IPL 2019: One batsman each team should release ahead of the auction

The upcoming edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) could be held in South Africa if the dates of the IPL tournament clashes with the general elections in 2019. This is not the first time the BCCI is planning to shift the games outside the country. In 2009, the entire season was held in South Africa and in 2014, the first half of the season was held in UAE due to the same reason.

According to the reports, the auction for the next season of IPL is to be held in Goa on 16th December. So, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked the IPL teams to submit the list of released players before November 15. If the reports are to be believed, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, and Delhi Daredevils have already started their job ahead of the auction.

It means that the players who have underperformed last season should not be retained for the 12th season of IPL. In our article, we take a look at one batsman from each team who should be released by their respective teams ahead of the next IPL auction.

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#8 Manish Pandey - Sunrisers Hyderabad

Manish Pandey

The Karnataka cricketer, Manish Pandey, was one of the expensive buys in the last IPL auction but he has not performed well to justify his price tag. Pandey was in poor form and have disappointed their fans throughout the season.

He featured in 15 games and could only manage 284 runs at an average of 25.81, including three fifties. Later, he was dropped from the team for the qualifier-2 and the final of IPL 2018. Over the years, Sunrisers Hyderabad has been struggling to get the reliable middle-order batsman who can capitalize the starts.

They expected Pandey to make the difference in the middle-order after roping him in the 2018 IPL auction but he certainly failed to do that. Sunrisers should release him ahead of the auction and look to get a consistent batsman to fulfill the slot.

#7 D'Arch Short - Rajasthan Royals

D'Arcy Short

The youngster from Australia, D'Arcy Short was one of the underperforming players in the last edition of the IPL. He scored 578 runs, including five fifties and a century in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2017-18. His terrific performances in the BBL 2017-18 earned him a contract with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League in 2018. Royals expected quite a lot from him but he certainly failed to live up to expectations.

During the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League, the Big Bash League (BBL) hero, D'Arcy Short had played 6 games and could score just 115 runs at a forgettable average of 16.42. He was then dropped from the team in the second half of the tournament. Rajasthan Royals should release him and look to bring in someone who can be a reliable partner to Jos Buttler at the top-order.

#6 Saurabh Tiwary - Mumbai Indians

Saurabh Tiwary

Saurabh Tiwary has not been in great form over the past few years. He made his debut for Mumbai Indians in 2008 and came to the spotlight when he performed with the bat in 2010. In the 3rd edition of IPL, Tiwary featured in 16 games and plundered 419 runs at a strike-rate of 135.59. Since then, he never scored more than 200 runs in an IPL season.

In 2011, he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping price of USD 1.6 million but he has certainly failed to live up to the expectations and his price tag as well. In 2018, Mumbai Indians bought him for Rs. 80 lakhs, however, he did not feature in a single game in the presence of heavy-weight domestic performers like Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan.

He was not in great touch in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018. If Mumbai Indians really wants to strengthen their middle-order, they should release Tiwary and bring in some who can play according to the situation.

#5 Colin Munro - Delhi Daredevils

Colin Munro

Colin Munro has been an integral part of New Zealand's limited-overs set-up, especially in the shortest format of the game. He is arguably a match-winner and can be an asset to any side in the 20-over format. Munro holds the record of scoring most number of hundreds in the T20 Internationals. He also smashed second fastest fifty for his country in T20 Internationals. He also represented Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL.

For his consistent performances in the T20 format, he earned a contract with Delhi Daredevils in the 11th season of Indian Premier Leauge. However, he has lost his place in the playing XI due to his inconsistent performances. In five games, he could only manage 63 runs at a poor average of 12.60. Delhi Daredevils should release the out-of-form Munro from the squad ahead of the auction and bring someone to fulfill his spot.

#4 Cameron Delport - Kolkata Knight Riders

Cameron Delport

The South African cricketer, Cameron Delport, is an attacking left-handed batsman and also a handy medium pacer. He is arguably a match-winner for any team in the shortest format of the game. Delport is yet to play for his country but has an experience of playing T20 leagues across the world. He represented Lahore Qalandars in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2016 and scored 227 runs at a decent average of 32.42 with the best knock of 78.

So far, he scored 3736 runs in 165 games and picked up 48 wickets in T20s. But, he was poor in the recently concluded inaugural edition of Afghanistan Premier League (APL). During the first edition of APL, Delport featured in 8 games and scored just 173 runs when he represented Paktia Panthers in 2018. Considering his current form, Kolkata Knight Riders should release him from the squad and get a hard-hitting all-rounder like Carlos Brathwaite.

#3 Murali Vijay - Chennai Super Kings

Murali Vijay

The Indian cricketer, Murali Vijay, who has been in poor form in the longest format of the game, had a disappointing IPL season in 2018. He almost went unsold at the auction last year. No team was interested in picking Murali Vijay on the first day of the IPL auction but he was bought by Chennai Super Kings for his base price of Rs. 2 crore on the second day of the auction.

He could appear in only one game and score just 12 runs for Chennai Super Kings in 2018. Vijay was then dropped from the playing XI and warmed the bench for the rest of the tournament. In the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, he could score 71 runs in 3 games that he played. The MS Dhoni-led side should release him ahead of the auction to buy an attacking opener.

#2 Yuvraj Singh - Kings XI Punjab

Yuvraj Singh

The veteran Indian cricketer, Yuvraj Singh, has played for Pune Warriors India, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, and Sunrisers Hyderabad before moving to Kings XI Punjab in 2018 where he spent his initial years. KXIP fans expected a lot from the southpaw but he has disappointed his fans with his poor batting. He was in decent form when he managed to score 252 runs in 11 games for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017.

But, he failed to replicate the same performance for KXIP during the 11th season of IPL. His poor outings with the bat did not convince the team management and he was dropped from the team in the second half of the tournament. Yuvraj featured in 8 games and could score just 65 runs at a mediocre average of 10.83. The Punjab-based IPL franchise should release Yuvraj and get a reliable middle-order batsman in the upcoming IPL auction.

#1 Manan Vohra - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Manan Vohra

Manan Vohra has been a consistent performer for his state, Punjab, in the domestic circuit. His impressive performances in the domestic cricket helped him to earn an IPL contract with Kings XI Punjab in 2013. He has played several excellent knocks for his team since his debut in IPL. Vohra scored 62 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders in the finals of IPL 2014 and in 2017, he smashed 95 runs against Sunrisers.

During the mega IPL auction in 2018, he was bought Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore. But, he could play just four games in the presence of Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli, and AB De Villiers at the top-order. In 2018, he featured in 4 games and could score 55 runs at an average of 13.75. With the current form being a factor, Royal Challengers should release him and get experienced middle-order batsman like Eoin Morgan in the auction.