner spot that can be a bowler or bowling all-rounder. Philippe after having an overwhelming Big Bash 2020/21, might again be subjected to rotation policy if they have to play Adam Zampa or Dan Christian, the latter being a serial winner. However, Philippe might not miss the majority of the tournament like his compatriot Lynn, he might be rotated in and out if RCB has to play another foreigner who might help them concede fewer runs in the middle overs. Rajasthan Royals- David Miller David Miller. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The 31-year-old South African batsman might be sidelined for the second consecutive IPL season in order to accommodate all-time record highest buy, Chris Morris. Though David Miller has a bounteous average, he might not make the cut due to his lack of bowling contribution. Rajasthan Royals would prefer an Indian bowling all-rounder which also gives them an option to play Morris/Tye. Yet another elite batsman mothballed for team combination. David Miller played just one match in the previous edition before being dropped for Tom Curran. A similar scenario might be on the cards this season, as we would see Miller losing his place for Morris who might strengthen Rajasthan’s fast bowling unit. Miller will be given an opportunity if Rajasthan qualifies to the play-offs comfortably with a game or two in hand. Kolkata Knight Riders- Karun Nair Karun Nair. (Photo Source: Twitter) A seasoned batsman, who usually plays in the middle overs as a sheet-anchor, Karun Nair’s services might be required for KKR if there is a batting collapse. Karun played just one match in the recently concluded SMAT for Karnataka. The point at issue is that the spot he usually plays in is subjected to heavy competition both from proven local talents and experienced international stars like Rinku Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Shakib-Al-Hasan, and Tim Seifert. His position entirely depends on who opens the innings for KKR. Karun Nair will be watched very closely and a string of bad performances might cost him his dear position expeditiously. Sunrisers Hyderabad- Kedhar Jadhav Kedar Jadhav. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images) After having a nightmare of a season with CSK, Jadhav returns to IPL with the Orange Army. He is so versatile that he can play the role of both sheet anchor and finisher for a team depending upon match context. Nevertheless, being a T20 specialist, he might be ostracized from the playing eleven. This is due to a number of factors including the availability of better players to carry out the desired role, bowling weakness, and rustiness. His name would definitely be contemplated if there is an underperformance from Vijay Shankar or Mitch Marsh. He can be used as the sixth/seventh bowling option. He has a knack for breaking partnerships with his unorthodox bowling style. The extent to which it might be used by SRH is uncertain at the moment. Chennai Super Kings – Narayan Jagadeesan Narayan Jagadeesan. (Photo Source: Twitter) After a splendid SMAT 2021, Jagadeesan returns to the CSK camp, with a dubious future ahead of him. Ruturaj’s intent at the end of IPL 2020 and Uthappa’s current form in Vijay Hazare means Jagadeesan has to work way harder to ensure a spot in the playing eleven. Jagadeesan was dropped from the playing eleven in IPL 2020 after getting a single opportunity, which he used efficiently to score 33 runs. MS Dhoni’s argument that Jagdeesan didn’t show enough ‘spark’ to retain his position was criticized by cricket pundits back then. The Coimbatore batsman returns to the IPL campaign post a blistering SMAT season scoring 259 runs in just six matches. Even then, starting for his team is arduous as CSK dropped a bombshell by acquiring the services of Pujara which puts Jagadeesan at the bottom of the hierarchy of replacements.

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