IPL 2020: List of players who have pulled out, their salaries and their replacements

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) is fast approaching, and there has been no shortage of drama in the le ad-up to the tournament.

Player replacements have been all too common of late, with the current climate far from ideal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All 8 teams are locked up in bio-bubbles in the UAE, with most of them away from family and having already served a week of total isolation.

Understandably, due to this and due to other personal reasons, 7 players have withdrawn from IPL 2020. Here are the names of these players, their salaries, their replacements, and the impact that their absence will have on their respective teams.

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#7 Suresh Raina - Chennai Super Kings

Suresh Raina pulled out of IPL 2020 citing personal reasons

CSK vice-captain Suresh Raina shocked everyone by pulling out of IPL 2020. The southpaw headed back home citing personal reasons although he has since opened up about his decision, citing a fear for the welfare of his family.

"I have a young family back home and I was concerned about the fact that if something happened to me, unka kya hoga? (what'll happen to them)."

"My family is most important to me and I am really concerned for them during these times. I haven't seen my kids for more than 20 days, even after coming back, since I am in quarantine."

Raina's family in Punjab were also the victims of a brutal attack by robbers, and he may not have been in the right frame of mind to play in IPL 2020. The 33-year-old was bought back by CSK upon their return to the IPL in 2018 for a whopping amount of 11 crores.

CSK are yet to announce a replacement for Raina, and there have even been rumours floating around that he could make a comeback to the squad in the UAE. His absence will greatly hurt MS Dhoni's men, who are now without a No. 3 batsman and an off-spinner. Either Murali Vijay or Ruturaj Gaikwad is expected to replace him in the playing XI.

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#6 Harbhajan Singh - Chennai Super Kings

Harbhajan was the only full-time off-spinner in the CSK squad for IPL 2020

CSK's only full-time off-spinner Harbhajan Singh never travelled to the UAE, so his withdrawal from IPL 2020 didn't come as a great surprise. The Turbanator's absence means that MS Dhoni will be without a bowler who can turn the ball away from left-handers.

Harbhajan was bought for 2 crores by CSK ahead of the 2018 IPL auction, and took to Twitter to announce that he is also pulling out of the tournament due to personal reasons. The 40-year-old hasn't been officially replaced by CSK yet, and one among Jalaj Saxena, Yusuf Pathan, Manoj Tiwary and Hanuma Vihari could join the team in the UAE.

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#5 Lasith Malinga - Mumbai Indians

Malinga will be missed in IPL 2020

The leading wicket-taker in the IPL, Lasith Malinga pulled out of the tournament citing personal reasons as well. The veteran pacer's father is reportedly ill, which is why he has decided to remain in Sri Lanka.

Malinga was bought by MI for 2 crores in the IPL 2020 auction, and his experience and prowess at the death will sorely be missed. Much of the responsibility will now fall on Jasprit Bumrah to deliver, although Rohit Sharma's men have chosen to replace him with Australian quick James Pattinson.

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#4 Kane Richardson - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Kane Richardson won't play for RCB in IPL 2020

Australian pacer Kane Richardson pulled out of IPL 2020 as he and his wife are expecting their first child soon, and RCB shouldn't miss him much. The 29-year-old was bought by the team for 4 crores in the IPL 2020 auction, but was always expected to play second fiddle to the likes of Dale Steyn, Chris Morris and Isuru Udana.

Richardson has been replaced by his countryman Adam Zampa, and the Australian could prove to be a very shrewd signing considering the conditions in the UAE.

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#3 Harry Gurney - Kolkata Knight Riders

Harry Gurney won't turn out for KKR in IPL 2020

Harry Gurney won't play for KKR in IPL 2020 due to a shoulder injury, and the franchise hasn't yet named a replacement for him. After being retained for the base price of 75 lakhs that he was bought for in the 2019 IPL auction, the Englishman could've added great value to the KKR squad with his slower balls and cutters.

Dinesh Karthik's side are yet to announce a replacement, and their recent efforts to acquire Mustafizur Rahman went without fruit after the Bangladesh Cricket Board denied him an NOC.

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#2 Chris Woakes - Delhi Capitals

Chris Woakes has been replaced by Anrich Nortje for IPL 2020

All-rounder Chris Woakes was bought by the Delhi Capitals for 1.5 crores in the IPL 2020 auction, but he pulled out of the tournament citing a need to recharge his batteries.

"My wife wasn’t well at home. The idea of being away from home for three months was going to be too much. Family had to come first. I want to play as much cricket as I can moving forward while looking after my body. My England career is No.1 but if opportunities come up, I’d still like to play in them."

After the campaign was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DC replaced him with South African pacer Anrich Nortje. Woakes shouldn't be missed too much in a quality Delhi squad, but they could have used an extra all-rounder.

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#1 Jason Roy - Delhi Capitals

Jason Roy is the second DC player to have pulled out of IPL 2020

Another DC player who will miss IPL 2020, Jason Roy pulled out of the tournament citing its hectic schedule. The opener, who was bought by the team for 1.5 crores in the auction, has been replaced by Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams.

"I can spend the next couple of months looking after myself and getting back to where I should be cricket-wise. During COVID and the lockdown, my running was good and cycling and all the stuff that ticks you over and makes you feel good but then you come to the specifics and you are a little bit behind because you don’t have the opportunity to net."

Roy's absence shouldn't trouble DC, who have a stacked top order consisting of Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw.