IPL 2018: 3 all-rounders who have flopped in this year's IPL

All-rounders are the most important players for a team. They lend the team balance, and the performance of these players directly impacts the way the team plays. Quality all-rounders are limited in number, and this is one of the reasons why they are more valuable.

In IPL too, we saw all-rounders commanding exorbitant prices. They become important in the following scenarios. Suppose regular bowlers get hit for runs then to fill in the gap, the captain can benefit from an extra option. In another situation, if there is a batting collapse then they can bail out the team.

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#1 Ben Stokes: Rajasthan Royals

Ben Stokes' exploits last year made him the costliest player in this year's IPL auctions. Unfortunately, he has not been able to replicate the form that saw him win the Most Valuable Player of the IPL award.

During the last IPL, he had scored 316 runs at an average of over 30 and picked up 12 wickets for Rising Pune Supergiant. Last year's performances played a large part in Rajasthan Royals bidding for his services.

During this season, the Englishman has scored a paltry 196 runs at a lowly average of 16. His bowling has also been poor as he has taken only 8 wickets in this year's IPL. His poor run of form meant that Rajasthan did not get the return on the huge amount (12.5 crores) that they spent on buying him.

#2 Glenn Maxwell: Delhi Daredevils

Glenn Maxwell had a horrific season in this year's IPL

Famously known as "Big Show", Glenn Maxwell is one of the most feared batsmen in T20 cricket. His ability to play unorthodox shots and unsettle the bowlers is second to none. In the IPL, he is remembered for single-handedly taking Punjab to the finals in the 2014 edition. During that season, he scored seven 50's and scored a whopping 552 runs at a strike-rate of 188.

Similar things were expected from the Australian this year too. Unfortunately, he has not been able to perform with either bat or ball. In the 11 matches that he has played so far, he has just scored 147 runs at an average of 13. Such performances have made him more of a liability.

#3 Daniel Christian: Delhi Daredevils

Dan Christian has failed to deliver

The Australian all-rounder has been a part of the IPL since 2011. He is known for his useful contributions lower down the order and economical medium pace bowling.

In this year's IPL, he was picked up by Delhi Daredevils for a sum of 1.5 crores. Initially, it looked like he would only get a few opportunities to play as there were all-rounders in the form of Maxwell and Morris. Due to an injury to Morris, there was a golden opportunity for the Australian to claim a place in the starting XI.

Unfortunately, he struggled to perform in the limited chances that he got. With the bat, he scored just 26 runs in four matches at an average of 13. His bowling was poor too as he picked up just four wickets and conceded more than 100 runs.