IPL 2019: 5 players who are set to make a comeback 

IPL can sometimes be very cruel. It can take players to the heights that they can never imagine and also bring legends of the game down to ground. Once a player is unsold in a season, it becomes difficult for him to make a comeback in the next season of the cash-rich league.

Many players were not part of the 2018 IPL season. Some players were out due to the controversies that surrounded them and few were out because they weren't able to find buyers in the auction.

Let us now take a look at 5 players who had missed out in 2018 and are set to make a comeback in IPL 2019.

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#5 Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari is currently making a mark in the Indian Test side

Hanuma Vihari last featured in the IPL during the 2015 season for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He is currently having a breakthrough year at Test level. After receiving his maiden Test cap during India's tour of England earlier this year, he has become a regular part of the squad.

Vihari was not part of the IPL for the last three seasons because teams thought that his style of batting would not suit the shortest format.

Having broken into the Indian Test side, he attracted buyers at the 2019 auction. Delhi Capitals bought him for INR 2 crores. Thus far, Vihari has played 22 IPL matches in 2013 and 2015 seasons but has failed to impress.

In his IPL career, Vihari has a sub-par strike rate of 89.45 and a dismal average of 15.55. He would definitely want to improve his numbers this season. Delhi Capitals would be aiming to utilize his gritty batting as well as handy off-spin to lend balance to their lineup.

#4 Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma will represent the Delhi Capitals in the 2019 season

Ishant Sharma is the pace spearhead of India's bowling attack in Test cricket. He is the most experienced cricketer in the current Indian Test squad. Though he is not part of the limited-overs teams anymore, Ishant has an experience of more than 11 years of international cricket which would definitely benefit him in the IPL.

Ishant went unsold during the 2018 IPL Auction. In 2017, he played only six matches after coming in as replacement player in Kings XI Punjab's squad. In the six matches that he played, the veteran seamer was not able to pick up a single wicket and was also expensive as he went for an economy-rate of 9.94 runs per over.

In the recently completed auction, Delhi Capitals bought Ishant at the price of INR 1.1 crores. The Indian pace bowlers in the Delhi squad are quite inexperienced and the team management would be hoping that Ishant can play a crucial role in leading the attack.

#3 Steve Smith

Steve Smith will hold the key for Rajasthan Royals' fortunes

Steve Smith missed the 2018 IPL season due to the controversial ball-tampering scandal. After Cricket Australia banned him for a year, the IPL governing council also decided to stay away from him.

This was a huge disappointment for Rajasthan Royals as he was the man to lead them in the tournament. By the time the 2019 IPL season begins, CA's ban period on him would almost be over.

Steve Smith played for Rising Pune Supergiants in the 2017 season and also captained them to the final. With his steady batting and composed leadership, he was a very important factor for the Pune team.

Smith has been playing club cricket in Australia and has also looked in great touch in the CPL. Rajasthan Royals retained him before the auctions. They will be banking on the Australian batsman to anchor their fortunes in the 2019 IPL season.

#2 Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga is the highest wicket-taker in IPL history

Lasith Malinga is the all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history. The Sri Lankan pacer has taken 154 wickets in 110 matches in a memorable career for Mumbai Indians. He also won the Purple Cap in the 2011 IPL season. The wily speedster also played a crucial role in Mumbai winning the title on three occasions.

In the 2018 auction, Malinga was not picked up by any franchise due to his inadequate fitness level. Mumbai Indians later signed him for the role of bowling coach. During the last six months or so, he has worked incredibly hard on his fitness and made a comeback in Sri Lanka's limited-overs teams.

During the recently completed auction, Malinga was picked up by Mumbai Indians at his base price of INR 2 crores. His addition to the pace attack alongside the ever reliable presence of Jasprit Bumrah should form a deadly duo to face for opposition teams.

#1 David Warner

David Warner led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL title in 2016

David Warner is one of the best modern-day batsmen across all formats. When it comes to the shortest format, there are very few players better than him. He was not able to participate in the 2018 IPL season due to his involvement in the ball-tampering saga and subsequent ban by CA.

With Shikhar Dhawan now traded to Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers would require Warner's services to a greater extent. The Australian batsman had led the franchise to their first IPL title in 2016.

Warner has proved to be a great leader for the Sunrisers in the years that he has captained the side. In the 2018 season, Kane Williamson led the team quite efficiently and it would be interesting to see that who will be in charge of the team in the 2019 edition.

Warner would himself want to mark his return to the IPL by creating a significant impact with the bat in next year's season.