IPL 2019: One benched player from each team who should be included in the playing XI

The IPL fever has gripped the whole nation as the fans have already witnessed some great cricket in the season. While teams like Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Kings XI Punjab have made a strong start to the tournament, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals have struggled to get going. Clearly, the level of cricket being played this season is better than the previous ones. All teams look evenly matched with each team capable of beating the other.

Also, we have seen tough competition for places in the playing XI in all the teams. Teams have been trying their level best to pick the best possible combinations available. While some of the teams have succeeded in finding a winning combination, some are yet to find their best playing XI.

There are players in each team who deserve a chance in the playing XI but haven't played a single game in the season so far and are still waiting for their opportunity. We will look at one such player from each team who deserves a place in the playing XI of their respective teams.

#8 Rajasthan Royals - Mahipal Lomror

Lomror played a couple of matches for the Royals in 2018

Mahipal Lomror, who played along with Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan for India U19, has been part of the Rajasthan Royals' squad since last year.

The exciting Rajasthan all-rounder captained his state team at the young age of 19. Lomror is an attacking left-handed batsman who bats in the middle and lower-middle order. He had a strong Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he scored 200 runs at an amazing average of 40. The Royals have struggled to close the game in a couple of occasions and the team management might want to give the youngster a go. Lomror is also an effective left-arm orthodox spinner.

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#7 Delhi Capitals - Colin Munro

Munro can score quick runs for Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals have had a mixed season so far. The team has lost a couple of close matches that they probably should have won. While Shikhar Dhawan has been able to give steady starts to the Capitals, he hasn't been able to score quick runs in the powerplays.

The Capitals have the option of getting in Kiwi all-rounder Colin Munro in the playing XI. Munro can help Delhi to get flying starts and form a strong platform for the likes of Rishabh Pant to launch attacking assaults in the latter half of the innings.

Even though Munro's IPL record is poor, the 33-year-old's international T20 record is just phenomenal with a batting average of 33.6. The most staggering part of his T20 statistics is his fabulous strike-rate of 162. Munro has 3 T20 international centuries to his name. Munro is also a more than handy medium pace bowler who can be a good sixth bowling option for Delhi.

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#6 Kolkata Knight Riders - Carlos Braithwaite

Brathwaite played for SRH in IPL 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders are riding high on the sensational form of the talismanic Andre Russell. The West Indies all-rounder has been brilliant with both the bat and ball and has helped KKR snatch victory from the jaws of defeat a couple of times. However, he clearly lacks support from his teammates.

Chris Lynn isn't striking the way he would have liked to, while Sunil Narine has been struggling with both form and injury. Thus, KKR might look to get in Carlos Brathwaite in the playing XI. Brathwaite's IPL numbers aren't promising but KKR would like to believe that he can still deliver in the IPL, the reason why they dished out ₹5.5 crores to get him at the auction in the first place.

Brathwaite will provide much needed depth to KKR's batting and a big hitting batsman in the lower order in case Andre Russell fails. He can also chip in with some overs of medium pace bowling.

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#5 Sunrisers Hyderabad - Khaleel Ahmed

Khaleel has been under-utilized by the Sunrisers

Khaleel Ahmed would have thought that he would be an automatic choice in the Sunrisers Hyderabad playing XI this year after becoming an India international. But unfortunately, Khaleel still hasn't got a decent run in the IPL. After being benched the entire season, the left-arm seamer was introduced in the finals last year where he returned poor bowling figures of 0 for 38 in 3 overs.

The Sunrisers have a strong fast bowling department with the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Basil Thampi and Sandeep Sharma in it and it was always going to be a challenge for Khaleel to get into the playing XI.

However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar hasn't looked at his best this season so far and Sandeep Sharma has been a bit inconsistent. Thus, Sunrisers' think tank should consider bringing in Khaleel in the scheme of things. Khaleel also provides variety being a left-arm seamer.

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#4 Kings XI Punjab - Karun Nair

Karun Nair plays a cut shot

One Indian cricketer whose career has turned upside down after a promising start is Karun Nair. Nair caught the limelight after becoming only the second Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket for India.

He was excellent in IPL cricket as well and even captained Delhi Daredevils in a few matches. But unfortunately, Nair lost his place in the Indian side after a string of poor scores and this affected his stakes in the IPL too.

The 27-year-old scored 281 runs for Delhi Capitals at an average of 21.61 in IPL 2017 and 301 runs for Kings XI Punjab at an average of 25.08 in IPL 2018. Kings XI Punjab introduced a lot of fresh faces in the squad for IPL 2019 which resulted in Nair's exclusion from the playing XI. However, there are no doubts about Nair's ability as a batsman and he can make a big impact with his batting for the Kings.

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#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore - Washington Sundar

RCB missing a trick by not including Sundar in the playing XI?

Royal Challengers Bangalore have had the worst possible start to it's IPL campaign and one of the major reasons for their dismal performances has been their team selection.

In the very first match of the season against CSK, RCB played with only two spinners on a wicket that was turning square. Many cricket pundits felt that Washington Sundar would have been mighty effective on the slow Chennai pitch. Against SRH, if RCB would have picked Sundar, he could have created some problems for the left-handed David Warner in the powerplays.

But instead, RCB picked Prayas Ray Barman who had a forgettable debut match.

Even though Sundar did not have the best IPL campaign last year, he still has a strong IPL record. He has also been in good form for Tamil Nadu in the recent past. RCB can only avoid Sundar at their own peril.

#2 Mumbai Indians - Ishan Kishan

Time to unleash Ishan Kishan?

Ishan Kishan has been in stunning form coming into the IPL. The Jharkhand lad amassed 333 runs at an amazing average of 55.50 and a healthy strike-rate of 151.36 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

However, the inclusion of Quinton de Kock and Yuvraj Singh in the Mumbai Indians' squad meant Kishan had to be kept out of the playing XI. Kishan has been in a rich vein of form of late and is one of the most promising talents in the country. He also had a decent IPL 2018 where he scored 275 runs at a strike-rate of 149.45.

Following Quinton de Kock's poor run of form and Yuvraj Singh's inconsistent run, Mumbai Indians might consider Ishan Kishan for the next match. Kishan is a wicket-keeper by trait and can bat anywhere in the top order which will provide flexibility to the Mumbai Indians' playing XI.

#1 Chennai Super Kings - Faf du Plessis

du Plessis can be a solution to CSK's top-order batting woes

One of the biggest strength of the Chennai Super Kings' last season was the outstanding form of its openers, Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson. Both these players gave CSK commanding starts every time they walked in the middle.

Unfortunately, they haven't been able to do the same this season. While Watson has been able to score just 62 runs in 4 matches, Rayudu has scored just 34 runs in the same number of matches.

While it is too early to drop big players like Rayudu and Watson, CSK has a strong contender for opening the innings in their squad, Faf du Plessis. The South African captain has been an integral part of CSK for years now and has stepped up when needed as he did in the qualifier last season where he scored an unbeaten 67 off just 42 runs to put CSK in the finals. du Plessis can bring in some stability to the fragile looking CSK top order.