The IPL 2018 Flop XI so far

The eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League, with much fanfare and anticipation, kicked off on April 07, 2018.

During the course of past 29 days, we have witnessed some pulsating action in all facets of the game. While a plethora of young Indian talent in Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Markande, and Shubhman Gill, have set the stage on fire with their superlative performances, there has been a series of disappointments from cricketers who were expected to enthral us this season.

That said, in this blog today, here's a look at the IPL Flop XI in the 2018 edition thus far.

Note: Stats are as of 7 May 2018

Here's my compilation:

#1 Gautam Gambhir (Captain)

Much was expected of the former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper to lead his home team, the Delhi Daredevils, to glory after the two-time IPL winner returned to Delhi after seven years.

However, lack of form that saw him score just 85 runs in six matches coupled by team's dismal performance saw Gautam relinquish the captaincy duties to Shreyas Iyer, and he has not featured in any game post his stepping down as captain.

#2 D'Archy Short

Short has had a disappointing IPL thus far

After ending up as the leading run-scorer in the 2017/18 BBL season (572 runs) for the Hobart Hurricanes, D'Archy Short was destined to get an IPL contract this year, and (Rs 4 Crore) Rajasthan Royals were quick to poach him in the 2018 IPL auctions.

However, the swashbuckling left-hander has not been able to replicate his success in the IPL. With his struggles against quality spin quite evident, Short has only managed to scrap 111 runs in six matches at an average of 18.50 and an underwhelming strike-rate of 118.08.

#3 Yuvraj Singh

The left-handed batsman from Punjab has looked a pale shadow of himself in the 2018 IPL.

At No.3 comes Yuvraj Singh. The left-handed batsman from Punjab has looked a pale shadow of himself in the 2018 IPL.

Part of Yuvi's problem this season has been his inability to rotate the strike at the start of the innings. In seven matches, Yuvraj has just scored 64 runs at an average of 12.80 and a strike-rate of only 91.42.

#4 Manish Pandey

Much was expected from Manish Pandey

Much was expected from Manish Pandey - the finisher, when he was racked up for a whopping Rs. 11 Crore by the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

But the Karnataka batsman has struggled with form thus far in the 2018 season, having failed to finish off games for his franchise. In ten matches, Pandey has scrapped his way to just 184 runs at an average of 18.4 and a disappointing strike-rate of 114.01.

#5 Aaron Finch

Finch has been in torrid form in the 2018 Vivo IPL thus far.

Aaron Finch, who was racked up by the Kings XI Punjab, for Rs 6.20 Crore, has been in torrid form in the 2018 Vivo IPL thus far.

In six matches that Finch has featured in, Finch has just managed to score 24 runs at an average of 6.00. Finch's lacklustre run of form forced the KXIP management to drop him against the Mumbai Indians in favour of his Aussie compatriot Marcus Stoinis.

#6 Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes has had a pretty ordinary Vivo IPL thus far.

In eight games Stokes has just made 160 runs at an average of 17.77 and an underwhelming strike-rate of 123.07, a stark difference from his strike-rate of 142.98 last year. The most valuable player of the 2017 IPL and the most expensive overseas layer this season, English all-rounder Ben Stokes has had a pretty ordinary IPL thus far.

While on the bowling front, he has been guilty of bowling too many loose balls that have accounted for 218 runs for just two wickets at an average of 109.00, he hasn't set the stage on fire with the bat as well.

#7 Wriddhiman Saha (Wicket-Keeper)

Saha's wicketkeeping skills have come under scrutiny too, having dropped catches at crucial junctures.

The Indian Test wicketkeeper has played crucial roles for his previous franchise Kings XI Punjab in the past, most pivotal being his hundred in 2014 final.

But the 2018 season for Sunrisers Hyderabad has been a rather ordinary one for the Bengal lad. Apart from his batting that has seen him scrap to just 87 runs in ten games, Saha's wicketkeeping skills have come under scrutiny too, having dropped catches at crucial junctures.

#8 Washington Sundar

Sundar has had a dismal IPL 2018 thus far

Much was expected from Indian teenage off-spinner Washington Sundar after displaying a plethora of skills both in last year's IPL (8 wickets at 23.12) as well as in the limited opportunities that he had got for the Men in Blue.

Sundar, who was racked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore, has had a dismal IPL 2018 so far. The teenage off-spinner has featured in seven matches and has conceded 192 runs in 120 balls at a very expensive economy rate of 9.60, a stark difference from 6.16 last year, and have just managed four wickets at an average of 48.00.

#9 Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja has had an ordinary season thus far

One of the three players to be retained by the Chennai Super Kings franchise, Jadeja has had an ordinary season thus far barring his performance in the last game against RCB.

Jadeja has largely struggled this year with the bat as well as the ball. Having been sent ahead of Bravo in the batting-order, Jadeja has managed 59 runs at an average of 14.50 and a strike-rate of 115.68. In terms of bowling, barring the last match (3-18) against RCB, Jadeja managed just three wickets in the first nine matches.

#10 Mitchell Johnson

Mitchell Johnson has looked a pale shadow of himself in Vivo IPL 2018.

One of the most feared bowlers in his heydays, Mitchell Johnson has looked a pale shadow of himself in IPL 2018.

Johnson's pace too has hovered around the mid 130s, a stark difference of what it was when he was at his peak. In six matches so far, Johnson has picked up just 2 wickets at an average of 108.00 and economy of 10.28 per over.

#11 Javdev Unadkat

The most expensive Indian player in the 2018 IPL auction

The most expensive Indian player in the 2018 IPL auction, much was expected by the Rajasthan Royals from Jaydev Unadkat.

However, the left-arm fast bowler, who racked up for Rs. 11.50 Crore at the auction has had an ordinary season so far, having taken seven wickets at an average of 42.28 and an expensive economy of 9.86.