IPL 2018: 5 overseas stars who might not feature in starting XI

The 11th edition of the Indian Premier League is set to begin on April 7. Every team has a maximum of 8 overseas players, some of whom have had remarkable careers for their nations and some of whom have been picked based on their domestic T20 records.

Considering that only 4 foreign players can play in the XI, there are many stalwarts who might not feature in the starting line up and may only play either when the conditions are favourable or when there is a dip in form of the first-choice players.

We look at 5 such star players who might find it difficult to make the cut in IPL 2018:

#5 Moeen Ali

The English all-rounder was picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 1.7 crore. Although Moeen Ali was dropped for the last Test match versus New Zealand due to his drop in form, he has been a regular for his national side in the last 2-3 years.

Ali is not a T20 star as yet, but his big-hitting abilities combined with his tidy off-spin bowling make him a valuable asset for his team. Still, he will most likely be used as a backup option for RCB given that they have enough Indian spin bowling options in their squad and all-rounders in the form of Collin de Grandhomme and Chris Woakes. Ali will have to wait for an opportunity to showcase his skills in his maiden IPL stint.

T20 stats:

Matches 109, Runs 2139, Ave 22.51, SR 128.85, 100s 0, 50s 11

Wickets 69, Eco 7.38, Ave 26.79

#4 Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman has a bag full of tricks

The young Bangladeshi pacer will feature for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2018. The Fizz, as he is known, has very good variations up his sleeve and, as his record suggests, has found some success in T20 cricket. Although he has battled many injuries in his short career, whenever he has remained fit, he has been a vital cog in the Bangladeshi bowling line-up.

But in spite of the bag of tricks he possesses, he might not feature in the starting XI for Mumbai Indians, mainly due to the fact that they have Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah to open the bowling. With Evin Lewis at the top and Kieron Pollard in the lower middle-order, either of Ben Cutting or JP Duminy will be the fourth foreign player in the XI. Hence, Mustafizur will have to wait for his opportunity which may arrive due to an injury to the first-choice players.

T20 stats

Matches 64, Wickets 78, Eco 6.94, Ave 21.00

#3 Trent Boult

Trent Boult has won many a game for New Zealand

The premier Kiwi fast-bowler is at the peak of his career. He is one of only 6 bowlers to have taken 200 Test wickets for New Zealand. Trent Boult has troubled many a batsman with his ability to swing the ball early on in the innings.

Delhi Daredevils, who bagged the services of Boult for INR 2.2 cr, will be tempted to draft him into the starting XI, but it might not be possible with the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris certain to feature along with Glenn Maxwell and Colin Munro who will shoulder the batting duties. In seaming conditions, they might drop one of the 2 overseas batsmen and go all- out with Rabada and Boult, but the star pacer will have to wait for his opportunity.

T20 stats

Matches 74, Wickets 80, Eco 8.3, Ave 27.31

#2 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is the leading run scorer in T20s

The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, was picked by Kings XI Punjab in the third round of auctions for his base price of INR 2 cr. The fact that Gayle had to wait until the very end of the auctions to find an IPL franchise is enough to suggest that he is not an automatic choice in the starting XI.

For Gayle to cause maximum damage, he has to open the innings. But the Kings have stocked their batting line-up with multiple Indian opening options like KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair. They even have the in-form Aaron Finch who has the experience of opening for his national team. Given all these circumstances, it would be difficult for the T20 superstar to find a place in the XI. He may have to wait for an injury to one of the first-choice openers to get an opportunity.

T20 stats

Matches 323, Runs 11068, Ave 40.69, SR 148.98, 100s 20, 50s 67

#1 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum has been entertaining crowds all over the world

Brendon McCullum, who set the stage on fire with his blistering 158 in the first IPL match back in 2008, is still a force to reckon with in T20s. He has been playing in the shortest format all over the world with remarkable success. And this is the reason he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a hefty sum - INR 3.6 cr.

But McCullum has played in the middle order of late and he does not keep wickets anymore. Hence RCB would be tempted to play Quinton de Kock instead, who has the ability to get his team off to quick starts and also keep wickets. Given that AB de Villiers and the all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme will feature in the middle-order, it is difficult to see how the Kiwi superstar will make it to the playing XI.

There will be some games later on when RCB would want to strengthen their batting and that is when McCullum will find a place in the team. But, for the moment, he will have to wait.

T20 stats

Matches 323, Runs 8992, Ave 30.90, SR 137.72, 100s 7, 50s 47