IPL 2017 is nearing the playoff stages and the four teams who will go through are all but decided. There have been sublime performances in the tenth edition of the tournament, from Hashim Amla scoring two centuries to Andrew Tye and Samuel Badree taking a hat-trick on the same day.
There have also been some players, despite their impressive form in the lead-up to the tournament, who haven't managed to make an impact due to their lack of opportunities. So here are 11 players who haven't played a great deal so far but could make for an impressive outfit.
Here is the IPL 2017 Benched XI:
NOTE: The usual policy of seven Indian players and four foreigners hasn't been followed. And only players who've played four games or fewer have been considered.
Openers
Lendl Simmons
The promotion of Jos Buttler to open the innings coupled with its success meant that Mumbai Indians didn’t give Lendl Simmons a chance until qualification was all but secured. The 32-year-old has played just two matches for MI this season, despite being one of their most consistent performers. Although he got his chance late, the West Indian opener made the most of it in his opening game in which he scored 66 against Delhi Daredevils.
Usman Khawaja
Brought in as a replacement in IPL 2016, Usman Khawaja continued his brilliant BBL form and was retained by the Rising Pune Supergiant. But in IPL 2017, he hasn't played a single game as Steve Smith has opted to go for just one overseas batsman in the side.
With RPS having a settled line-up with Smith, Ben Stokes, Daniel Christian and Imran Tahir as the four foreigners, the Australian batsman is unlikely to feature going forward, unless they decide to experiment after securing a playoff spot.
Middle-order
Faf du Plessis
Despite being an integral part of the RPS side last year prior to his injury, Faf du Plessis didn’t get the chance to shine in IPL 2017. In fact, the South African batsman, who was in sublime form coming into the tournament, just played two home matches against Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders.
The 32-year-old played just two matches, in which he batted just once (and scored 8), before leaving for South Africa in preparation for the upcoming series against England and the Champions Trophy.
Ishank Jaggi
Ahead of the IPL Auction 2017, Ishank Jaggi was thought of as a brilliant prospect given his incredible form in the domestic circuit. He was brought into the pool of players in the auction just days before the action unfolded and KKR looked to have made a steal when they snapped his signature. The 28-year-old is the leading run-getter in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with 1246 runs at an average of nearly 35 and a strike rate of over 120, but hasn't played a single game in this year’s tournament.
Gurkeerat Mann
Four fifties in his last five List-A matches for Punjab coupled with impressive performances for India B in the Deodhar Trophy, Gurkeerat Mann would have expected to feature heavily in Kings XI Punjab’s plans in IPL 2017. Unfortunately for the middle-order batsman, he has played just twice in this year’s tournament and isn’t a major part of Punjab's plans as they look to sneak into the playoffs.
All-rounders
Shakib Al Hasan
The captain of Bangladesh's T20I side and one of the best all-rounders in the format, Shakib Al Hasan fell victim to the change in nature of the track at Eden Gardens in IPL 2017. The usually slow track has been a fast bowler's paradise this season and that has meant that Shakib has been benched for a major part of the tournament.
Although the Bangladesh all-rounder was recently named his country’s T20I captain, he has played just one match in IPL 2017. The 30-year-old scored a solitary run and conceded 31 runs in three overs without picking up a wicket for KKR in his only game of the tournament, against Gujarat Lions.
Mohammad Nabi
Much was made about Sunrisers Hyderabad's decision to pick two Afghanistan players during the IPL Auctions. While Rashid Khan has been a revelation and is one of the finds of IPL 2017, his partner-in-crime, Mohammad Nabi hasn't enjoyed a similar success story.
Despite being an economical spinner and an explosive middle-order hitter, Nabi has played just two games for SRH this season. Against Kings XI, his figures of 1/28 helped his side win a close contest by five runs but he hasn't played a game since then until the game against MI, where he executed the plans brilliantly. The 32-year-old could certainly bolster a fragile SRH middle-order that is short on experience should they choose to shake things up once more.
Spinner
Adam Zampa
Despite being among the best leg spinners in limited-overs cricket over the last 18 months and one of Pune’s few bright sparks from IPL 2016, Adam Zampa has played just two matches in IPL 2017. The signing of Imran Tahir and Smith’s decision to play just one leg spinner has meant that the Australian leggie hasn’t had the opportunity to shine ahead of the Champions Trophy.
The 25-year-old from New South Wales was a revelation in IPL 2016 where he emerged as one of MS Dhoni’s key performers in an otherwise disappointing season for Rising Pune Supergiant. In both the games that he played in this edition, he picked up a wicket but Tahir’s impressive performances have kept him on the bench.
Seamers
Mustafizur Rahman
Arguably the biggest success story of IPL 2016, Mustafizur Rahman was a major reason behind SRH’s title run last year and yet he just played one game for the franchise in this year's tournament. After coming in late due to his participation in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh pacer played a solitary game and hasn't even been on the fringes of selection, which is a remarkable turnaround from last year.
Matt Henry
Until Sandeep Sharma’s recent renaissance, Kings XI Punjab had one of the worst bowling line-ups in the tournament and that kept dragging them down. Which is what makes the fact that New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry faturing just once in IPL 2017 all the more surprising. While the 25-year-old pacer has been expensive at times, he is a wicket-taking option as is evident from his incredible track record in international cricket.
Tim Southee
Despite Lasith Malinga’s far from impressive performances, Mumbai Indians have opted to go for the Sri Lankan fast bowler ahead of Tim Southee. The New Zealand fast bowler has played just two games in IPL 2017 and was even upstaged by Mitchell Johnson, who was picked ahead of him, despite his incredible track record and impressive skills with the ball.
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