The ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League has been an evenly contested one as compared to the previous editions. Every team so far has looked competitive and we have already witnessed a few thrillers including an all important heart stopping super over.
Nonetheless, a few individuals have been in awful touch and have been mere liabilities to their respective teams. A few poor performers have been hidden behind the strength of the other players. It has been the poor performance of some individuals that has led to the poor showing of certain teams.
In this article, we formulate the inglorious Flop XI of IPL 8 so far –
1. AARON FINCH:
The Mumbai Indians opener looked in terrible nick while his stint lasted for them. His journey for the men in blue was cut short abruptly because of a hamstring injury. Finch had scores of 5, 8, 10* to his name before he returned home to recuperate from his injury. The Mumbai Indians also named Colin Munro as his replacement. Finch’s beginning for his new IPL franchise was not worth remembering for sure.
2. MURALI VIJAY:
Vijay has looked stylish so far, but what is the use of the style and panache if it is not getting the team its runs. Vijay has struggled in the IPL so far and has often thrown his wicket away after settling in. Vijay is clearly blocking the place of the extremely talented Manan Vohra. If an efficient player like Vohra is benched for such performances of Vijay, then the KXIP have some things to think over.
3. AMBATI RAYUDU:
The Mr. Dependable for the Mumbai Indians seems to be off color so far. Being an international cricketer Rayudu has done no good to his reputation. He was benched for one game as well because of his constant poor show. To an extent, due to Rayudu’s pitiable show, the campaign of the Mumbai Indians has been dented as well. No one underestimates the talent of Rayudu, but he has to back it up with numbers as well.
4. DINESH KARTHIK:
The IPL could have been an ideal platform for Karthik to knock the doors of the selectors. But Karthik has infact made life easier for them by performing poorly. With scores of 6,9,18 and 10, Karthik has been a complete waste for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. His wicket keeping hasn’t been that great either. Karthik had a disastrous 2014 IPL, and fair to assume, this IPL has just been worse. His career seems to have nosedived for the worse.
5. SANJU SAMSON:
The Kerala star was the find of the 2014 IPL and exceeded at the big stage. This IPL though has painted a contrasting portrait of Samson. He has been continuously underperforming for the Rajasthan Royals and averages just 16 with the bat. For a player who was once termed as the “next big thing” these numbers seem damaging.
6. GLENN MAXWELL:
The Victorian heartthrob had a sensational World Cup and played a key part for the Australians. But in the IPL, he has been a liability for the Kings XI Punjab. Maxwell so far has just wildly slogged against the spinners, who have found an easy prey in him. The Kings XI Punjab camp even has issued a notice of warning for this star. A few more failures and he could be warming the benches if skipper Bailey gets fit!
7. RAVINDRA JADEJA:
From being sarcastically knighted as “SIR” to have been mocked in other ways, Jadeja has seen it all! But the Saurashtra all rounder has been a source of weakness for the Chennai Super Kings. He has struggled with the bat and his bowling has just become more defensive. After getting hit for a boundary, he starts to bowl in a round arm manner, and the wicket taking chances reduce heavily because of that. With the mighty talented Irfan Pathan warming the benches, it’s high time that Jadeja performs.
8. DARREN SAMMY:
The jovial fellow from Saint Lucian has endured a miserable IPL so far. He was axed just after two games as his batting looked rusty and unfortunately he did no wonders with the ball. Sammy struggled against spin and his bowling was like a gift to the batsmen. It came as no surprise when he was replaced by David Weise.
9. TIM SOUTHEE:
This Kiwi new-ball bowler had a dream 2015 World Cup. His IPL games though have been despondent to say the least. It seems that this clever fast bowler had lost his focus before he finally had to make way for skipper Shane Watson. He was expensive and was often taken to the cleaners.
10. VARUN AARON:
The aspect of nippy pace has surely put this Jharkhand lad off track. Aaron so far has shown no control over his line and length. With his pace on Indian pitches, he is just offering the batsmen with gifts, which are gleefully accepted. He was taken apart by David Warner in Bangalore. Rather than trying the yorker, he tries to bowl short. This only makes life easier for the batsmen.
11. JASPRIT BUMRAH:
The Gujurat seamer with a wayward action has been a soft target for the batsmen. In the previous edition of the IPL, he was successful in finding the block hole; but this time he has been nowhere near that. With figures like 1/55, 1/39, 1/38 he has been a major run leaker for the Mumbai Indians. If he continues to bowl in the same manner, then he may once again be benched.