IPL 2019: Four international greats who failed in IPL

The countdown for the biggest T20 season of the year has begun. IPL 2019 is just a week away. It is slated to begin on the 23rd of March when the Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore take on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings at the Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. The IPL is one of the most popular tournaments and many great players are eager to perform at this big stage, given the seriousness and competition around.

In the past, the tournament has served as a platform for players to get back to their international sides. Shane Watson is one of the most popular international players who benefitted from this tournament.

He was recalled to the Australian side after his successful stint with the Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008. While the tournament has been lucky for some, few others haven’t quite enjoyed success in this cash-rich league. We will look at 4 such players who failed to make their presence felt in the IPL.

#1 Sanath Jayasuriya:

Jayasuriya was one of the most explosive batsmen in the 90's

One of the all-time legends of the game, Sanath Jayasuriya from Sri Lanka was known for his explosive batting throughout his career. In the age of Tests and slow strike-rate, Jayasuriya had an ODI strike rate of 91- a period when even a Strike rate of 75 was considered massive. Opposition bowlers always dreaded to bowl to Jayasuriya in the power play overs.

He held the record for fastest 50 (17 balls) and fastest 100 (48 balls) during his time which was subsequently bettered. Coming onto IPL in 2008, he was one of the most feared and explosive batsmen that everyone was looking for.

However, The Sri Lankan had a rather disappointing time in his stint for the Mumbai Indians. In 30 IPL games, Sanath managed to score 768 runs at an average of 27. By the 4th IPL, Jayasuriya went unsold and never played again in the Indian Premier League.

#2 Brett Lee:

Brett Lee was one of the fastest bowlers during his time

Brett Lee took the new millennium by storm with his fast bowling. One of Australia’s most successful Test bowlers, Brett Lee was a great exponent of speed and bowled with superb accuracy. His potency with the new ball made him the perfect fit for the emerging T20 format.

He was at his peak when he was roped in by the Kings XI Punjab in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. Unfortunately, Lee couldn’t make a long-lasting impact in IPL as he did for his National side Australia. In his 38 appearances, Lee has managed to take only 25 wickets at an unhealthy average of 43.8 as opposed to his T20I average of 25.5.

Lee has played for 2 IPL teams in total, first for the Punjab based side and later on he was involved with the Knight Riders from Kolkata.

#3 Ricky Ponting:

Ricky Ponting is currently the coach of Delhi Capitals

One of the biggest shockers in this list is the former Australian captain and a 3-time World Champion, Ricky Ponting. Ponting was one of the first players to have played the T20 format. In the first ever T20 international to be played, Ponting took the new format by storm as he scored a blistering 98* against the Kiwis and was even adjudged the player of the match.

However, as years went by, Ponting couldn't manage to leave the same legacy he left on Test cricket and on the one-day format. Ponting has 909 runs in the 43 T20 innings he has played.

Further, in the IPL, he has managed to score only 91 runs at an average of 10.11 in the 10 games he has played. Ponting has been a part of Kolkata Knight Riders and the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Currently, he is the coach and mentor of the Delhi Capitals.

#4 Eoin Morgan:

Morgan was part of the 2010 T20 World-cup winning team of England

The current England captain in the ODI’s and T20’s, Eoin Morgan is one of the most explosive batsmen the cricketing world has ever seen. Known for his unorthodox shots, Morgan has always been a great player in the T20I’s for England. He was part of the 2010 T20 World-cup winning side of England and was a vital part in that England middle-order.

However, Morgan hasn’t quite been able to replicate his national side success in the IPL. In 52 IPL games, he has managed to score a mere 854 runs at a paltry average of 21.35. Morgan has been a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Kings XI Punjab so far. In the 2019 IPL auction, he went unsold, owing to his national side commitments ahead of the World Cup.