IPL 2018: Unused XI of the season

The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League has proven to be a big success. Needless to concede, the tournament has been a better and a bigger season than all the previous editions of the competition. Now that the tournament has come to an end, it is justified to have a look back at the way IPL 2018 fared out for the various sides. The fortunes of some teams continued to remain poor this season and they did no good to their form.

The Delhi Daredevils and the Kings XI Punjab were the examples of this bracket. On the other hand, certain teams failed to live up to the expectation. The likes of Mumbai Indians failed to make it to the playoffs as well. At the same time, some sides like the Rajasthan Royals and the Kolkata Knight Riders punched above their weight this season to enter the playoffs of the competition.

When seen on a microscopic scale, it can be observed that the sides who tasted success in the season tried their players from the squad to the best possible way before settling down for their best possible eleven. On the other hand, some teams looked overly cautious and ended up benching some of their players for the entire season. Here we take a look at such unused players who could have made an impact in the season had they got their opportunities.

Here is the Unused XI of the IPL 2018:

Manjot Kalra – Delhi Daredevils

Young Delhi batsman Manjot Kalra was a big name at the IPL auctions this season. The U19 star has been one of the top performers in the age group cricket in India. Prior to the IPL, Kalra was an integral part of the India U!9 setup that lifted the ICC U19 World Cup 2018. He is a big match player for sure.

In the finals of the ICC U19 World Cup, Kalra had hit an unbeaten century against the Australian colts. In the tournament this year, Kalra was with the Delhi Daredevils team. While his U19 teammates, Prithvi Shaw and Abhishek Sharma, got their chances in the season, Kalra went unused. 

Cameron Delport – Kolkata Knight Riders

South African cricketer Cameron Delport is a globe trotter in the shortest format of the game. Delport plays T20 cricket all across the world, including the T20 league in Afghanistan. The T20 veteran has played 139 matches in his cateer and has scored 3 T20 centuries. He has a top score of 109* in the shortest format.

Prior to the IPL this year, Cameron Delport was a part of the Lahore Qalandars setup in the Pakistan Super League. In India, he was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders. He remained unused and untested this season. KKR opted to play with three overseas players in one of the matches this year and many felt that Delport deserved a chance in that game.

Saurabh Tiwary – Mumbai Indians

Saurabh Tiwary is a veteran in the Indian domestic circuit. Tiwary started off his IPL career with the Mumbai Indians setup. In the first couple of seasons, he was a star for the Men in Blue. However, he lost his charm ever since his association with the MI team got over.

This season, he was back with the MI side. He expected that the season could well be his second coming in his cricket career. But much to his disappointment, he did not get a single game to play in the season. Tiwary could have added stability to the MI middle-order that looked largely fragile this season.

Ishank Jaggi – Kolkata Knight Riders

The followers of the Indian cricket will know that Ishank Jaggi is not a new name. Jaggi has been around for a very long time in the Indian domestic cricket. Jaggi, who made his First Class debut for team Jharkhand in the year 2008, retained his place in the Kolkata Knight Riders lineup this season.

Last season, Jaggi had got a few games to his name for the KKR camp. But this year, Jaggi did not get a single game to play. He could have fit in to the middle order. But the management kept swapping between Rinku Singh and Shubman Gill in the middle order.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann – Delhi Daredevils

Gurkeerat Singh Mann had made a big impact in the Kings XI Punjab outfit since the 2012 edition of the IPL. He has been around for quite some time now. The Delhi all-rounder, who has played some brilliant cameos in the IPL over the years, failed to get even a single match in the tournament.

He found himself in the Delhi Daredevils lineup for the 2018 edition of the tournament. Going by his reputation in the domestic circuit, Gurkeerat should have played a few games this season. The Daredevils needed a good all-rounder in their lineup and he could have been the ideal choice for the team.

Jayant Yadav – Delhi Daredevils

Jayant Yadav is a very handy all-rounder. The Indian off-spinner has been with the Delhi Daredevils side for quite some time now. He was with the same franchise this season as well. But Delhi did not give a single game to Yadav in the tournament. It is worth noting that the off spinner has a Test century to his name in the Indian whites.

With the likes of Shahbaz Nadeem under performing this season, Delhi should have used the services of Jayant Yadav at least for a few games. He also has the ability to hit the long ball and could have been a good finisher for his side in the tournament.

Ben Dwarshuis – Kings XI Punjab

Young Australian speedster Ben Dwarshuis was associated with the Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2018. At the auctions this year, he bagged his maiden contract in the competition. But the 23 year old did not get an opportunity to show his skills to the cricket fans in India.

Prior to the IPL this year, Dwarshuis had a decent run for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL 2017-18. In all, he has played 25 T20s thus far to return with 29 wickets to his name. He would hope that he gets his chance to show his skills soon in the big league next season.

Anukul Roy – Mumbai Indians

Young all-rounder Anukul Roy was one of the stars for the India U19 team at the ICC U19 World Cup this year. He was instrumental in guiding the Indian side to the ultimate glory in the competition. Owing to his impressive run in the competition, he was roped in by the Mumbai Indians at the IPL auctions this season.

In all likelihood, the defending champions saw a back up for Krunal Pandya in the MI lineup. But with Krunal performing decently well in the season, Anukul Roy did not get a chance to show his mettle at the big stage. The Jharkhand cricketer will be hoping for more opportunities next season.

Dushmantha Chameera – Rajasthan Royals

One of the highlights of the 2018 edition of the IPL was the fact that this season, there were very few players from Sri Lanka. Among the very few who made the cut at the IPL auctions was pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera. Chameera is one of the regular faces in the Sri Lankan lineup.

He is known for bowling at serious pace. This season, he was with the Rajasthan Royals. He did not get a single game to play. For the first half of the season, he carried an injury. Later, when he got fit, he failed to fit in to the scheme of things of the Royals who already boasted of quality overseas pacers like Ben Laughlin and Jofra Archer.

Adam Milne – Mumbai Indians

New Zealand speedster Adam Milne was roped in as a replacement for Pat Cummins in the Mumbai Indians lineup. Milne is a renowed bowler in the shortest format of the game. Last season, he was with the RCB team. This year, playing for the defending champions, he expected to get in to the middle of action at some stage in the tournament. But unluckily for him, he did not get a game. Despite the fact that Ben Cutting and Mustafizur Rahman often had tough days at the office this season, Milne did not get an opportunity.

Aniket Choudhary – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Left arm speedster Aniket Choudhary created a serious buzz last season when he bowled in the Indian team nets before a Test series against Australia. The rumors were abuzz that Choudhary was called to bowl in the nets to replicate the action of Mitchell Starc in the practice sessions for the Indian team. Soon, the tall pacer found himself getting an IPL contract with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

He had a decent time on the field and came up with good shows last year. This year, he retained his place in the RCB dugout. But much to his disappointment, he did not get a single game to play in the tournament. He warmed the bench and patiently waited for his turn. With the likes of Kulwant Khejroliya and other Indian pacers not living up to the expectation, it would have only been fair to give Aniket a chance.

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