5 international stars who warmed the bench throughout IPL 2016

#3 Corey Anderson (Mumbai Indians)

One of New Zealand’s budding all-rounders and a star of New Zealand’s 2015 ODI World Cup campaign, Anderson was retained with a big payday of $1.1 million NZD (INR 4.95 crores) by Mumbai Indians. However, Anderson didn’t get a single game even though Mumbai Indians hardly got much out of Keiron Pollard. Even Martin Guptill, Anderson’s teammate got a few games towards the end of the season.

It has been one of the most bizarre and baffling omissions this year considering MI repeatedly failed with the bat many a time and had an extended bad start to their season. They lacked a genuine all-rounder, something Anderson could have helped with given his big hitting prowess and knack of wicket-taking. He remained one of the most expensive players to warm the bench this season after suffering an injury-forced exit in the previous season.

In 2014, it was Anderson’s exploits which sent MI storming into the Top 4 after a tense chase against Rajasthan Royals. The decision seemed all the more baffling given MI’s think-tank comprised of experienced legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Shane Bond.