IPL 2019: Flop XI of Indian players

These players couldn't step up for the team consistently this season.

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Chennai Super Kings’ Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu during the first IPL 2019 match. (Photo: IANS)

After some thrilling encounters, eye-catching performances and chaotic moments, the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has finally come to an end. The extravaganza signed off on a high note, wherein, an inspiring team-effort from the Mumbai Indians ensured that they defeat of the defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the final. The tournament was surrounded by lots of buzz and some controversies, which will be remembered for a long time.

It also witnessed a few scintillating performances and saw the emergence of multiple young talents. However, the other side of the coin also tells us that there was a bunch of players who had the name and expectations from them but failed to make a mark in the season. Multiple Indian as well as overseas players couldn’t perform up to the expectations and proved out to be massive disappointments.

The onus across franchises and seasons has been on the Indian players to do well and show the way to their teams. But there were a few recognized Indian performers who couldn’t prove their worth and simply flopped this season.

Here, we take a look into the XI of those Indian players, who turned out to be a big let-down in IPL 2019:

1. Prithvi Shaw (Delhi Capitals)

Prithvi Shaw
Prithvi Shaw. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Prithvi Shaw had walked into the 12th edition of IPL as one of the most promising players to watch out for. After a superb debut, the lad was expected to set the league on fire with his ornate batting, in this season as well. However, the conjectures about the newcomer didn’t go well as he wasn’t able to maintain his form this time around. The 19-year old, despite scoring a magnificent knock of 99 runs towards the start of the season failed to make a mark in rest of the games.

The dashing opener scored a total of 353 runs in the 16 games for the Delhi Capitals. Out of the above-mentioned figure, 99 runs came in just one game against the Kolkata Knight Riders. If we keep that aside, Shaw’s aggregate falls down to the minimal amount of 244 runs, which he could register in a total of 15 games.

He got off to starts all through the season playing a few delightful shots to start with but perished soon after. Shaw had a star opening partner at the other end in Shikhar Dhawan and should’ve used that as a cushion to get in and then convert the starts into knocks of substance to aid the team. The Capitals, who made a playoffs appearance after the wait of 6 years, were knocked out of the league in the penultimate encounter of the season as they failed to defend the total against the Chennai Super Kings.

2. Ambati Rayudu (Chennai Super Kings):

Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu. (Photo: IANS)

After the initial roller-coaster ride that his career was, Ambati Rayudu rose to sudden fame after the previous season of the IPL. He had scored 600+ runs in IPL 2018 and was one of the prime factors that ensured a dream comeback for the Chennai Super Kings. Rayudu’s breakthrough performance also earned him a national call-up and had almost secured his place in the national team.

Nonetheless, the tables turned when Rayudu once again donned the yellow jersey this season. He played all the 17 matches with the team, CSK is one of those sides that believes in backing the players all the way but it persisted to be a disappointment. Even in the final Rayudu walked in at a time when he just had to bat alongside Shane Watson and he would’ve taken them over the line, but he got out glory hunting just at arrival.

He ended the season with just 282 runs despite consistently batting at the crucial No.4 spot, also the one he was in content for with the Indian ODI team. More than anything else, it was Rayudu’s slump that hurt CSK the most and they might have to take a call on that ahead of IPL 2020.

3. Robin Uthappa (Kolkata Knight Riders):

Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)

Robin Uthappa has been one of the stalwarts of the Indian Premier League and particularly for the Kolkata Knight Riders. He’s manned up positions from that of an opener to No.3 and 4, even lower on occasions what helped him prevail all this while was the confidence and faith the team had in him. The dynamics, however, changed this time and Uthappa wasn’t his regular self.

He lost his spot higher up the batting order to younger players and though not expressed out, in general, seemed to have had an impact on him for the worse. There was little coordination and from how it appeared on the field even lack of a cordial relationship even with the skipper Dinesh Karthik.

Uthappa batted 12 times in IPL 2019 and could post just 282 runs. It is not just form that would be a concern for KKR but a lot more than that and this certainly isn’t good news for the cricketer who is in the twilight of his career.

4. Vijay Shankar (Sunrisers Hyderabad):

Vijay Shankar
Vijay Shankar. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)

Just when the doohickeys had started to turn in Vijay Shankar’s favour and the tide was rolling for the good, the storm of ‘bad form’ hit Shankar’s fortunes. The extremely-talented lad, after doing well in the T20s, made his ODI debut for Team India earlier this year. After impressing in the time he got with the Men in Blue, Shankar was surprisingly picked in the Indian squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Amidst all the hype around his name and how he will take up the No.4 position in the Indian batting, he walked into the IPL 2019 as one of the key players for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Prior to the season, the 28-year old was traded back by the Sunrisers. Howbeit, as the season proceeded, Shankar proved to be a complete disappointment for his team.

Until his team’s Eliminator conquest, Shankar could score just 244 runs and wasn’t used frequently for his bowling by the SRH team. The 28-year old failed to score even one 50+ score in the entire season. His horrible performance with the bat weakened SRH’s middle order and thus, they had middle order woes, throughout the season.

5. Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)

Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Another major CSK player who makes it to this list is their vice-captain and Chinna Thala Suresh Raina. The UP cricketer, who holds the title of Mr IPL, was way below par all through the season and especially in the latter half of the extravaganza. Raina, who was once known for being the most destructive and consistent Indian batsman in T20s, has now become a complete dud against the short balls and that was the cause of his downfall.

It has almost been a couple of seasons now that Raina hasn’t been at his best and it only worsened this time. Batting at the crucial No.3 position, and with the responsibility of shouldering the middle order, Raina could just score 383 runs at an average of 23.93 in 17 matches.

In terms of numbers, this was also his second-worst year, in the IPL. He wasn’t able to get the runs and the opposition was well successful in getting him out with Plan A, the short ball. Even in the final Raina just managed 8 runs in 14 balls and added to CSK’s troubles as they eventually lost the championship.

6. Dinesh Karthik (Kolkata Knight Riders):

Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS)

Dinesh Karthik turned out to be a big let down for his team Kolkata Knight Riders. His good run at the national level in recent times even earned him the captaincy duties of the side. However, as the skipper of the team, the veteran cricketer completely failed to build team culture and by the end of the season, KKR was almost falling apart finding it tough to function as a unit.

His clear rifts with Andre Russell and the underutilization of Karthik the batsman, Shubman Gill and the way some other players were managed were the prime reasons for the Knight Riders’ failure to make it to the playoffs. With the willow too, the wicketkeeper-batsman had an average season.

Karthik was able to score just 253 runs in 14 matches at an average of 32. While Russell did all the hardwork for KKR throughout the season, he even failed to play the support role. The runs weren’t coming for DK and the pressure of a lazy strike rate further worsened matters for him.

7. Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals):

Axar Patel
Axar Patel. (Photo Source: IANS)

Axar Patel at 25 has already been around for a while but despite having played at various levels, the all-rounder is yet to prove himself as a match-winner. The Gujarat player, who had kicked off his IPL career in 2013, is currently a part of the Delhi Capitals. After being retained by the Kings XI Punjab in the previous season, the Delhi-based franchise picked him up for Rs 1 crore.

In a team that is thriving and full of young energy as well as positive intent, Axar couldn’t prove his worth. In the 14 games he played, the southpaw accounted for 10 wickets at an average of 36.40 and was not so economical either. That in a bowling line-up where he had ample support from both the pace and spin departments.

Given his experience and abilities, Axar also had a contribution to make with the bat. He failed at that as well and could only register 110 runs in 12 innings. Axar’s inability to get going down the order was a big let down for his team.

8. Umesh Yadav (Royal Challengers Bangalore):

Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav of Royal Challengers Bangalore in action. (Photo by IANS)

Umesh Yadav’s performance in IPL 2019 differs drastically from his bowling display in the previous edition. The lad was the highest wicket-taker of the Royal Challengers Bangalore last time. However, this season he couldn’t replicate a similar kind of form at all. Neither the new ball swung when the steamed in nor he could control the run-flow at the death.

With 26 runs to defend against CSK, MS Dhoni carted him all around the park only for Umesh to redeem himself of the last delivery. He could pick only eight wickets in 11 matches while conceding runs at an economy of 9.81 and his average read a massive 46.38. RCB needed Yadav to be at his best from the word go but he disappointed one and all this season and would be keen to make amends next season now.

9. Jaydev Unadkat (Rajasthan Royals):

Jaydev Unadkat
Jaydev Unadkat. (Photo: IANS)

Jaydev Unadkat was bought back by the Royals in the auction for a hefty amount of Rs 8.4 crores. But he endured yet another disappointing season. The Royals management kept faith in him and continued to trust him in the death overs. But barring one odd game, the left-arm pacer didn’t step up to the task conceding 10.66 runs per over.

He could pick only 10 wickets in 11 matches and was rather targetted by the opposition teams as a weak link of RR’s bowling line-up. Unadkat consistently failed to nail the yorkers and his variations were picked by the batsmen to make his life tough during the season.

10. Mohammed Siraj (Royal Challengers Bangalore):

Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Another talented bowler who hasn’t bee faring well at all with the RCB for some unknown reasons. Virat Kohli has backed Mohammed Siraj every now and then, but the pacer has crumbled under pressure big time. In the nine matches which he played, Siraj could pick only seven wickets an average of 38.43 and conceded runs at an economy of 9.55.

Apart from his bowling, Siraj’s fielding is also a big concern. He dropped catches at crucial junctures of the match which eventually cost the team. Siraj has to improve a lot in the near future if he is to continue playing in the tournament and hope to do well in the next season.

11. Kuldeep Yadav (Kolkata Knight Riders):

Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav. (Photo: IANS)

Kuldeep Yadav is India’s trump card in the World Cup and for him to struggle in the IPL just before the mega event is a blow. He went wicketless in most of the matches he played this year and was eventually dropped from the team more due to lack of confidence.

Kuldeep got to play 9 matches in the season and could pick only 5 wickets. He had a terrible average of 71.50 and an economy of 8.66. Whilst playing against the RCB in one of the games of this IPL, the chinaman was plundered for 27 runs in an over by Moeen Ali. Though he got the better of the batsman in the same over, Kuldeep broke down after the over which clearly suggested that he was down on confidence.

Sitting on the bench must have given him some time to reflect on his bowling and one would only expect for him to make a grand comeback in the World Cup.

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