IPL 2018: One player from each team who won't play a single match 

The 2018 IPL is underway and all the teams have played at least two matches in the tournament.

By now, the teams would have got an idea about what they have, what they lack and how their playing XI should look like.

Each team will also have a strong set of names as a back-up for their first-team players and these players might get a chance to take the field down the line.

But, there are a few players in each team who might not even get to play a single match in the ongoing IPL.

Let us take a look at a player from each team who won't be playing a single match in the 2018 IPL.

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#1 Chennai Super Kings - Faf Du Plessis

Faf du Plessis

Chennai Super Kings have started the 2018 IPL on a great note as they won their first two matches in a thrilling manner.

Just two games into the season, the MS Dhoni-led side looked settled and knowing the man himself, it is unlikely that he will make changes to his playing XI.

The likes of Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Imran Tahir and Sam Billings have sealed their places in the playing XI.

With David Willey coming in, someone has to make way for the all-rounder as Willey is the kind of player Dhoni loves to have in his team.

In all likelihood, Faf du Plessis, who was retained by Chennai Super Kings using the RTM card, might not even get to play a single game for the former champions.

#2 Delhi Daredevils - Sandeep Lamichhane

Sandeep Lamichhane is the first player from Nepal to get picked in the IPL auctions

Last year, Mohammad Nabi created history by becoming the first Afghan cricketer to be picked in the IPL.

In the 2018 auction, a similar story took place as leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane created history by becoming the first player from Nepal to get picked in the IPL as Delhi Daredevils picked him for his base price.

Lamichhane playing in the IPL will influence a lot of young kids in Nepal to take up Cricket as a career.

But, it looks unlikely that the leggie will get a chance to play a single match in the tournament as the Delhi Daredevils have their core set of overseas players and proper back-up for them.

#3 Kings XI Punjab - Chris Gayle

With a strong group of players, Gayle might not get a look in this

seson

Ahead of the start of the 2018 IPL, former Indian batsman and the CEO of Kings XI Punjab said that this is the strongest Kings XI Punjab side ever.

He is 100% right as the current team's Indian contingent have the likes of KL Rahul, Karun Nair, R Ashwin, Axar Patel etc.

The overseas group of players is also very strong with the likes of Andrew Tye, David Miller, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Finch, Mujeeb ur Rahman etc. and it is a big headache for the team management to pick the four deserving names in the playing XI.

With a heavy competition going on among the overseas professionals and the presence of a strong top-order, it is unlikely that Chris Gayle will be a part of the Kings XI Punjab side for even a single match.

#4 Kolkata Knight Riders - Javon Searles

Javon Searles was a surprise buy in the IPL Auction

A lot of surprising things happened in the 2018 IPL auction and the list includes the teams going all-out for K Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Jaydev Unadkat etc.

Some franchises even picked some unknown names on the auction day.

One man who shocked everyone when he was picked in the auction was Javon Searles when he was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for his base price.

Who is he? He is a West Indian all-rounder who can add value to the team as a utility player.

The only reason behind the signing could be his association with Trinbago Knight Riders, which is owned by Red Chillies Entertainment, the parent company of KKR. The chances of him playing a match for KKR are bleak.

#5 Mumbai Indians - Akila Dananjaya

Dananjaya has been a revelation in Sri Lankan cricket

The defending champions have a strong set of core players around whom the team revolves. They have a very good bench strength backing their starting XI and skipper Rohit Sharma will be tempted to try a few players somewhere down the line.

The overseas players who will take the field for Mumbai are the Trinidadian duo of Kieron Pollard and Evin Lewis, Mustafizur Rahman and one of Ben Cutting or Mitchell McClenaghan or Pat Cummins' Replacement.

Even JP Duminy might get a game for them in the worst case scenario. But, Sri Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya might not even make his Mumbai Indians debut this season as they already have a good enough spin contingent.

#6 Rajasthan Royals - Dushmantha Chameera

Chameera is down the pecking order at the Royals

Rajasthan Royals shocked everyone in the IPL auction as they splashed their cash on most of their players. They got the players they wanted and have a strong first-choice starting XI.

Adding to their primary playing XI, they also have decent backup options for most of the players.

The likes of Heinrich Klaasen and Ish Sodhi might get a chance to play for the Royals down the line but the same cannot be said of Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera.

The Lankan is third in the pecking order behind Jofra Archer and Ben Laughlin and at the same time, he is not fully fit, which makes him an unlikely candidate to turn up for his side.

#7 Royal Challengers Bangalore - Moeen Ali

Ali could not be included in the mix at all

One of the toughest things for the eight teams in the IPL is picking the combination, the seven-four Indian-overseas combination, right.

Without a doubt, Royal Challengers Bangalore have a fantastic top-four, in fact, the best in the league.

Out of the four players, three of them, barring Virat Kohli, are overseas professionals and the team management is likely to pick Chris Woakes as the team's fourth overseas option.

It is unlikely that the Kohli-led team will drop AB De Villiers, Brendon McCullum or Chris Woakes from their playing XI.

Depending on the combination, they might rotate De Kock with Colin de Grandhomme or Tim Southee.

With Yuzi Chahal, Washington Sundar, M Ashwin and Pawan Negi taking care of the spin department, it will be unlikely to see Moeen Ali taking the field for the Bangalore-based side.

#8 Sunrisers Hyderabad - Chris Jordan

Jordan will find it difficult to get a chance this season

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, Billy Stanlake, Basil Thampi, T Natarajan, Carlos Brathwaite etc.

This is the fast bowling line-up of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 IPL and they have been doing well so far in the tournament.

All these players are competing for three spots in the playing XI and in all likelihood, Kaul, Bhuvi and Stanlake will get their nod ahead of others with Sandeep Sharma being the first choice backup option.

It will be very difficult for Chris Jordan to overtake these guys in the pecking order and play a game this season.

So, it won't be a surprise if the Englishman warms the bench throughout the season.

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