IPL 2019: Five overseas players who are yet to play a game in this season

We are at the business end of the league stage of the 12th edition of Indian Premier League. In the current phase, the results of every single game will have an impact on the points table. At the end of Match No. 45, only Chennai Super Kings has qualified for the playoffs.

However, no team has been eliminated yet from the playoffs race. With only 11 games remaining in the league stage, the competition for the remaining three spots in the playoffs will be very intense.

As per the IPL norms, a team can have a maximum of eight overseas players in its squad. However, a team is allowed to field a maximum of only four foreign players in the playing XI. Since the IPL is a long tournament, there exists a considerable possibility of all the eight overseas players (in a team) playing at least a single game for their franchise.

In the current season, barring five overseas players across all the eight teams, rest of them have played at least a single game for their corresponding franchises. Now, let us look at those five unlucky players who are yet to play their first game in this season.

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#1 Moises Henriques (Kings XI Punjab)

Henriques got injured just moments before the toss (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

Moises Henriques is one of the players who have been associated with the IPL for a very long time. The Australian all-rounder made his IPL debut in the 2009 season with Kolkata Knight Riders. In the 2010 season, he moved to Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

In the 2011 mega-auction, he was once again moved to a new franchise, as Mumbai Indians bought him for a sum of USD 50,000. However, he was ruled out of that entire season due to injury. In the 2013 season, he was moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Then for the next four years (2014-17), he became a constant member in the Sunrisers Hyderabad setup. Later, he went unsold in the 2018 mega-auction. However, he found a bidder in Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2019 auction.

In 57 IPL games, Henriques has scored 969 runs with five half-centuries. With the ball, he has claimed 38 wickets with an economy rate of 8.38. Though the numbers might look ordinary, he is always a handy player.

Interestingly, Henriques was supposed to make his debut for KXIP in the 32nd league match against Rajasthan Royals. However, he sustained an unfortunate injury during the regular warm-ups before the game. Hence, he was ruled out of that game at the last moment.

With the status of his injury unclear, there are chances of him failing to make his KXIP debut this year.

#2 Martin Guptill (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Martin Guptill (left) can get a chance in the upcoming fixtures (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

Despite possessing an impressive batting record of 6000+ runs, four 100s, and 42 50s in T20s, Martin Guptill was often overlooked by the IPL franchises. He finally got his chance during the 2016 season as Mumbai Indians signed him as a replacement player for injured Lendl Simmons.

In the following season, Kings XI Punjab bought him at his base price of INR 50 lakhs. In those two seasons combined, Guptill had managed to play only ten games.

In the 2018 auction, Guptill went unsold again for the umpteenth time. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him during the IPL 2019 auction as a potential backup option for Jonny Bairstow. With Bairstow left the IPL now for national duty, Guptill might get a chance in the upcoming fixtures.

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#3 Billy Stanlake (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Billy Stanlake was impressive last season in his limited appearances (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

Billy Stanlake made his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bangalore during IPL 2017. The tall Australian speedster had managed to play only two games for RCB in that season.

In the 2018 season, he was moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Since there were several star overseas players in the SRH squad, Billy had managed to play only four games for SRH in that season.

Despite his limited appearances, Billy was impressive in the last two years with his pace and bounce. However, he is yet to play his first match in this season. Since there are several bowling options in the SRH squad, it would not be a massive surprise if he warms the bench in the entire season.

#4 Matthew Kelly (Kolkata Knight Riders)

KKR signed Kelly as a replacement player for injured Anrich Nortje

Matthew Kelly, the Australian pacer, initially went unsold in the IPL 2019 auction. However, an unfortunate injury to the Protea speedster, Anrich Nortje, opened the IPL gate for Kelly. KKR signed him as a replacement player for injured Nortje.

Since Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell are guaranteed starters in the playing XI, only one overseas slot is vacant for the rest of the five foreign players. Barring Kelly, all the other foreign players had played at least one IPL game for KKR in this season.

Since KKR are desperate for a victory at this stage, it would not be a surprise if Kelly gets a game in the upcoming fixtures.

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#5 Beuran Hendricks (Mumbai Indians)

Beuran Hendricks last played for KXIP during IPL 2014-15 (Picture courtesy: iplt20.com)

Beuran Hendricks had his first taste of IPL with the Kings XI Punjab franchise during the seasons 2014 and 2015. In those two years combined, Hendricks had managed to play only seven IPL matches for KXIP. Though he had claimed nine wickets in seven games, an economy rate of 9.40 left him without an IPL contract post-2015 season.

After a 3-year exile from the IPL, the left arm pacer from South Africa is now back in the IPL. He joined the Mumbai Indians only a few days ago as a replacement player for injured Alzarri Joseph. Since there are several star overseas players in the Mumbai setup, Hendricks might not get a game in this season.