IPL 2018: Benchwarmers XI

IPL teams usually go in with the strategy to get multiple players to vie for the same spot in the side. With the IPL being a long one-and-a-half month sojourn, injuries and loss of form are pretty common and hence teams decide to go in with backup options for their front-line players. However, when the players in the eleven are performing well, it's difficult for the players on the bench to get a look in.

We take a look at an IPL XI comprising players who have remained rooted to the bench this season:

Openers

#1 Murali Vijay (Chennai Super Kings)

Local Chennai fans breathed a sigh of relief when Murali Vijay was picked by Chennai Super Kings in the second round of auctions as he was the first local boy selected in the team with the likes of Dinesh Karthik, Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar heading off to other pastures.

Fans would have expected to see their old boy opening the batting once again but Chennai surprisingly opted to open with Ambati Rayudu, and the Hyderabad-lad hasn't looked back since. The good form of Rayudu and Watson has seen Vijay frozen out of the team and he only appeared once - during Raina's injury absence.

Alternative: Manjot Kalra (Delhi Daredevils)

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#2 Naman Ojha (Delhi Daredevils) - Wicket Keeper

When Delhi Daredevils retained Rishabh Pant before the auctions, it became quite clear that the young Delhi lad would be the man donning the gloves behind the stumps. This meant that Naman Ojha was picked in the auction only as a backup keeper or as a pure batsman. The presence of a vast array of talented Indian batsmen like Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer and Vijay Shankar has led to Ojha being consigned to an extended stay on the bench.

Alternative: Aditya Tare (Mumbai Indians)

Middle order

#3 Saurabh Tiwary (Mumbai Indians)

Saurabh Tiwary was a one-season wonder shining brightly for Mumbai Indians in 2010. The long-haired Jharkhand batsman's good form for Mumbai Indians even got him an India cap and a massive bid from Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011. However, since then the left-handed batsman has flattered to deceive as his one-dimensional batting and fitness issues have contributed to his rapid decline.

Tiwary was picked up by Mumbai Indians once again this time around. However, the presence of top quality batsmen in the ranks has meant that Tiwary is yet to get an opportunity this season.

Alternatives: Siddharth Lad (Mumbai Indians), Ishank Jaggi (Kolkata Knight Riders)

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#4 Heinrich Klaasen (Rajasthan Royals)

Steve Smith's ban from this year's IPL saw Rajasthan Royals opt to call up Heinrich Klaasen as his replacement. Klaasen, who made his debut for South Africa during India's tour earlier this year, impressed one and all with his ability to handle the spin threat posed by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

D'Arcy Short was given first preference to prove himself though and when the Australian failed, the Royals turned to Klaasen. Klaasen though was made to bat at an unfamiliar position at the top of the order despite the presence of a natural opener in Rahul Tripathi. The South African was dropped after just two failures, with Short picked in the XI once again. Despite the prolonged poor form of Short, Klaasen hasn't got a look in again.

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#5 David Miller (Kings XI Punjab)

Kings XI Punjab used the Right To Match option to retain the services of David Miller for this season. Miller has been one of Punjab's most successful players over the past few years and was expected to be one of the vital cogs in the middle order yet again. After playing the opening match, and one more game later, Miller has found chances hard to come by as Punjab have juggled with the five of Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis, Mujeeb and Andrew Tye to fulfil the quota of 4 foreign players in the XI.

With the middle order struggling to contribute runs, it's an extremely surprising decision that a player of Miller's quality and stature is not being given an extended run in the eleven.

All-rounders

#6 Carlos Brathwaite (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Carlos Brathwaite is one surprising name to have been excluded from the playing XI by the Sunrisers team management. While the likes of Billy Stanlake, Mohammed Nabi and Chris Jordan have at least gotten games under their belt, it's surprising that the West Indies skipper has been completely frozen out.

Carlos has always been a prime contributor for his team in both departments of the game but unfortunately, has not fit into the scheme of things for the Orange Army. With Hyderabad settling on a fixed playing XI now heading into the playoffs, it's highly unlikely that Brathwaite would be able to break into the team.

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#7 Bipul Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Bipul Sharma played a crucial role during Sunrisers Hyderabad's victorious 2016 campaign. The all-rounder played a crucial hand to support David Warner in a match-winning partnership in Qualifier 2. In a tense final, Bipul picked up the massive wicket of AB de Villiers, one of the wickets that tilted the game in Hyderabad's favor.

He was retained by them last year and played another 7 games for the Orange Army. He was bought back by them in the auctions this year but the presence of Rashid Khan and Shakib al Hasan has meant that Bipul is yet to get a game this year. Having made it to the playoffs, Hyderabad are unlikely to tinker with their line-up which will make it difficult for him to get into the eleven.

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#8 Chris Jordan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Over the past few years, Chris Jordan has developed into one of the better death bowlers in T20 cricket. After a stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Englishman was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the auctions this year. SRH have an army of extremely skillful Indian pace bowlers and the team have therefore relied on them to fulfill the fast bowling duties, instead of picking an overseas fast bowler.

Chris Jordan played one match in Billy Stanlake's absence and despite performing well, he hasn't been given another opportunity post that game. Had Jordan been selected by either RCB or KKR, he might have surely gotten an extended run in the eleven.

Alternative: Adam Milne (Mumbai Indians)

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#9 Jayant Yadav (Delhi Daredevils)

The forgotten man of Indian cricket. Jayant Yadav scored a series-defining maiden hundred against England in just his third Test match after getting to his maiden fifty in the second Test match of the series. The off-spinning all-rounder, who looked convincing with the bat in the England series, played only further Test for India, a game in which his side were embarrassed by Australia. Since then he hasn't made an entry back into the Indian team, a sad story for a career that started so brightly.

His IPL career isn't much to boast of either. He was picked by Delhi Daredevils in the auction this year. However, the presence of Amit Mishra, Rahul Tewatia and Shahbaz Nadeem in the squad has meant that Yadav bafflingly hasn't received a single opportunity to showcase his skills.

Alternative: Rahul Chahar (Mumbai Indians)

Bowlers

#10 Navdeep Saini (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Navdeep Saini is one of the most promising young fast bowlers to have emerged from the domestic circuit. The lanky fast bowler is in contention to make his debut for India in the near future, as he has also performed well for India A.

He also travelled with the Indian Test team to bowl in the nets during the Proteas tour. Despite being a promising bowler and taking into account Royal Challengers Bangalore's problems in the pace bowling department, it's a surprise that Virat Kohli hasn't tried him out yet.

Alternative: Aniket Choudhary (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

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#11 T Natarajan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Natarajan, who came into the limelight after an excellent TNPL 2016, was picked by Kings XI Punjab last year. The young left-arm pacer however failed to come up with extraordinary performances in the IPL.

This year, he was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the auctions. With Sunrisers Hyderabad well-stocked in the pace bowling department, it was expected to be difficult for the young pacer to get into the eleven. SRH's Indian pacers have stood up and hence Natarajan has remained rooted to the bench this season.