IPL 2019: Team-wise one capped player who should be released

In IPL 2019 the cricketing action has been top class with attractive stroke-making, imperious bowling and athletic fielding. In every season the league is showing its new colors, and the fans are engaging with more enthusiasm. The final four has not been decided till the last day of league phase which is the exact reason for its popularity. Now as the league has reached its final stages more spectacles are surely on the cards.

Like every edition of IPL, the 12th one has also surpassed the expectations, and it is constantly setting new standards that are difficult to match. This year also the crowd has witnessed some of their best superstars in intense battles. Most of the capped players have given good performances, but there are few who failed to deliver on their promise. The franchises should consider releasing them from the squad before the start of next season.

Here are the capped players who should be released from their respective sides after this season

1) Colin Munro – Delhi Capitals

The Kiwi attacking batsman is one of the few players who has hit three tons in the T20Is, and he can be a game changer on his day. Colin can tear apart any bowling line-up with his brute power hitting. The left-hander can provide brisk starts, and he did that in the previous season for the Delhi team. He has played only 11 games in which he has scored 136 runs.

The southpaw was picked by the Kolkata franchise in 2017 IPL auction. but he was released from the side in the following season due to the presence of various top order batsmen. Due to his reputation, Delhi bagged him but has only played 7 games in two seasons. Delhi has high-quality openers in their side, and it is difficult for them to fit Colin in their playing XI.’

The kiwi has scored 43 runs in two ties in IPL 2019 but he can’t bat in the middle-order because of his vulnerability against spinners. Delhi has fared better without his services, and he should be released from the team so that he can get more chances in other teams.

2) Sandeep Sharma – Sunrisers Hyderabad

The speedster from Punjab is a swing bowler who can bowl in the powerplays and in the death overs. Sandeep Sharma has the ability to bowl top-notch spells and has shown it in his 7-year IPL career. He has the experience of delivering the goods in tough situations. Sharma has played 79 games in which he has picked up 95 wickets at an economy rate of 7.81.

Sandeep was a star for the Punjab side in his initial years, and that prompted the Sunrisers to snap him in the 2018 IPL auction. He has struggled while plying his trade for the Orange Army, and he conceded 52 runs in last year’s IPL final. This year Sandeep has looked rusty, and half of his wickets are of lower order batsmen. The quick bowler has even cracked under pressure which is unlike him.

Sharma has picked up 12 wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 8.30 but he has been the weak link in the Hyderabad bowling unit. Khaleel Ahmed has ably supported Kumar and he is a wicket-taking bowler who can replace the seasoned campaigner permanently.

3) Mitchell McClenaghan – Mumbai Indians

The New Zealand speedster is a wicket-taking bowler who can provide breakthroughs in the powerplay overs. McClenaghan can also bowl at the death, as he has variations in his bag of tricks. The left arm pacer was once a regular in the Black Caps white ball team, and he contributed well during his stay. Mitchell has played 55 times in his IPL journey in which he has scalped 71 wickets.

Mumbai Indians always keep a left arm quickie in their arsenal and that’s why Mitchell was fished by the team in 2015 auction. He has been a great addition to the team and has delivered for the side in crunch situations. McClenaghan’s tactics have been figured out in this season. In IPL 2019 the pacer has looked off color and he doesn’t seem a dependable option.

The fast bowler has played 4 games and has just picked up 3 wickets which is unlike him. Mumbai has other pacers waiting in the wings, and with Behrendorff likely to return for next season Mitchell may find himself in the auction pool before IPL 2020.

4) David Miller – Kings XI Punjab

David Miller is an aggressive middle-order batsman who can change the course of a game in a matter of overs. He has been part of the Punjab team from the last 9 seasons and has won matches for them single-handedly. The left-hander has also served as a finisher for them, and he even captained the team in IPL 2016. Miller has played 79 games in the league in which he has scored 1850 runs at an average of 34.

The cricketer from Natal was once the batting mainstay of the Punjab team but from the last couple of seasons, he has been baggage for the side. Miller has scored only one fifty in his last 32 innings which is not acceptable from an International star. The southpaw had an average IPL 2019, and he never played a match-winning knock even though various chances came his way.

Miller has made 212 runs in 10 ties with a strike rate of 130. Nicholas Pooran has outshined the South African and he looks a dark horse for the side so the Ashwin led side should let go Miller for the next season.

5) Harry Gurney – Kolkata Knight Riders

The left arm quickie from England primarily relied on the swing, but recently he has also developed variations. He has played a lot of domestic cricket and has generated good numbers of 152 wickets in 131 T20s at an economy rate of 7.7. In the Big Bash league which was played earlier in the year, he bowled good spells. Gurney has played 8 games in IPL 2019 and has scalped 7 wickets.

Gurney was picked up by the Kolkata franchise in 2019 IPL auction, as the side was full of inexperienced pacers. The Karthik led side struck gold as their bowling department was leaking runs at a high rate. In his first match against Rajasthan, the speedster bowled a match-winning spell of 2/25 in 4 overs. After his Man of the Match performance, the pacer had a downside.

Gurney failed to stand up in the remaining ties and also cost the game against CSK where he conceded 37 runs in 3 overs. He has let down the side in death overs and has leaked runs at a rate of 9.10 which suggests that he should be released.

6) Colin de Grandhomme – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Colin de Grandhomme is a special talent, and he can terrorize the opposition with his set of skills. The Kiwi cricketer has been a part of the national set-up and has played a crucial role in providing the required balance to the side. He can be a destructive batsman down the order and can chip in with wickets with ball in his hand. Colin has played 25 games in IPL and has scored over 300 runs.

The Bangalore franchise snapped him in the IPL 2018 auction, and they intended to use him in both the departments. Colin has failed to stamp his authority in both the seasons. He was provided a golden opportunity against Mumbai to finish the innings while chasing a stiff target of 187. Colin scored 2 off 7 balls and the team fell short by 6 runs and looked out of sorts in his stay.

The all-rounder has failed to justify his tag as he has scored 46 runs in 4 ties, and has not picked a single wicket. The Virat led team ended the season with a wooden spoon, and the franchise is surely going to release some big names before next season and Colin might be one of them.

7) Dhawal Kulkarni – Rajasthan Royals

Dhawal Kulkarni is a fast bowler who can generate movement even on good tracks with the new ball in his hand. The pacer has generally been a back-up option for most of the teams. Kulkarni has played 12 seasons of IPL, but in only one of them, he has played a whole season. He is an experienced head who has played 90 games in which he has taken 86 wickets.

The speedster from Mumbai has been a regular in the Rajasthan squad from the last 4 seasons. He has been inconsistent with his trade but has come up with match-winning spells occasionally. In this year’s IPL Rajasthan lost crucial ties due to their bowler’s inability to stand up. Kulkarni was a big disappointment as he never took more than a single wicket in a game.

He played 10 matches in which he picked up just 6 wickets at an economy rate of 9.57, and never repaid the faith shown on him. RR has other options in the squad who can replace Kulkarni, and they should start investing on other youngsters.

8) Scott Kuggeleijn – Chennai Super Kings

Scott Kuggeleijn is the latest entrant to the Black Caps T20 side with his consistent heroics for his domestic side Northern Districts. The pacer can generate good speed, and can also trick the batsmen with his slow ball variations. Scott is a fast bowler who relies on sticky surfaces, and he is decent batsman down the order. He has played just two games in IPL 2019 and has picked up two wickets.

Chennai picked the Kiwi cricketer as a replacement player after Lungi Ngidi missed the season due to injury. He was going to warm the bench for most of the time, but a niggle to their specialist Dwayne Bravo forced Dhoni to change his tactics. Scott showed good composure in his two outings. As the Caribbean all-rounder returned to the side he had to make way for him.

The New Zealand cricketer cannot serve the role of the spearhead, and he can go for plenty on good tracks. The Chennai dugout has a lot of International players who are waiting for their chances so, it is possible that Scott may not retain his place in the squad for the next season.

In IPL, there are various stars who buckle under pressure, and some don’t fit in the playing XI due to the presence of established names.