IPL 2019: One player from each team who should be dropped

We are into week two of IPL 2019 as games are coming thick and fast. With three wins in three games, Chennai Super Kings are sitting on the top of the points table. Kings XI Punjab are second with three wins in four games.

With two wins, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals are third, fourth, and fifth respectively. Mumbai Indians are struggling this season with just a solitary win in three games. Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals are winless so far in IPL 2019.

Surprisingly, Indian stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, KL Rahul, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have had a quiet tournament so far. On the other hand, overseas stars like David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, and Andre Russell are off to a blistering start this season.

On that note, let’s take a look at one player who should be dropped from each team.

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#8 Delhi Capitals - Hanuma Vihari

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Hanuma Vihari at No.6 is not a great option for Delhi Capitals. He is not a good T20 player and hasn't scored a lot of runs in this format. He had a poor Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament just before IPL and looked out of sorts in his two outings for Delhi Capitals. Delhi could instead try Manjot Kalra or Axar Patel or one of the overseas batsmen (Colin Munro or Sherfane Rutherford).

#7 Rajasthan Royals - Jaydev Unadkat

Jaydev Unadkat, Photo Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI

It surprised a lot of people when Rajasthan Royals paid a lot of money to sigh Unadkat for IPL 2019, despite his mediocre IPL 2018. To justify the thought of most fans, Unadkat has picked up just two wickets in his three outings this season and conceded a lot of runs at 12.40 per over. He has been picked easily by batsmen and does not deserve a place in the XI. Varun Aaron could be an option for Ajinkya Rahane.

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#6 Sunrisers Hyderabad - Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan, Photo Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI

Yusuf Pathan is not the player he once was. The hard-hitting batsman has waned in recent years and his hitting abilities seem to have vanished. In his last 33 IPL games, Pathan has scored only one fifty and his strike rate has also declined. For a player who single-handedly won games in his peak, Pathan has rarely done that in the past couple of seasons. SRH could slot someone else in his place.

#5 Kolkata Knight Riders - Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn, Photo Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI

Chris Lynn is not in good form at the moment. He didn't have a great time in the Big Bash League either, scoring just 385 runs at a strike rate of 126.

He has lost his place in the national team and did not show any sign of intent in his first three games for KKR this season with just 37 runs in three games at a strike rate of 94. KKR have Joe Denly in the squad, who is an opening batsman and also a handy bowler.

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#4 Royal Challengers Bangalore - Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali, Photo Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI

RCB are a team in calamity at the moment. There are at least a couple of players who should be dropped from the team and Moeen Ali is definitely at the top of the list. Played as an all-rounder in the team, the English all-rounder has done a poor job with both the bat and the ball. He scored only 24 runs in three games and picked up just one wicket in his eight overs. RCH can play Southee in his place to strengthen the bowling and try Sundar as well.

#3 Mumbai Indians - Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard, Photo Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI

Not a difficult choice. One of the greatest T20 players of our generation, Kieron Pollard has struggled in recent times. He scored only 133 runs in nine games last season and was dropped from the team for the last few games. The 31-year-old Trinidadian cricketer has put Mumbai Indians' middle order under pressure and got out at critical junctures with only 33 runs in three games this season. MI could use someone like Ben Cutting, who can hit the long ball.

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#2 Kings XI Punjab - Hardus Viljoen

Hardus Viljoen, Photo Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI

Though he hasn't done bad this season, Hardus Viljoen has struggled at times and conceded a lot of boundaries. KXIP played Viljoen ahead of Andrew Tye on Monday against Delhi Capitals and though they won the game, he was not trusted by Ashwin to bowl the all-important last over. Tye picked up 24 wickets last season and won the Purple Cap. He is a genuine wicket-taker and KXIP need to play him regularly.

#1 Chennai Super Kings - Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur, Photo Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI

Just before the game on Sunday, Shardul Thakur is the second most expensive death bowlers in IPL since 2018. He has conceded 12.24 runs per over in death overs and only Mohit Sharma gave more runs per over than the CSK seamer. In three games this season, Thakur gave away 10.16 runs per over and picked up only two wickets. CSK cannot rely on him for long unless he improves his bowling.

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