IPL 2018: 3 renowned overseas T20 specialists who are struggling in IPL XI

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a platform where talented Indian youngsters rub shoulders against some of the biggest names of world cricket. While they quite often get bullied by the specialists of the shortest format of the game, they have a tendency to give it back to anyone and everyone who tries to belittle them.

This year as well, we have seen some of the big names of world cricket struggling in the tournament. They have been bought by their franchises expecting that they would set the stage on fire, but their fire has been too faint to cause any damage. Let us have a look at three such world-class T20 specialists who are struggling in the eleventh edition of IPL.

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#3 Glenn Maxwell (Delhi Daredevils)

Spending INR 9 crores, DD have got only 93 runs from Maxi in return

Delhi Daredevils are coached by former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting this year and after the auctions, their team looked a formidable one, albeit on paper. But almost halfway through the season, they are languishing at the bottom of the table and the main reason behind their current state is the failing of big guns.

DD's INR 9 crores star, Glenn Maxwell missed their first game as he was attending his friend and national teammate Aaron Finch's wedding. After coming back, he has scored just 93 runs in 5 games at an average of under 20. But his T20I numbers justify his price tag and prevents us from blaming Ponting for picking him. Maxwell has an exceptional average of around 35 in T20Is with a faremore exceptional strike rate over 165. However, he has failed to carry that form into the IPL.

#2 Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

The big Trinidadian is having a torrid season

If you are a fan of memes, you have probably seen a sombre and subfusc face of Kieron Pollard that is being circulated on every social media platform. That meme very much describes the season Pollard has had so far. Mumbai Indians used their Right To Match (RTM) card on him on him to get their trusted soldier 'Polly' back in their team for INR 5.4 crores.

But the man who has played 419 T20 matches has scored just 63 runs in 6 games. His average is just over 15 and his strike rate is around 110, miles behind his T20 career strike rate of over 150.

#1 Aaron Finch (Kings XI Punjab)

Coming fresh from marriage, Aaron Finch is having a very poor IPL

What happened in Victoria, should have stayed in Victoria. But lo! It did not, and two names out of the three names in this list attended a wedding prior to joining their respective IPL sides, one being a groom himself. The groom takes the pole position in this list as coming fresh from his marriage, Aaron Finch is having a very 'unsatisfactory' season.

The Australian batter has scored just 16 runs in 5 games, three more than his national and IPL teammate Andrew Tye. His average of 5.33 is even worse than Tye's. Current table-toppers Kings XI Punjab have built a very strong side this year, and their mentor Virender Sehwag cannot be blamed for shelling INR 6.2 crores on Finch. His T20I career average is over 40 with a phenomenal strike rate of over 150 but he has failed to replicate that so far.