IPL 2019: One wrong release and retention made by each franchise

The Indian Premier League is slowly getting to the headlines as we approach the 2019 IPL Auction. The upcoming edition of IPL auction is set to take place in Jaipur on 18th of December. Having done with the retentions and the releases, we have as many as 66 released players and other newbies who will be going into the auction for the twelfth edition of the league.

Amidst the retentions and the releases, we came across a lot of retentions and releases that turned out to be quite exciting and surprising at the same time. The 66 players who were released by their respective franchises included a lot of big names such as Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Glenn Maxwell, and the list goes on. Besides, the retention list also offered quite a few surprises.

Thus, in this feature, we will have a look at one wrong release and retention made by each franchise ahead of the upcoming edition of IPL.

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#8 Rajasthan Royals

Wrongly Released: Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen shot to the fame with an impressive performance in the ODI series against India earlier this year. The streak of good performances opened the IPL gates for Klaasen as Royals signed him for IPL 2018 to replace Steve Smith whom the BCCI banned from the league for reasons known to everyone.

However, the South African batting prospect failed to present his case in the extravagant league as he failed quite a few times which is why Rajasthan sidelined him for a good part of IPL 2018. Nevertheless, releasing Klaasen for one-off performance wasn't the way to go as Royals' jittery middle-order could have availed a lot from Klassen in IPL 2019. Besides that, the probability of IPL 2019 to shift to South Africa strengthens the case for Klaasen's retention.

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Wrongly Retained: Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny's retention caught a lot of eyeballs in the cricketing circles as he was one of the players who was expected to be released by his franchise for the upcoming edition of IPL. Howbeit, surprisingly, Rajasthan Royals decided to retain him for IPL 2019.

Binny, who comes with the reputation of an able all-rounder, had a miserable season last year where he failed to contribute with the bat as well as the ball. In IPL 2018, Binny played seven matches for Royals while scoring a meager 44 runs at a disappointing average of 8.80 and a below-par strike-rate of 112.82. Moreover, his bowling performances were no different as Binny bowled only two overs while squandering 33 runs at an economy rate of 16.50.

Thus, with minimal contributions for Royals in IPL 2018, retaining Binny wasn't a good move by Rajasthan as the all-rounder wouldn't bring much to the table for Royals in IPL 2019.

#7 Delhi Daredevils

Wrongly Released: Glenn Maxwell

One release that made it to the headlines was of Glenn Maxwell whom Delhi released for IPL 2019. Although the Australian all-rounder failed to do justice to his price tag in IPL 2018, releasing him might back-fire for DD as, of late, Maxwell has been on an upward curve with quite a few match-winning performances for Australia in the T20Is.

With as many as 506 runs, he has also been the third-highest run-getter for Australia in T20Is in 2018. Besides, he has also been exceptional with the ball. In 2018, he has grabbed nine wickets at an average of 14.33, strike-rate of 11.30, and economy of 7.58.

Thus, with a blazing hot form at his disposal, Maxwell could have been retained by Daredevils for the upcoming edition of IPL.

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Wrongly Retained: Jayant Yadav

Delhi Daredevils made a handful of strange retentions and releases. Of all, Jayant Yadav's retention was quite strange provided the fact that Yadav hasn't been quite absorptive in IPL in the past few seasons. He did perform in his maiden IPL season that is 2015 but failed to replicate in the coming seasons. Interestingly, Jayant didn't even play a single game in IPL 2018.

Hence, not being quite suitable to T20 cricket, Jayant's retention was undoubtedly irrelevant as Delhi isn't expected to extract much out of him in the upcoming edition of IPL.

#6 Kings XI Punjab

Wrongly Released: Marcus Stoinis

Kings XI Punjab traded Marcus Stoinis for Mandeep Singh ahead of the upcoming edition of IPL. Although Stoinis didn't have an exceptional IPL 2018, his release inevitably raised some eyebrows in the cricketing circles as Stoinis was a significant part of KXIP in IPL 2018. The Australian all-rounder played seven games in IPL 2018 and amassed 99 runs at an average of 24.75 and a strike-rate of 130.26.

Moreover, of late, Stoinis has been enjoying some good form in the limited overs format. Thus, releasing Stoinis might prove to be a mistake by KXIP as Stoinis brings a lot to the table - right from power-hitting skills to fielding skills.

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Wrongly Retained: Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal, the young batting prospect from Karnataka, has been a household name in the domestic circuit. Howbeit, Mayank hasn't been able to set up himself in this extravagant league. Moreover, IPL 2018 was no different for him. In the eleventh edition of the league, Agarwal scored just 120 runs at an average of 12.00 and a strike-rate of 127.65.

Thus, going by IPL 2018, Mayank Agarwal's retention seems to be trivial as he hasn't been able to carry forward his team in the middle-overs which have put a lot of pressure on the other members of the team.

#5 Sunrisers Hyderabad

Wrongly Released: Carlos Brathwaite

Carlos Brathwaite, the power-hitting all-rounder from the West Indies, has made a strong case for himself in the limited overs format, especially in the franchise-based T20 cricket. He had a decent tenure in IPL 2018 with Sunrisers Hyderabad as his base.

Having played four games, Carlos scored 75 runs at an average of 25.00 and a high strike-rate of 156.25. Besides, he also took five wickets at an average of 18.80, strike-rate of 12.20, and an economy of 9.24.

Barring high economy rate, Carlos made decent contributions for SRH in IPL 2018. Thus, releasing him wasn't a good move from SRH as Carlos' T20I exploits could have come in handy for them in IPL 2019.

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Wrongly Retained: Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey has been in the circles for quite a few time now. With a touch of unorthodoxy, Pandey has been an impressive limited-overs batsman. However, in the recent past, his form seems to have plummeted as he hasn't been able to rake up runs for his team.

He had an overly disappointing IPL 2018 where he scored 284 runs at a modest average of 25.82 and a low strike-rate of 115.44. These numbers looked too ordinary for a franchise who has shelled out as many as INR 11 Crores for a quality batsman.

Thus, releasing Pandey could have been an appropriate option for Sunrisers Hyderabad as it could have helped Hyderabad to re-route their middle-order problems. Moreover, had Hyderabad have released Manish they could have bought Pandey at a lower price than they did in IPL 2018.

#4 Kolkata Knight Riders

Wrongly Released: Cameron Delport

Cameron Delport, the powerful batsman from South Africa, was released by KKR ahead of the 2019 IPL Auction. Although Delport's addition didn't bring much to the table for KKR in IPL 2018, he could have been a decent option in the upcoming edition with the possibility of IPL 2019 shifting to South Africa.

Besides his batting exploits, Delport possesses an able bowling hand as well. Thus, KKR could have retained Cameron Delport for the upcoming edition of IPL as it could also have given a decent amount of rest time to Andre Russell who has been struggling with injuries in the recent past.

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Wrongly Retained: Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh, the left-handed middle-order batsman, was unquestionably a case of surplus for KKR in IPL 2018. He played only four games for Kolkata at IPL 2018 where he amassed just 29 runs at an average of 7.25 and a disappointing strike-rate of 93.54.

With a settled middle-order up their sleeve, Rinku's retention seems to be too futile as Kolkata have plenty of batsmen in their middle-order who serve their purpose better than Rinku Singh. Thus, Kolkata could have released the left-hander for the upcoming edition of IPL.

#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore

Wrongly Released: Quinton de Kock

This time around RCB made quite a few strange choices while retaining and releasing players. One such decision that garnered a lot of attention was Quinton de Kock's release. Royal Challengers Bangalore traded the South African wicket-keeper with Mumbai Indians in an all-money deal. Interestingly, it also happened to be the first deal of IPL 2019.

Alongside being an able wicketkeeper, Quinton has also been an exceptional limited-overs batsman. Although Quinton failed to replicate his IPL 2016 heroics in IPL 2018, releasing him wasn't a good move by RCB as sans de Kock and McCullum they will be short on opening option in IPL 2019.

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Wrongly Retained: Pawan Negi

Pawan Negi has had a pretty roller coaster ride in IPL. He has seen both the highs and the lows but has encountered the latter one more frequently. Barring IPL 2017, Negi has extensively struggled to market himself in this sumptuous league.

He had a disastrous IPL 2018 where he played just two matches and was able to pick only one wicket at an average of 49.00, strike-rate of 24.00, and an economy of 12.25. Besides that, he didn't have a good time with the bat as well. The left-handed bowling all-rounder managed to score just three runs from his two games.

Thus, primarily looking at the numbers, the retention of Pawan Negi seems too trivial as he isn't expected to bring much to RCB's disposal in the upcoming edition of IPL.

#2 Mumbai Indians

Wrongly Released: JP Duminy

JP Duminy, the South African all-rounder, had been a part of Mumbai Indians in IPL 2018. Being a foreign player, Duminy could only get six games where he scored just 36 runs at an average of 36.00 and at a disappointing strike-rate of 90.00. Besides, he failed to shine with the white cherry as well.

However, it is worth noting that Duminy failed to get chances else MI could have extracted a lot from Duminy. Moreover, Duminy has also been one of the kinds who provides stability to the middle-order. Thus, Duminy could have retained for IPL 2019. Besides, the argument strengthens with the IPL's possibility to shift to South Africa for the twelfth edition of IPL.

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Wrongly Retained: Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard, the strongly-built all-rounder from the West Indies, had been an influential part of the Mumbai Indians' squad until IPL 2017. The eleventh edition of IPL turned out to be a nightmare for the West Indian all-rounder as he failed to replicate his T20I exploits in IPL 2018.

The Trinidadian all-rounder featured in nine games for MI in IPL 2018 and amassed only 133 runs at a low average of 19.00 and a strike-rate of 133.00. Hence, with not so good numbers in IPL 2018, Pollard could have been released owing to his sorry performances in the recent past.

#1 Chennai Super Kings

Wrongly Released: Mark Wood

Mark Wood, the English paceman, got released by CSK owing to his mediocre performance in IPL 2018. Wood played only a single game in IPL 2018 where he ended up giving 49 runs in four overs. However, his one-off performance doesn't justify his bowling exploits in the shorter format of the game.

Thus, CSK could have retained Wood for IPL 2019 as it would have provided them with a variety of options in their pace department - a department where CSK struggled a bit in IPL 2018. Moreover, he would have acted a decent backup option in case of injuries.

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Wrongly Retained: Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay, India's Test specialist, hasn't been a regular affair in T20 cricket. His inability to score runs quickly has been the enigma for him. The storyline wasn't any different in IPL 2018 where he played only one game and scored just 12 runs.

Thus, with age not on his side and plummeting form (in shorter formats of the game), Chennai Super Kings' move of retaining Murali Vijay might not deliver goods for them as they already have a settled opening combination. Moreover, Vijay's release could also have made way for another youngster who could have turned out to be beneficial for CSK in the longer term.