IPL 2018: 5 international stars who haven't played a single game this season

The Indian Premier League is the toughest and the most popular T20 league on the planet. The 11th season of the competition began with the match between the defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai.

IPL has the best names from across the world displaying their talent. It is the league where a number of young talents and established stars compete for a place in the Playing X1.

IPL has a rule that the teams should play a maximum of 4 overseas players and this rule at times make the best names in the business sit out of the playing XI.

Let's have a look at the top 5 names which haven't got a single game this season.

#5) Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali is an England All-rounder who was bought in the auctions for the first time. He is yet to make his debut because the Bangalore team is filled with stars. The team has quality foreigners and it has been extremely difficult for Moeen to find a place in the X1.

Moeen Ali has a decent record for England team in both T20s and ODIs. He has scored 2139 runs in 109 T20s at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 129. He has also picked up 69 wickets in those matches at an economy of 7.3.

The England All-rounder can be a great asset for the Bangalore team if he is utilised wisely by the team. He has the ability to open the Innings for the side and has the ability to bowl economical four overs in the middle.

#4) Ish Sodhi

Sodhi was a huge success in the 2014 T20 World Cup in India

Ish Sodhi is a New Zealand spinner who shot to success with his brilliant spell of leg-spin bowling in their first match against India in the 2016 T20 World Cup. He continued his run throughout the tournament and was a revelation that year.

Sodhi has a brilliant record in T20 Internationals, as he has picked up 36 wickets in 26 matches at a brilliant average of 23 and a strike rate of 18. He has been the pick of New Zealand bowlers over the years.

Rajasthan Royals aren't using him in the playing XI as they have the services of Krishnappa Gowtham and Shreyas Gopal in their ranks. Sodhi is a brilliant spinner and would be a great addition to the Royals side if needed.

#3) Tim Southee

Southee can be a great death bowler for his IPL team

Tim Southee is another New Zealand bowler who hasn't yet played a single game for his side in the competition. Chris Woakes has been selected ahead of Southee because of his ability to bat.

Southee has a great record in T20s as he has picked up 172 wickets in 153 T20s at an average of 26 at a strike rate of 19. He is amongst the fiercest fast bowlers in the world and is a quality death bowler.

Southee has been unable to make it into the Playing X1 as Chris Woakes has been preferred over him due to his ability to play the power game with the bat. Southee can be a great death bowler for the Bangalore side as the team has been leaking too many runs in end overs.

#2) JP Duminy

Duminy is one of the best finishers in the modern game

JP Duminy began his Indian Premier League career with the Mumbai Indians side in the second edition of the tournament in 2009. He continued playing for the side before moving to Deccan Chargers in 2011.

Duminy then played for Delhi from 2014 and also captained the side for a year. He played at number 3 for Delhi and also bowled some important overs for the side.

The South African All-rounder has recently started opening the innings for T20 sides and is a player who is capable of playing anywhere in the batting order which is an indication of his versatility. In addition to this, he can also bowl important overs in the middle and contain the opposition.

#1) Alex Hales

Hales has been a consistent performer for England

Alex Hales is one of the most explosive openers in T20 cricket at the moment and was brought in as Warner's replacement after the latter was banned for a year due to his involvement in the sandpaper gate.

Hales is a destructive opener who hasn't yet played a single game for Sunrisers Hyderabad as the side has the services of Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson who are the openers for the side.

Hales can be a great addition to the playing XI of the Hyderabad side as they seem to be struggling with their batting. Williamson can ask Hales to open the innings and drop himself down the order so that he can control the game in the middle overs. This might provide Hyderabad a solution to their middle order woes.