Worst XI of IPL 7 2014

Indian Premier League as usual was dominated by the batters even in this season. But, it was not a cake walk the Kolkata Knight Riders who were the strongest bowling unit and Kings XI Punjab the deadliest scorers fought the final battle. The bowling heavyweights were better on the day and though crowned the champions. A lot of new names, relatively unknown, uncapped impressed and a few big names those who had heavy bets on them disappointed. So let’s club the underperformers together, a XI of them we have picked who were in worst of touch this season.

Usually only the outstanding players are laurelled after a tournament but, for the matter that huge funds rode on their backs we scrutinize them to figure out the Worst XI of the IPL 7

1 – Murali Vijay (DD) (Batsman)

Team – Delhi Daredevils | Ex- Team – Chennai Super Kings | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions –  2 Crore | Sold For – 5 Crore | Player Role – Batsman

Stats In ‘IPL-7’

Matches Played – 11 | Innings – 11 | Runs – 207 | Highest – 52 | Avg. – 18.81 | Strike Rate – 107.2

Murali Vijay India’s test and CSK opener till last season was not retained this time by the Yellow brigade and DD bought him up for a relatively higher 5Cr contract. If a few names were to be blamed for the debacle DD have had he has to be a part of it. It was a disappointing season for him as he could not bat freely got out early on most occasions and after 207 runs in 11 matches the team had to take a call of dropping him. One of the biggest let down of the season as there was lot of expectations from him and so he is at the brim of Worst XI of the IPL 7.

2 – Chris Gayle (RCB) (Batsman)

Team – Royal Challengers Bangalore | Ex- Team – Royal Challengers Bangalore | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions –  Retained By Royal Challengers Bangalore | Sold For – Retained By Royal Challengers Bangalore | Playing Role – Batsman

Stats In ‘IPL-7

Matches Played – 9 |  Innings – 9 | Runs – 196 | Highest – 46 | Avg. – 21.77 | Strike Rate – 106.52

The Royal Challengers Bangalore as every IPL looked the strongest team on paper and stayed so. Their on field performance has very little to talk about and the reason was constant poor starts to their batting innings. Christopher Henry Gayle, easily recognizable as the generator of Gayle Storm was nowhere near the expected level. 196 runs in 9 IPL game of 2014 does not at all look like his stats but the truth remains and hence making a huge switch over from the best XI Gayle is inducted in the Worst XI of the IPL 7.

3 – Cheteshwar Pujara (KXIP) (Batsman)

Team – Kings XI Punjab | Ex- Team – Royal Challengers Bangalore | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions –  1.5 Crore | Sold For – 1.9 Crore | Playing Role – Batsman

Stats In ‘IPL-7’

Matches Played – 6 |  Innings – 6 | Runs – 125 | Highest – 40 | Avg. – 25.00 | Strike Rate – 100.80

The trademark, stamped and by now type casted test batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara was picked by the Kings XI showing real trust on his batting technique and expecting him to tackle the challenges of T20 cricket. He never likes to be called a T20 batsmen and one expected him to come out with the intent to show the world he has sufficient talent and commitment to take on any circumstance he is put in. But, he failed miserably in doing so, and struggled big time to score runs and whenever he did were never convincing enough. KXIP went with him as opener for 6 games and he could only score 125 runs only to be left out there on.

4 – Jacques Kallis (KKR) (All-Rounder)

Team – Kolkata Knight Riders | Ex- Team – Kolkata Knight Riders | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions –  2 Crore | Sold For – 5.5 Crore | Playing Role – All-Rounder

Stats In ‘IPL-7’

Batting Stats | Matches Played – 8 |  Innings – 7 | Runs – 151 | Highest – 72 | Avg. – 25.16 | Strike Rate – 117.05

Bowling Stats | Matches Played – 8 | Innings – 8 | Overs – 22.0 | Runs Conceded – 186 | Wickets – 4 | Best Figures – 1/15 | Economy – 8.45

The ‘best all-rounder’ world cricket has seen, I am precise in quoting him the best because his work (batting and bowling stats both) speak for the guy. He was always a key member in the KKR unit and Gautam had the leisure of using him as an opening batsmen and bowler too. This year was different Kallis in the 8 games that he played could not leave a mark and struggled with 151 runs and only 4 wickets. The KKR management was forced rather to take the strong decision and he was benched henceforth.

5 – Mayank Agarwal (DD) (Batsman)

Team – Delhi Daredevils | Ex- Team – Royal Challengers Bangalore | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions – 10 Lakh | Sold For – 1.6 Crore | Playing Role – Batsman

Stats In ‘IPL-7’ 

Matches Played – 8 |  Innings – 8 | Runs – 115 | Highest – 31 | Avg. – 14.37 | Strike Rate – 126.37

Mayan Agarwal was auctioned into Daredevils expecting the young talent to shine and flourish. But nothing of that sort materialized and after an initial run DD decided to look over him and was in the extras there after. He could only make 115 runs in 8 games for the DD.

6 – Parthiv Patel (RCB) (Wicket-Keeper/Batsman) 

Team – Royal Challengers Bangalore | Ex- Team – Sunrisers Hyderabad | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions – 1 Crore | Sold For – 1.4 Crore | Playing Role – Wicket-Keeper/Batsman

Stats In ‘IPL-7’ 

Matches Played – 12 |  Innings – 12 | Runs – 205 | Highest – 57* | Avg. – 20.50 | Strike Rate – 110.81 | Dismissals (Catches/Stumpings) – 12

Parthiv the pocket-size dynamo after highly successful season for the Sun risers Hyderabad, the Royal Challengers picked him as partner to Gayle. Though he did fire in a few games, lack of consistency at the top and poor starts affected RCB big time. Gayle his partner too failed miserably and RCB searched for other opening options. In the. games that Parthiv started the proceedings for RCB he made 205 runs.

7 – Darren Sammy (SRH) (Captain) (All-Rounder)

Team – Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ex- Team –  Sunrisers Hyderabad | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions – 1 Crore | Sold For – 3.50 Crore | Playing Role – All-Rounder

Stats In ‘IPL-7’ 

Batting Stats | Matches Played – 10 |  Innings – 9 | Runs – 108 | Highest – 29 | Avg. – 15.42 | Strike Rate – 118.68

Bowling Stats | Matches Played – 10 | Innings – 8 | Overs – 14.0 | Runs Conceded – 157 | Wickets – 3 | Best Figures – 1/20 | Economy – 11.21

Darren Sammy had way to many expectations on himself. One as a bowler then as a pinch hitter as well and he failed on both fronts. In the midst of the journey Dhawan gave him back the captain’s hat but nothing changed. Poor and deteriorating form with the ball also effected his batting and he could only get to 108 runs in 9 innings and only 3 wickets. One of the major reasons for dip in performance of the SRH was Sammy’s form.

8 – Stuart Binny (RR) (All-Rounder)

Team – Rajasthan Royals | Ex- Team –  Rajasthan Royals | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions – Retained By Rajasthan Royals | Sold For – Retained By Rajasthan Royals | Playing Role – All-Rounder

Stats In ‘IPL-7’ 

Batting Stats | Matches Played – 13 |  Innings – 12 | Runs – 123 | Highest – 48* | Avg. – 12.30 | Strike Rate – 101.65

Bowling Stats | Matches Played – 13 | Innings – 8 | Overs – 9.0 | Runs Conceded – 64 | Wickets – 3 | Best Figures – 1/1 | Economy – 7.11

Stuart Binny was expected to play a key role in RR’s IPL7 campaign. But he certainly could not live upto the expectation. An all-rounders role is so tough that if you miss form in one aspect the other gets affected too. He was equally poor with the bat and the ball with only. 123 runs & 3 wickets in 13 matches.

9 – Amit Mishra (SRH) (Spin Bowler)

Team – Sunrisers Hyderabad | Ex- Team –  Sunrisers Hyderabad | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions – 2 Crore | Sold For – 4.75 Crore | Playing Role – Spin Bowler

Stats In ‘IPL-7’

Bowling Stats | Matches Played – 10 | Innings – 10 | Overs – 37.3 | Runs Conceded – 340 | Wickets – 7 | Best Figures – 2/23 | Economy – 9.06

Amit Mishra had a great outing for India in the World T20 so was expected to carry the form into IPL. Otherwise happened and Mishra completely missed the trick and could only pick. 7 wickets in 10 the matches he represented SRH in.

10- Ashok Dinda (RCB) (Seam Bowler)

Team – Royal Challengers Bangalore | Ex- Team –  Pune Warriors India | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions – 1 Crore | Sold For – 1.50 Crore | Playing Role – Seam Bowler

Stats In ‘IPL-7’

Bowling Stats | Matches Played – 9 | Innings – 9 | Overs – 31.0 | Runs Conceded – 270 | Wickets – 5 | Best Figures – 1/14 | Economy – 8.70

Ashok Dinda apart from that unique jump has a unique fact related to him that no team in 7 years has made it to the playoff’s with Dinda in the team. Making it a stronger case he bowled as bad as he could. Got hit freely every time he held the ball, one of the toppers in economy rates at 8.70 runs per over. and only 5 wickets in 9 matches made RCB wonder whether picking him was a fault indeed.

11 – Pragyan Ojha (MI) (Spin Bowler)

Team – Mumbai Indians | Ex- Team –  Mumbai Indians | Base Price In IPL ‘7’ Auctions – 2 Crore | Sold For – 3.25 Crore | Playing Role – Spin Bowler

Stats In ‘IPL-7’

Bowling Stats | Matches Played – 12 | Innings – 12 | Overs – 46.0 | Runs Conceded – 380 | Wickets – 4 | Best Figures – 2/30 | Economy – 8.26

Pragyan Ojha as Sourav Ganguly likes to call him the most under rated spinner in India had a forgettable IPL this year. In the UAE and back home he just could not get out of the shell, batsmen hit him with ease and he struggled. Success of bhajji at the other end suppressed him even more and he ended this season with 4 wickets only in 12 matches for the Mumbai Indians. Only one in two slinners striking meant MI were one wicket taker short always and as a result they had to settle down for the 5th place bettered by most opponents.