IPL 2019: 3 international captains who did not play the first IPL match of their respective teams

The 12th season of the Indian Premier League - IPL 2019 - is underway. As of this writing, all the teams have played their first IPL match, and there have been plenty of thrillers and controversies already.

The IPL format brings out the best in the players. Relatively young players get more exposure by playing along with internationally acclaimed talents, and the unique mix of youth and experience makes for an intriguing spectacle.

IPL is the biggest stage where several international stars from different countries get together in the same dressing room. Even the super-busy players make it a priority to play the IPL despite their tiring schedule.

While speaking about busy cricketers, it is worth mentioning international captains. These captains are the busiest people in world cricket. Given their rigorous schedule which includes many foreign tours, it is hard for them to take a break and play in something other than their international fixtures.

Australian captain Aaron Finch refused to play in IPL 2019 due to his international commitments and the upcoming World Cup. However, there are some captains who are very much a part of the tournament this year, but may not play regularly during the season.

These captains will be frequently benched or rested for some matches keeping the upcoming World Cup in mind. Here are three such captains, who didn't feature in the first match of their respective IPL teams, but who could make their presence at some point in the tournament:

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#3 Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis is a seasoned campaigner in the Indian Premier League. The current South African captain has been part of the Chennai Super Kings since 2011. He adds a wealth of experience to the side.

Du Plessis has a massive fanbase in India, especially in Chennai, due to his match-winning knocks in the IPL. Last season he was benched for a long time owing to his injury, but he made a vital contribution in the playoffs.

This edition of IPL doesn't seem likely to feature Du Plessis in all matches either. With the upcoming World Cup in mind, the South African cricket board (CSA) wouldn't be too happy if he plays too many IPL games.

It was evident right in the first IPL match that he won't play much this season. Du Plessis was benched even when the team had room for an overseas player. CSK played with just three overseas players against RCB, leaving Du Plessis out of the playing XI.

This looks likely to be the case for the majority of the upcoming CSK matches. However, Du Plessis is a superb decision-maker and can assist the think-tank with some strategic advice during the tournament.

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#2 Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga

Mumbai Indians have had a very disappointing start to the 2019 season. Their bowlers were dominated by the Delhi Capitals batsmen, who looked unstoppable as they notched up 213/6 in the first innings.

Although the Mumbai players batted well, the 200+ target was too tough for them to chase down. Ultimately they fell short, being bundled out for 176.

Things could've been a bit different if they had their veteran pacer Lasith Malinga in the lineup. The Sri Lankan bowler is the highest wicket-taker in the IPL with 154 wickets in 110 innings. That record is sufficient to argue that he could've countered the onslaught from Delhi.

Initially, the Sri Lankan board was hesitant to allow Malinga for IPL participation owing to the upcoming World Cup, and he sat out the first match accordingly. However, the SLC have given him permission to play, so he is likely to feature in a few of MI's matches this season.

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#1 Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson was the biggest exclusion from the SRH team in their first match of IPL 2019.

The New Zealand skipper handled the captaincy duties of the team in David Warner's absence during IPL 2018. He showed his class as a captain, leading the team from the front.

Under his captaincy, Sunrisers Hyderabad made it to the final of IPL 2018. Williamson was also the top run scorer of the season, notching up 735 runs in 17 innings.

Williamson has become an immensely popular figure in India. That is probably why the fans were disappointed to not see him play SRH's first match this year.

The Kiwi suffered a shoulder injury during a previous game against Bangladesh, and needed a little more time to regain his match fitness. SRH suffered without him, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar was made captain in his absence.

Despite scoring 180+ in the first innings SRH failed to defend the total. They certainly missed Williamson's tactics on the field, and would hope that he recovers soon and takes charge.

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