IPL 2019: Flop overseas XI of the season

IPL 2019 finally ended on Sunday with the Mumbai Indians edging out the Chennai Super Kings by the finest margins of a single run. The overseas stars of the teams are usually the lynchpins of the teams in the IPL. Franchises are prepared to spend big bucks for the overseas stars who add power, control, and experience to their teams.

However, not all overseas stars are successful. Some buys fail to live up to the hype and end as failures.

Let's take a look at some overseas stars who could not get going during IPL 2019.

1. Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Williamson could not replicate his last year's form - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

The Sunrisers Hyderabad Captain, Kane Williamson was the star of the show last year, emerging as the leading run scorer of the tournament. His consistent performances helped his team reach the finals. Kane sustained shoulder injury earlier this year against Bangladesh and missed some matches at the start of the IPL. After returning from injury, Kane struggled to get going and could only muster 156 runs from 9 innings, a far cry from his last year’s tally of 735 runs. This had a telling effect on the team as the batting unit failed to click after the departure of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow.

2. Shimron Hetmyer (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Shimron Hetmyer .- Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

The aggressive West Indian batsman, Shimron Hetmyer was built as the next big thing of the IPL. He had been in great form against India in the ODIs earlier this year and his ability to use the feet against spinners made him a potential superstar signing for RCB. Bought for a huge price of 4.2 cr, Hetmyer failed to justify his price tag, having scores of 0, 5, 9 and 1 from his first four innings. He was dropped from the team subsequently. However, he played a brilliant knock of 75 runs in the last game to guide his team home.

3. Colin Ingram (Delhi Capitals)

Ingram struggled down the order - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

The Delhi franchise had spent big bucks (6.4 cr) at the auctions to acquire the services of Colin Ingram. Ingram who is a T20 specialist usually plays at the number 3 position. But Delhi’s team management gave him the finisher’s role in which he mostly struggled, scoring just 184 runs from 12 innings. The two times he batted higher - at No. 4 - Ingram scored 47 off 32 and 22 off 21. He was replaced by Colin Munro in the playoffs.

4. David Miller (Kings XI Punjab)

Miller could not get those meaty blows going - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

David Miller has been around in the IPL for quite some time now. “Killer Miller” as he is fondly called, has failed to perform consistently over the past few seasons. He is not the same finisher he once was and was replaced by Nicolas Pooran in the last few games of the IPL. Nicholas Pooran looked the part and is likely to be the long term replacement of Miller in Punjab’s set up. Miller had humble returns of 213 runs from his 10 innings.

5. Ashton Turner (Rajasthan Royals)-

Ashton Turner bagged a hat-trick of ducks - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

The right-handed middle-order batsman from Australia, Ashton Turner, impressed everyone with his cool mind and big hits during the India-Australia ODI series this year. He didn’t get to play any games at the start with Royals preferring to go with Jos Buttler, Steven Smith, and Ben Stokes. When he did get his chance, Turner struggled to get off the mark, scoring three ducks in a row. His last innings yielded just 3 runs and the Aussie was dropped in favour of Liam Livingstone by the franchise.

6. Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals)

Stokes could not influence games this season. - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Rajasthan had spent big bucks (12.5 cr) on the maverick English all-rounder during last year’s auctions. But like last year, Ben Stokes had another disappointing campaign, scoring just 123 runs and picking up just 6 wickets from 9 matches. He did take a blinder of a catch at backward point but it was all he had to show for efforts this year. The Royals may offload him ahead of next year’s auctions to have some money in their transfer kitty.

7. Colin de Grandhomme (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Colin de Grandhomme - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

The big-hitting Kiwi allrounder, Colin de Grandhomme had a decent IPL last year, scoring some quick runs at the death. But he endured some torrid time in the middle this season, scoring just 46 runs from 4 games. His failure to put bat to ball eventually cost RCB the game against Mumbai. He was dropped from the playing XI in favour of Marcus Stoinis in subsequent matches.

8. Andrew Tye (Kings XI Punjab)

Tye could not repeat last year's magic - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Andrew Tye was the star of the show last year, bagging the purple cap with 24 wickets. He was the leader of the pack and solely carried Punjab’s hopes last year. Unfortunately for Punjab, he could not repeat his last year’s heroics and struggled to have an impact. Tye picked up just 3 wickets from 6 outings and was replaced by Hardus Viljoen from the playing XI. This led to the shortage of experience in Punjab’s attack which eventually cost them big in the later stages of the tournament.

9. Lockie Ferguson (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Lockie Ferguson bowled too short this year - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

The Kiwi pacer, Lockie Ferguson, was expected to add fire to Kolkata’s attack but he struggled with his length and was too short with the ball. The fact that Ferguson’s mustache made more headlines than his bowling speaks volumes about his performances. His economy of 10.76 was one of the worst in the tournament. He is likely to be released by the franchise ahead of the auctions next year. Harry Gurney replaced him in the team in the later stages of the tournament.

10. Mujeeb ur Rahman (Kings XI Punjab)

Mujeeb-ur-Rahman - - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Mujeeb-ur-Rahman was brilliant with the new ball last year, bowling economical overs in the powerplay. His delivery to get rid of Virat Kohli at Chinnaswamy Stadium was one of the balls of the tournament. A shoulder injury meant the 18-year old wasn’t at his best during the cash-rich league, picking up just 3 wickets from 5 games at an expensive economy rate of more than 10 runs per over. His spell of 0/66 against Hyderabad is one of the most expensive in IPL’s history.

11. Tim Southee (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Southee was expensive this year - Image Courtesy (BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Bowling has always been the Achilles’ heel of RCB. They had brought in Tim Southee to add experience to their attack and bowl those crucial death overs. But the Kiwi was off the mark throughout the tournament and picked up just a single wicket from three matches. His economy rate was 13.11. He was outbowled by the young quick Navdeep Saini. Dale Steyn replaced him in the side and was very impressive during his short stint.