IPL 2019: One expensive player who should be released by each team

IPL 2019 has reached its business end. Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings finished in the top two, while the Delhi Capitals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad finished third and fourth respectively. Royal Challengers Bangalore had another disappointing campaign as they finished rock-bottom in IPL 2019.

With every franchise given a fixed budget in IPL, they have to release players to accommodate the new ones. Teams such as the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Rajasthan Royals have quite a few underperforming players this season. Some of these players might be dropped for the next season.

Without much ado, let's take a look at one expensive player from each team who should be released.

#8 Royal Challengers Bangalore - Akshdeep Nath

Akshdeep Nath, Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com

Royal Challengers Bangalore finished the season in eighth spot with just five wins in 14 games.

RCB made some expensive buys at the 2019 auction and Akshdeep Nath was one of them. The 25-year-old was bought for ₹3.6 crores but he failed to live up to the expectations. In eight games this season, he scored just 61 runs and his strike rate was only 107.

#7 Kolkata Knight Riders - Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa was dropped by KKR after a string of poor performances this season, Image Courtesy: BCCI

Robin Uthappa has been a phenomenal performer in the IPL, but for the last couple of years, he has not been in good form. He averaged only 21.93 in IPL 2018 and this season was not a lot different.

Uthappa has scored only two fifties in his last 26 IPL innings (2018 & 2019) and wasn’t at his very best. Even in 2019, his strike rate was only 115, which did not do any good to KKR. He was dropped by KKR after a series of low scores this season before being reinstated again. He is not getting any younger and KKR may have to let him go next season, especially as he costs a whooping ₹6.40 crores.

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#6 Mumbai Indians - Kieron Pollard

Everyone knows how good a hitter this man is. However, he is not the same player he once was. He is far too inconsistent and scored only 133 runs last season, and 240 runs so far in IPL 2019.

With Hardik Pandya in the squad, Mumbai Indians need a player who is consistent with the bat in the middle order and it would be better for them to invest the ₹5.4 crores elsewhere.

#5 Sunrisers Hyderabad - Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda has been a huge disappointment in the Indian Premier League so far. Despite playing at least nine games in each of his last three IPL seasons, the 24-year-old has failed to cross the 100-run mark in each one of them.

In 2019, Hooda has played 10 games for Sunrisers Hyderabad and has scored only 60 runs. An average of 12 and a strike rate of 101 is not good for any player in T20s, especially if you are bought for ₹3.6 crores.

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#4 Rajasthan Royals - Jaydev Unadkat

Rajasthan Royals have struggled for consistency this season and one of the big reasons behind that has been their bowling. Apart from Jofra Archer, none of their seamers turned out to be consistent performances for the Royals.

Jaydev Unadkat, who was bought for a whopping ₹8.4 crores at the 2019 auctions, didn't repay the trust showed on him by the franchise. In 11 games this season, Unadkat picked up 10 wickets and conceded almost 11 runs an over. He was expensive in the death overs and struggled to contain the batsmen.

#3 Kings XI Punjab - David Miller

Though he is an integral part of South Africa's limited-overs squad, David Miller has been a disappointment in IPL in recent seasons. Bought by Kings XI Punjab for ₹3 crores at the 2018 auction, Miller hasn’t delivered for his franchise.

In 10 games this season, the South African batsman has scored 213 runs at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 129.87. Miller has scored only one fifty in his last 32 IPL games (2016 - 2019). Though he has done well for the franchise in the past, he is not that player anymore in the IPL.

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#2 Delhi Capitals - Colin Ingram

Bought by Delhi Capitals for ₹6.4 crores at the 2019 auction, Ingram showed flashes of his brilliance but failed to justify his huge price tag. With explosive players like Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, and Rishabh Pant at the top, Delhi needed Ingram to solidify their middle order and finish games, with Ingram struggling to do either.

He managed only 184 runs in IPL 2019 and failed to score a single 50. If Ingram fails to step up in the playoffs, Delhi may need to look for a replacement next season.

#1 Chennai Super Kings - Karn Sharma

Arguably the most successful franchise in the history of IPL, Chennai Super Kings are not known for star signings. They always believe in utility players and tend to pick cricketers who suit their way of playing.

Spinners have been an integral part of Chennai over the years as the pitch at the Chepauk assists spin bowling. Bought by Chennai for ₹5 crores at the 2018 auction, Karn Sharma has played only one game so far this season. It would be better for Chennai to release him and invest the money elsewhere.

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Edited by Samya Majumdar