IPL 2021: 5 players KXIP should release ahead of the auction

#3 Chris Jordan (IPL 2020)

Chris Jordan couldn't quite be the menacing death bowler he is reputed to be.

Brought in to fix KXIP's death bowling and late-order striking woes, Barbados-born Chris Jordan didn't quite have the answers in IPL 2020. Nine wickets from as many games in 2020, with an economy of 9.65, make for poor reading for a frontline bowler. To make matters worse, he hardly contributed with the bat, striking at below a run a ball.

One of England's T20 stars - his excellent penultimate over against West Indies in the T20 World Cup springs to mind - Jordan has had a poor run in the IPL regardless of the franchise he has played for. An IPL career economy rate of 9.33 does not inspire. Unless Jordan pulls off some stunning displays in the lead-up to the 2021 auction retention announcements, he looks on his way out.

---

#2 Sheldon Cottrell (IPL 2020)

IPL 2020 didn't see too much of Cottrell's signature salute.

Jamaican quick Sheldon Cottrell was picked up by KXIP for an eye-watering INR 8.5 crore. In need of a foreign quick, the team was also motivated to join the bidding seeing Cottrell's performance in the 2019 ICC World Cup, where he was West Indies' highest wicket-taker. A strong performance in the Global T20 Canada also sealed the deal for him, although the lack of exposure to other leagues in the T20 format was a bit of a concern.

Cottrell had an unremarkable season, as he returned six wickets from six games at an economy rate nearing 9. Although he has a decent T20I and overall domestic T20 bowling record, Cottrell could not nearly match his price tag, and looks set to be released before the IPL 2021 auctions.

---

#1 Glenn Maxwell (IPL 2020)

Glenn Maxwell made a meal of all his opportunities with the bat in IPL 2020.

Expensive players face the maximum scrutiny when they step onto the field, and the pressure to perform often gets to them. As has been the case for the past few years now, KXIP's colossal, INR 10.75 crore-sized bet on their 2014 MVP Glenn Maxwell did not reap rewards. Instead, Maxwell scored the lowest runs he has ever scored in a season where he played over 10 games - just 108 of them - at a miserable strike rate of 102. He ended the season without a single six scored off his bat.

The former KXIP skipper was sent out to bat in a variety of game situations, but failed every time, often looking ugly and mistiming the ball when looking for a release shot. His contribution with the ball was tidy, yet his bowling is far from his primary role in the team. No matter whether KXIP sees Maxwell in their future plans or not, his poor form in the league demands he be released, so that the team frees up nearly INR 11 crore for a few reliable players.