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The twelfth edition of the Indian Premier League is scheduled to be hosted only in India from 23rd March to 12th May 2019. The marquee tournament will kick start with the last season finalists, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, locking horns on 23rd March.
Of late, the IPL 12 has been grabbing a lot of attention as it concludes just 17 days before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 which is scheduled to get underway from 30th May.
Given the magnitude of the World Cup, every player wishes to play the tournament and win it for his country. On the other hand, IPL is a long tournament and given the volume of cricket played, injuries and fatigue often take a toll on players during this marquee tournament.
Hence there are high chances that the cricket boards might ask their star cricketers either to skip the whole season or a part of it. Let us now take a look at 5 overseas cricketers who might miss the IPL 2019.
#5 Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals)
Jos Buttler has been growing in confidence since the last season of the Indian Premier League. There has been no stopping Buttler since his promotion to the top of the order. Playing for Rajasthan Royals in the last season, the wicketkeeper-batsman scored 548 runs in 13 games at an average of 54.80. In the process, he hit five back to back fifties to equal Virender Sehwag's IPL record.
Given his red-hot form, the England team will expect him to play a key role for them in the upcoming World Cup at home. Hence, England Cricket Board might ask Buttler to miss a few games of the next IPL season.
#4 Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
The Afghan sensation Rashid Khan has been setting IPL on fire since 2016 with his exceptional bowling. Playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad, the 20-year old has mustered 38 wickets in 31 matches at an economy of 6.69. His 3/19 against KXIP last season are his best figures in the tournament.
His team, Afghanistan, in March this year reached the finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier to seal a berth in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. With Afghanistan playing only their second World Cup, they will try their best to put in a great performance.
Hence, it is more likely that Rashid Khan, their best player, will be asked to take some rest before the World Cup. Thus Rashid may miss some games for SRH. If that takes place, the absence of Rashid will be a huge blow for Sunrisers Hyderabad whose strength over the years has been their highly potent bowling.
#3 Faf du Plessis (Chennai Super Kings
The Proteas superstar was a part of the triumphant Chennai Super Kings team in the last season. Though Faf du Plessis missed a few games, he delivered some match-defining knocks when his team needed him the most.
His unbeaten knock of 42-ball-67 against Sunrisers Hyderabad when CSK was down at 92 for 7 chasing 140 in the first qualifier match, is one such innings. In the 6 matches he played last season, the right-hander amassed 162 runs at an average of 32.40.
With AB de Villiers' retirement, there will be a lot of responsibility on Faf's shoulders at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. He along with Hashim Amla and JP Duminy has to bear the burden of South Africa's batting in the tournament. Thus, Cricket South Africa might want their key player the much-needed rest going into the prestigious tournament.
#2 Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals)
The premier English all-rounder, Ben Stokes, is currently the most sought-after player in all the T20 leagues across the world and the IPL is no different.
Stokes was exceptional for Rising Pune Supergiant in his maiden IPL season in 2017. However, the marquee player has failed to repeat his exploits last season for Rajasthan Royals as he just scored 196 runs and scalped 8 wickets in 13 games.
With England playing this World Cup at home, Stokes, their most valuable player, will be their key. We all know how lethal Stokes is bowling in English conditions. As England think it is their best opportunity to win the World Cup, in all likelihood, Stokes will be called back early to get himself ready for the tournament with full fitness.
Thus Rajasthan may miss the services for a few matches
#1 Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
The Kiwi cricketer was one of the star performers of the previous edition of IPL. In the absence of David Warner, Kane Williamson donned the dual role as captain and key batsman of Sunrisers Hyderabad and excelled in both roles. With his calm head, he took SRH to the finals.
By scoring 750 runs in 17 games at an average of 52.92, he also won the Orange Cap. He has registered eight fifties in the tournament with his classy knock of 84 off 51 balls against the Champions Chennai Super Kings being his best.
As Williamson, in all possibility, is set to lead New Zealand in the World Cup, he might miss some games at the end of the season. This might not hurt SRH as their regular skipper, David Warner will back in the scheme of things for the upcoming season.
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