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The IPL player retentions and releases never fail to throw up a surprise. This time around too the franchises took some harsh calls letting go some big names. The standards set in IPL are different from other T20 leagues across the world.
While in other T20 leagues, one bad season is tolerated by the franchise owners, it is not the same in the Indian Premier League. Here, the owners are not kind enough to let the non-performers stay even for a bit.
As the teams seek to get their hands on the glittering IPL trophy, they would be hoping that letting go some of the big names will enable them to find new stars and build a squad that is complete in all aspects.
In this article, we will form an XI out of the several players released by the franchises.
Note: Players listed in this line-up may be batting at different positions for their respective teams.
1. Gautam Gambhir (C)
One of the biggest names on the list of axed players was the two-time title-winner Gautam Gambhir. At the end of 2017 season, Gambhir asked the KKR owners to let him go in order to make a comeback to his home-based franchise, Delhi Daredevils.
However, this move backfired and Gambhir failed miserably for the DD, only to be released. They say one bad season does not define a player. Indeed, Gambhir still remains one of the best openers in the history of the league with 4217 runs from 154 games with 36 fifties.
Clearly, Gambhir is an automatic selection in this fictional XI and a perfect candidate for the leadership role.
2. Aaron Finch
The Australian juggernaut opener was donning the red of the Kings XI Punjab in the eleventh edition of the IPL. He batted out of his preferred position (as an opener) and scored only 134 runs from 10 games at an average of 17.
The Kings XI Punjab management took a harsh call by axing him and Finch finds himself without an IPL franchise now. Nevertheless, he is regarded as the most devastating opener in the modern-day T20 cricket. Presently, Finch holds the record for the highest individual T20I score of 172 against Zimbabwe.
In his IPL career, he has scored 1737 runs at a strike rate of 131. Finch's inclusion in this side to partner Gambhir at the top is a no-brainer.
3. Brendon McCullum
The Kiwi batsman who set the stage on fire by smashing a swashbuckling 158 in the very first IPL game has evolved as a player with the several franchises he has played for.
McCullum spent last season with the RCB and didn't get a fair chance to fire. On his day, McCullum can tear apart any bowling attack at his will and win games single-handedly.
He is slotted in at No.3 in this line-up to allow him enough time to get his eye in. McCullum's IPL stats read 2880 runs from 138 games at a strike rate of 132.
4. Yuvraj Singh
Regarded as one of the best T20 batsmen India has ever produced, Yuvraj has found himself in the dug-outs of several IPL teams throughout the course of his career, the last one being his hometown franchise Kings XI Punjab.
Yuvraj has played 128 IPL games scoring 2652 runs at a strike rate of 130, not to mention his handy left-arm spin bowling. His attacking instincts will come handy at No.4 here.
There is no denying that Yuvraj is one of the most valuable players in the T20 version of the game and his exclusion from this XI would be a tough omission.
5. Manoj Tiwary
The Bengal star batsman has lost his place from the Indian team since 2015. Tiwary was bought by the Kings XI Punjab for the eleventh edition of the IPL. Unfortunately, he could not convert his potential into performances and the KXIP management decided to let him go even after a forgettable season.
Tiwary scored only 47 runs at a strike rate of 107 from 5 IPL games in 2018. However, he has been a seasoned campaigner in the IPL having an experience of over 98 games scoring 1695 runs at a strike rate of 117.
Tiwary gives stability to the middle-order in this line-up and is someone who cannot be ignored.
6. Wriddhiman Saha (WK)
Wriddhiman Saha is someone who has always been at par with his performances yet never grabbed the limelight. Saha is a decent wicket-keeper batsman who can score handy runs down the order and is very tidy with his glovework.
He was not at his best in the IPL 2018 as he was suffering from shoulder and a thumb injury. The SRH management thought it would be wise to let Saha go. As a result, he finds himself back in the pool at the 2019 auction.
Saha has scored 1679 runs from 115 games at a strike rate of 129 in his IPL career. He is an automatic choice for the wicket-keeper's slot in this XI.
7) Glenn Maxwell
The Australian off-spinning all-rounder is known to be very destructive with the bat when he is on a song. Maxwell has played some breath-taking knocks in his IPL career when he was with the Kings XI Punjab.
In his IPL career, Maxwell has scored 1397 runs at a devastating strike-rate of 161. Maxwell was snapped up by Delhi in the 2018 edition of the IPL.
Although he did not have a good time with Delhi last season scoring at an average of just 14, he is not someone to be overlooked in this line-up.
8) Axar Patel
Perhaps the most sought-after spinner in the pool of released players, Axar makes his way into this team without any hesitation. Surprisingly, released by his old franchise Kings XI Punjab, Axar is likely to fetch big bucks at the IPL auction.
In his IPL career, played 73 matches scoring 740 runs with the bat at a strike rate of 130 and picked 69 wickets.
He is known to be a tight line-and-length bowler who gives nothing away and a handy lower order batsman who can play the role of finisher.
9. Mitchell Starc
The tall left-arm Aussie quick from New South Wales is a very potent T20 bowler. Starc can swing the new ball and nail yorkers perfectly in the death overs which makes him the most feared bowler.
Starc has picked 34 wickets from 27 IPL games. He was picked by the KKR last year and let go after he did not turn up to play for them because of an injury.
Although Starc has missed previous few editions of the IPL, his skills are as good as anyone and certainly cannot be ignored while picking this XI.
10. R Vinay Kumar
Vinay Kumar has been one of the veterans in the IPL over the years. He has played 105 matches and picked as many wickets.
Having played for several franchises in the past, Vinay has lots of experience in the T20 format. Vinay's go-to delivery is the slower one with a subtle change of pace.
He was released by the KKR after a couple of shoddy games in the IPL 2018. It would be unwise to rule a player of his calibre out while picking this team and he forms an integral part of this bowling attack.
11. Jaydev Unadkat
Jaydev Unadkat was picked by the Rajasthan Royals for an exorbitant 11 crores ahead of the IPL 2018. His performances did not speak for themselves and hence there was no way Rajasthan could afford to keep a huge chunk of funds blocked in him.
Jaydev has 67 wickets from 62 games at an average of 26. His well-disguised slower delivery is a lethal weapon in death overs if used to good effect.
He is likely to fetch a decent amount if not the same as last year and is the one to watch out for in this line-up.
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