5 players who might be playing their last IPL season this year

They might not be so wrong when they say T20 is a game for the youth. IPL certainly has proven this statement right.

Barring a couple of players, not many have gone on to be successful in the IPL in the twilight of their career. Every franchise has at least a couple of players approaching their late 30s and have served the franchise brilliantly for a long time.

The seasoned campaigners have been great players for their franchises and have always been there when their team needed them, but this season could see the end of the illustrious careers of these legends.

Let us take a look at 5 players who might be playing their last IPL season this summer.

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#5 Mitchell Johnson

Johnson has been part of Mumbai Indians' title victories in 2013 and 2017.

Pace, fear and intimidation. These are the words we usually associate with Mitchell Johnson. Johnson made his IPL debut for the Mumbai Indians in 2013.

Since then, he has been on the winning side twice, in 2013 and 2017. In 48 IPL matches, he has picked 59 wickets at an economy of 8.06.

This time around, he has been picked by the Kolkata Knight Riders. Having announced his international retirement long time ago and approaching the wrong side of 30's, Johnson may not be on any franchise's plans next season.

Hence, we could see the last of the Australian speedster this summer as foreign players who have retired from international cricket usually are not the hot picks in the IPL.

#4 Imran Tahir

Tahir, unfortunately, does not have age on his side

With each franchise looking to bring in young players into the squad, many of the foreign players who are in the twilight of their career are overlooked, regardless of their success on the international circuit. Imran Tahir's case is one of those.

Tahir, who turns 39 before the start of the season has been picked by the Chennai Super Kings.

With the CSK having a bucket-full of spinners already, it is unlikely that Tahir will get a lot of chances and may be released before the next edition.

Considering all this, we might not get to see the South African legspinner playing the IPL after 2018.

So far in the IPL, Tahir has picked 47 wickets from 32 games. The end of this season might be the right time for him to bring down the curtains on his IPL career.

#3 Shane Watson

A bad season in 2018 might see the end of Watson's IPL career.

Shane Watson was in his prime when he was playing for the Rajasthan Royals. However, he has not struck the same form for his next IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 and 2017.

After having a couple of bad seasons in the IPL and having retired from international cricket already, the Australian all-rounder should consider himself lucky to be picked by the Chennai Super Kings this time around.

Watson has played 102 IPL matches scoring 2262 runs at a strike rate of 138 and also has 86 wickets to show for. However, If he fails to make an impact this season, the franchises will not look at these numbers before showing him the exit doors.

#2 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle has been a proven entertainer, but he is at the fag end of his career.

Perhaps the most feared batsman in the IPL, Chris Gayle’s IPL career after reaching the peak between 2011 and 2013 has come crashing down in the last few seasons.

He went unsold in the first round of the auction before being eventually picked by the Kings XI Punjab.

His strike rate and consistency have hit a big low and he is not considered to be a first choice batsman in the IPL anymore.

This might be the last season for Gayle in his IPL career as it is hard to believe franchises will be looking at him next summer.

The Windies opener's staggering IPL record reads 3626 runs from 101 matches at a strike rate of 151 with 265 sixes. Gayle will always have a special place in the hearts of the IPL fans because of the entertainment that he has provided.

#1 Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan is truly in the twilight of his career

Harbhajan Singh has been a veteran for the Mumbai Indians over the years and has been with the franchise through their good and bad times.

Bhajji has 127 wickets from 136 games in the IPL at an economy of 6.96. This time around, he was shockingly left out by the Mumbai Indians and the off-spinner found a new home at the Chennai Super Kings.

With virtually no hope of an international comeback, and also not having played an entire season of domestic cricket, Harbhajan is not the preferred spinner anymore in the IPL and maybe be picked by the CSK only as a back-up.

The 38-year-old finds himself in tumultuous times in the IPL currently and we will be very fortunate to see him playing in the IPL beyond 2018.