It is the Indian Premier League (IPL), so seven Indians must be in the starting eleven. That is a rule applied since the inception of the IPL in 2008 to promote Indian talent. The flip side: Several well-paid foreign stars remain on the bench. Having to kill time in the dugout and watch high octane battles comes to some.
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A list of foreign players who have yet to get match time, or very little, is deep enough to make the league’s ninth team. Many of these cricketers are not used to being benched and what doesn’t help is the restriction of life in a biosecure bubble.
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Chris Gayle of Kings XI Punjab, the self-proclaimed Head of the Universe, was out for the entire first half of IPL13. The team preferred to shore up its bowling lineup with two foreign players and completed the quartet with Glen Maxwell and West Indian southpaw Nicholas Pooran. Which meant there was no place for Gayle.
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When news finally came out that the 41-year-old T20 legend would play after the franchise suffered many losses, Gayle spoke like only he can. “It’s disappointing to be honest with you. You don’t come here to sit. But it is what it is. It’s a team sport and what the selection panel looks good on, you take. Two days for the opportunity, and I am happier for the fans, “he said, in an interview with official broadcasters.
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“They (the fans) have been waiting when… when… when… will we get to see Universe Boss. I’ll do my best, try to entertain as much as possible. I will always be Chris Gayle as always. ”
Gayle hit five sixes on his first outing and helped KXIP clinch the next match in the Super Over.
James Neesham, New Zealand’s hero in the 2019 World Cup final, three wickets and great races in the Super Over, didn’t get off to the best start at this year’s IPL. Reflecting on his poor form, Neesham came across a story that quoted commentator Aakash Chopra questioning his place: “Neesham is not a match winner, why is KXIP playing him? He tweeted again pointing to Chopra, ‘average 18.5 strokes in 90 does not win many games either.
Neesham was benched after three starts below par. Later, when an online user saw him sitting unimpressed on a picture of the coaching staff rejoicing after a close win, Neesham tweeted: “When you’ve been through what I’ve been through, you get a little numb.” . On Tuesday, Neesham appeared in a winning cause, taking the Prithvi Shaw wicket and being undefeated when KXIP beat the leading Delhi Capitals.
Some teams like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have a foreign talent shame. CSK has yet to find a way to play last year’s biggest wicket catcher, Imran Tahir. When commentator Mark Nicholas asked Tahir in a flash mid-game interview if he was biting his lip, watching the wickets slow, he replied wryly, “Yeah, I think you missed it. Look, I’m biting my lip. ”
Australia’s fast pitcher Josh Hazelwood played his second game for CSK on Monday. “It’s frustrating. You know, coming to the IPL, it’s hard to get a game. There are only four places abroad and all of our SUVs have done very well,” he said in an interview on the IPL website. off-roaders Dwayne Bravo was injured, Hazelwood had his turn, Tahir and New Zealand ace Mitchell Santner haven’t.
‘Big Billy’ Stanlake, the tall and fast pitcher chosen for his pace, cannot be faulted if he has given up playing for SRH, where the foreign quartet – captain Dave Warner, starter Jonny Bairstow, spinner Rashid Khan and captain Kane Williamson kiwifruit – can not be dropped in the way. If Stanlake harbored any ambitions, Coach Muttiah Muralitharan’s comment would have pushed him back. “No, the rhythm is not the real thing. It’s how well they play as fast players. With the bowling side we really can’t find fault, ”Murali said.
Also in the numbers for SRH are West Indies captain Jason Holder, who came in as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh, and T20 spin off specialist Mohammed Nabi.
There are more on the list. Chris Lynn, who would explode at the top for Kolkata Knight Riders, cannot make the Mumbai Indians 11 this year. Neither can West Indies great hitter Sherfane Rutherford, and Kiwi fast pitcher Mitchell McClenaghan. And the winner of the South African T20 match, David Miller, is cooling off with the Rajasthan Royals.
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