IPL 2018: 5 players who haven't got a single chance in the playing XI in the last 2 seasons

The IPL has seen the rise and fall of several international cricketers and domestic stars. Over the ten years of the league, hundreds of cricketers have played the IPL. Only a few of them have gone on to play for India, but the majority of them have faded away, while there are still few who are waiting for that first break.

Every season, teams build a squad of around 20-25 players. Not all of them get a chance to play and these unlucky ones have to spend entire season warming the bench and feeling happy that they were at least picked in the squad. The words on the glittering IPL trophy read 'Where Talent Meets Opportunity'. Here the 5 players whose talent did not meet the opportunity in the last 2 seasons of the IPL.

Note: Only those players who were a part of any of the franchises, but did not get a single chance in the playing XI for past two or more seasons are considered here.

#5 Baba Aparajith

Baba Aparajith has been a part of the CSK and RPS in the past.

Baba Aparajit was the star of India's victorious U-19 World Cup campaign in 2012. His good performances there earned him an IPL call-up for the Chennai Super Kings, yet, he did not play a single game for the Men in Yellow in his stint with the franchise. Subsequently, after the CSK were handed a two-year ban, Aparajith was picked by the Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016.

There too, he spent entire two seasons on benches and is still waiting to make his IPL debut. Aparajith has to be one of the unluckiest cricketers in the IPL, to have spent 5 seasons without playing a game.

#4 Armaan Jaffer

Armaan Jaffer scored 3 consecutive double centuries in Cooch Behar trophy in December 2015

The Mumbai kid came into the limelight after piling up runs at school-level and in the Cooch Behar Trophy. He was also a part of India's U-19 World Cup squad in 2016. The right-handed batsman was picked up by the Kings XI Punjab in 2016.

Since then, Armaan has not got an opportunity to showcase his skill at the IPL level for the Kings XI Punjab. Considering that the Kings XI Punjab had a torrid run in both 2016 and 2017 season, it is quite surprising to see that a player like Armaan wasn't tried in any of the games. He did not find a franchise for the 2018 edition of the IPL.

#3 Ankush Bains

Ankush Bains was part of India's 2014 U-19 World Cup squad

Ankush Bains, a wicket-keeper batsman who plays for Himachal Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, had been a part of the Rajasthan Royals in 2014, the Chennai Super Kings in 2015 and the Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 and 2017.

Yet, he has not played a single game in the IPL despite being part of one of the squads for three seasons. In 30 T20 matches that he has played, he has scored 538 runs at a strike rate of 103 with 3 fifties. Because of not making a huge impact in the domestic circuit off late, he was not picked by any team in the 2018 auctions.

#2 Siddhesh Lad

Siddhesh Lad has been Mumbai's man for all seasons in Ranji Trophy

The Mumbai batsman who is a vital cog in his Ranji Trophy team was picked by the Mumbai Indians in 2015. So far, he hasn't played a single IPL game. Having all the ingredients of a good T20 batsman, it is surprising to see Lad not getting a single chance in the last 3 seasons of the IPL.

It also shows the depth in the Mumbai Indians squad, that a player of his caliber isn't in the first choice XI. Lad will hope for a day to come this season when he walks out on the field, donning the blue and gold, and would hope to make an impact and show the Mumbai Indians team management how wrong they were in keeping him out.

#1 Abhimanyu Mithun

Abhimanyu Mithun has played 4 tests and 5 ODIS for India.

The Karnataka pacer last played an IPL game in the 6th edition of the league in 2013. Mithun, who was playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore back then, has gone on to be picked by the Mumbai Indians and currently finds himself with the Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, he hasn't played a game for either of his last two franchises.

With plenty of fast bowling talent being in reserve for the Orange Army, it looks like his wait is not going to end anytime soon. One reason for his long absence from the IPL has been his lack of wicket-taking abilities. In 16 matches that he has played, he has only 7 wickets to show at an expensive economy rate of 9.83.