Stars who didn’t play in IPL 2016

The VIVO IPL 2016 ended last Sunday with Sunrisers Hyderabad named the new champions of IPL. Virat Kohli set new records and benchmarks, while other players such as Warner, AB de Villiers, B Kumar too chipped in with some special performances. Some players became stars with their jubilant performances; Mustafizur Rahman, Krunal Pandaya to name a few with their performance has become special.

And then, there were few who were already recognized international superstars but? hardly played this season. Lets have a look at some of those superstars who didn’t play in this IPL.

(6/6)? MITCHELL JOHNSON

the retired Australian fast bowler only played a few games for his IPL Franchisee KXIP. He was in the playing XI only in the first three games of the tournament, after which?,he hardly played, picking up only three wickets from as much matches. Johnson was not the fierce bowler that he used to be. ?The batsmen played him with ease and there was nothing attractive about this post-retirement fast bowler in this IPL.

(5/6) ALBIE MORKEL

This South African was a vital asset for the Proteas team till 2012 ICC WT20 and the CSK till IPL 8. A Swashbuckling all-rounder who could hit the ball hard and swing the ball would have been a huge bonus for any team in any format especially the T20. With the new franchisee Rising Pune Supergiants and a familiar captain MS Dhoni he only played 4 games for them and that too when players like Steve Smith, Faf Du Plessis , Mitchell Marsh got injured and went back home. One may reckon that his days are now all but over.

(4/6) IRFAN PATHAN

The Indian was hailed as the next big all-rounder after Kapil Dev in India. Someone who can swing the ball like a pendulum and bat decently. He started his career on with a high and was even the man of the match in ICC WT20 final 2007. However, his career took a big low? post-2012.? In 2015, Pathan was bought by CSK. But, he didn’t play a single game for them in that season of IPL-8. The subsequent edition saw Pathan with Rising Pune Supergiants. Before IPL, Irfan performed decently in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and the expectations rose. Surprisingly, he didn’t play. He was seen to be sitting at dug outs only. When Pune began to lose repeatedly and some important players got injured, Pathan made it in the playing XI. In his first match he didn’t bowl and flopped with the bat. Next match, he angered Dhoni, a rare sight to see. He managed to play four games in this IPL thanks to injury to other players. The importance of this Indian star has dwindled.

(3/6) COREY ANDERSON

Another all-Rounder but a different story. This Kiwi didn’t play a single game for Mumbai Indians in this IPL season. He was the vital cog for the MI in the previous season, proving to be a key player and instrumental for their victory. It was very hurtful to see a player as important and destructive as Anderson was made to sit in dug outs when Pollard was not performing. This was one of the many poor decisions the MI made, which cost them heavily this time around.

(2/6)? TRENT BOULT

The New Zealand Fast bowling Sensation, Trent Boult is the most exciting left-arm fast bowler around in world cricket.? Everyone knows how decisive he was in ICC CWC 2015. In the previous IPL season, Boult was the go-to bowler for SRH . He repeatedly got selected in the playing XI ahead of the Dale Steyn. But, this time, Mustafizur Rehman was the star bowler for SRH and got selected ahead of him. Boult could only play one game for SRH?when Mustafizur pulled a hamstring. He played in the all important match Qualifier-2 against Gujarat Lions and had figures of 1/39 in his quota of 4 overs. Boult was warming the benches and didn’t play for New Zealand in ICC WT20 this year. He might find himself in same position in next IPL unless few overseas players perform badly.

(1/6)? DALE STEYN

In this list the biggest cricket superstar is Dale Steyn. He is considered one of the most lethal bowlers in world cricket. However, he is not getting younger each day, thereby facing fitness amongst many others. His performances in the limited overs have also gone down lately. Steyn played only one game for SA in the WT20 this year against England and was smashed all around the park. In IPL 9 too, he only played one game for Gujarat lions. Last year too, SRH picked Trent Boult ahead of him in the playing XI.?Considering how great a bowler he is, such situations are very disheartening.