IPL 2018: 5 players who must be dropped from their respective teams

After three weeks of action, all the teams have played at least 6 matches, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad are placed on the top of the table and are going strong. Both the teams are just a few wins away from booking their place in the playoffs.

Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils are placed at the bottom of the table after losing 5 of the 6 matches that they have played so far. After 6 rounds of matches, most of the teams are yet to find their right team combination and time is running out of their hands.

Here are a few players who have performed miserably so far and must be dropped from their respective team's playing XI:

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#5 Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja was one of the three players retained by Chennai Super Kings in this season. The team retaining him ahead of Dwayne Bravo and R Ashwin is a mystery that remains unsolved.

Jadeja has played in all the 6 matches for his team this season and he has failed both in the batting and the bowling departments. In the 6 matches, he has scored 47 runs at an average of 15.66 and a strike rate of 120.51. Also, he has been able to take just one wicket and has bowled at an economy of 8.40.

With enough of the opportunities given, Jadeja must be dropped from the Chennai Super Kings playing XI. The team is lacking a batsman in the middle order and should experiment playing Delhi batsman, Dhruv Sorey in the middle order.

#4 Jaydev Unadkat

Jaydev Unadkat was the costliest Indian bought at the auction this year. Rajasthan Royals shelled out Rs. 11.5 crore to secure the services of Unadkat. Unadkat was the second highest wicket-taker in the last IPL season and his new team owners expected him to repeat his heroics for them.

Unadkat has failed on all fronts. In the 6 matches that he has played so far, he has taken just 3 wickets at an economy of 10.05. He has not been able to complete his quota of 4 overs in most of the matches. With a string of poor performances, he needs to be dropped from the team.

Anureet Singh who has been warming the benches since the start of the season can be an ideal replacement for Unadkat in the playing XI.

#3 Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch, the Australian who is one of the best power-hitting batsmen in the world has performed miserably in the ongoing season so far. Kings XI Punjab had many expectations from him when they bought him for Rs. 6.2 crore. The Australian has not been able to prove his worth after 7 rounds of matches.

He has scored just 24 runs in the 5 matches that he has batted so far in the ongoing season. His scores this season are 0, 0, 14*, 2 and 8. With such poor trail of performances Kings XI Punjab has to find an alternative option for him.

David Miller looked in fine touch in the match against Delhi Daredevils must be a regular in the playing XI. He must surely come in as a replacement for Aaron Finch who is wasting an overseas slot in the team.

#2 Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard has been a mainstay in the Mumbai Indians team ever since he joined them in 2010. He played a crucial role in his team winning the title in 2013, 2015 and 2017 respectively. Undoubtedly he has been one of the best all-rounders in the IPL history.

Pollard who is one of the hardest hitters of the ball in the world has failed to fire in the ongoing season. Pollard has not bowled a single over in this season and this indicates that he is being played as a batsman rather than a bowler.

In the 6 matches that he has played so far, he has scored 63 runs at an average of 15.75 and a strike rate of 110.52. His scores this season are 28, 0, 5, 21*, 9. His strike rate is one of the biggest concerns for the team.

JP Duminy who has been warming the benches is an ideal replacement for Pollard in the playing XI. Duminy carries enough of experience as a batsman and he can be handy with the ball too.

#1 Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir returned to Delhi Daredevils after a 7-year long wait. Gambhir who played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous seasons led his team to win the title twice. Gambhir expressed his desire to play for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL and requested Kolkata Knight Riders not to retain him.

Gambhir is having a horrible time at Delhi Daredevils both as a captain and as a batsman. He stepped down as captain of the franchise following 5 losses in 6 matches.

In the 6 matches that he has played so far, he has scored 85 runs at an average of 17.00 and a strike rate of 96.59. He scored a fifty in the opening game against Kings XI Punjab and has failed since then.

Gambhir has not been able to provide headstart to his team as he is wasting the powerplay overs playing defensively. It is a bitter truth that he needs to be dropped from the playing XI and must be replaced by an attacking batsman at the top. Naman Ojha would be the best replacement for him in the playing XI.