IPL 2018: 3 exciting players who did not play this season

IPL 2018 is done and dusted. After seven weeks of intense cricketing action, MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings defeated Williamson's Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets, to win their third IPL title.

It all started with the auction in January. Players like Ben Stokes, Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, Chris Lynn, Krunal Pandya, Rashid Khan, Chris Woakes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jofra Archer, and many more were sold for a lot of money.

Most of the players in the squad at least got a single chance to play for their respective franchise. But, the ones on this list - who deserved to play - were really unlucky to warm the bench throughout the 2018 campaign.

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#3 Ben Dwarshuis - Rs 1.40 crores

Ben Dwarshuis (right) impressed for Sixers this season

The left-arm seamer from New South Wales has had a great last few months. He was brilliant for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League this season and was selected for Australia T20I team during the 2017/18 Trans-Tasman Tri-Series.

Though he did not pick up a lot of wickets in BBL, he was consistent for Sydney Sixers and bowled at a good economy rate of 6. He was bought by Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 auction for a huge amount of Rs 1.4 crores.

The 23-year-old is an exciting young fast bowler, who can swing the new ball and bowls at a good pace. Despite all their troubles this season, KXIP did not give him a single opportunity to impress.

#2 Rahul Chahar - Rs 1.90 crores

Chahar was impressive for Pune last season

The 18-year-old leg-spinner from Rajasthan made his IPL debut last year for Rising Pune Supergiant. Having made his first-class debut only in November 2016, he showed a lot of maturity at such a young age in IPL 2017.

He picked up the wickets of Hashim Amla and Brendon McCullum and was mighty impressive. He played only three games last season and did well to pick up two wickets at an economy rate of 8.

He impressed once again in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2017/18 for Rajasthan. He was bought by Mumbai Indians for a huge Rs 1.9 crores in the 2018 auction. However, he did not get a single opportunity this season.

Though Mumbai Indians struggled for the most part of 2018 season, they completely ignored the young leggie. He definitely could have added some venom to Mumbai’s attack.

#1 Navdeep Saini - Rs. 3 crores

Navdeep Saini

Delhi seamer Navdeep Saini was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping Rs 3 crores in the 2018 auction. The 25-year-old was a part of Delhi Daredevils' squad last season but did not get an opportunity to play.

He was brilliant for Delhi in the 2017/18 Ranji Trophy and took them to the finals. His impressive domestic form got the attention of many in the cricketing fraternity and he was called up to bowl in the nets for the Indian team when they toured South Africa.

Royal Challengers Bangalore struggled for form and consistency this season, especially in the bowling department, and Navdeep Saini deserved a look in. But, the opportunity never came, and once again, he spent the entire season on the bench.