IPL 2018: 5 top cricketers who won't be playing in the competition again

The Indian Premier League is just a few days away from now. The best players in the world will take on each other for 6 weeks of non-stop, entertaining action. However, not all of them are fortunate enough to get the opportunity to play in the competition.

Some big names have missed out on the tournament since a long period of time. From injuries or international commitments to not being skilled or versatile enough for the tournament, the reasons have varied. After all, teams look for players who are available and can bring them the most value by turning the game around quickly in the T20 format.

Despite being stars of their national sides who have accomplished a lot, the IPL wasn’t meant for them in the last 3-4 seasons and has become a vague memory. Here are 5 cricketers who make this list –

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#1 Marlon Samuels

If West Indies have to thank someone for two World T20 victories in 2012 and 2016, it has got to be Marlon Samuels. Samuels was the man who was the game-changer in both the tournaments' finals, scoring 78 in one of them against Sri Lanka and an unbeaten 85 in the 2016 edition against England.

An average of 30 and a strike rate of nearly 120 in T20 cricket is very decent. But it comes as a surprise that his success in other competitions hasn't translated into the IPL. He first played in the tournament for the Pune Warriors India outfit in 2012 and 2013. In 10 games, he scored a mere 132 runs for them at a strike rate below 100.

He missed out on the tournament for 4 years. So he was almost like a wildcard entry for the Delhi Daredevils in the 2017 edition. However, there was no redemption for the West Indian batsman as he averaged a poor 7.25 in the 5 matches he played. As a result, he won't be playing this year as well and at the age of 37, the IPL 2017 could very well be his last ever.

#2 Pragyan Ojha

Pragyan Ojha played for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the IPL

At one point in time, he was a strike weapon in MS Dhoni's armory when playing for India. The left-arm spinner managed to make a name for himself amidst the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin. During the early 2010s, he featured regularly in the Indian team.

In the IPL, he turned up with decent returns for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians. However, the competition seemed to affect him badly as he couldn't retain his place after the 2013 season in the Indian team and for many Mumbai Indians matches. In 2015, he played just one IPL game and was never considered after that.

A suspect bowling action played a huge part in Ojha's career coming to a standstill, as he has had to play domestic cricket for years in order to regain his form.

#3 Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor's impressive performances for New Zealand haven't translated to the IPL

The Kiwi batsman has transformed into being New Zealand’s most valuable batsman in Test cricket. Initially, he was typecast as an ODI and a T20 player. From 2008 to 2010, he was a part of a Royal Challengers Bangalore side that featured the likes of Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Jacques Kallis and Kevin Pietersen. Taylor had to compete for a regular place in the side. But when he got his opportunities, his strike rate often went into the 180s.

Taylor had the appetite of scoring runs, but with cross-batted shots. That meant that his effectiveness wasn’t consistent enough. So even though he had a decent outing with Rajasthan Royals in 2011, his struggles began with Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors India between 2012 and 2014. A regular, top order batter averaging less than 20 and having a strike rate ranging between 80-100 was unacceptable by IPL’s increasing standards.

Since 2014, no IPL team has been interested in acquiring his services even as he has hoped to play in the competition like some of his Kiwi teammates.

#4 Darren Sammy

Darren Sammy: T20 freelancer without an IPL appearance since 2015

Sammy made a name for himself as West Indies’ World T20 winning skipper in 2012. He was more renowned for his leadership than his performances with the bat and ball. Batting in the lower order and being more of a medium pace bowler who could chip in with an over or two, didn’t exactly make him establish himself strongly in the IPL as compared to other T20 tournaments in the world.

He played regularly for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013 and 2014, but could only chip in with one or, at best, two good performances in 10 games. His inconsistency seemed to have cost him dearly as he was more of a fringe player at Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015, getting to play only two games in that season.

Although Sammy was picked at the 11th hour by Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2017, he didn’t get a single game in play with the presence of players such as Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, and Marcus Stoinis.

The West Indian is now 34 and no longer playing for his country. It seems like the IPL has closed its doors on him for good as well.

#5 Cameron White

Cameron White's improved performances in the BBL haven't won him an IPL contract since 2013

Much like Ross Taylor, Australia's Cameron White too had a lot to fight for in the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad from 2008-2010. Earlier, White was selected not just because of his batting skills but also due to his part-time leg-spin that could yield surprise wickets.

He switched to Deccan Chargers from 2011 onwards. Although he struggled that season, 2012 was the year when White was at his level best in the IPL. He averaged 43.54 at a strike rate of nearly 150 in 13 games. Unfortunately, the Chargers failed to make the playoffs and that proved to be their last season in the competition.

White couldn’t replicate the same form the following season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, with an average of under 20 and just one fifty in 13 matches.

It was only in January 2018 when he made an ODI comeback for Australia, on the back of impressive performances in the Big Bash League and domestic cricket.

He was expected to be picked up by an IPL team this year, but age seems to have gone against him. A 34-year-old may not be a long-term investment.