One surprise name from each team who could be released ahead of IPL auction

The cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed eleven seasons so far. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) are the most successful teams in the history of Indian Premier League. With the 12th IPL season is around the corner, the preparations are in full swing. The IPL franchises are looking to get the good combination ahead of the next IPL season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has asked the IPL franchises to submit the list of released players on or before 15th November. So, the franchises have started the preparations for the next season of Indian Premier League. The BCCI has introduced the mid-season transfer window in 2018. The IPL teams can trade the uncapped players or those who have played two or less than two games.

The IPL auction for the next season of IPL likely to be held in Goa in December 2018. It means that the players who underperformed last season may lose their place for the next season. The franchises might surprise everyone by releasing the big names from their squad. Here we take a look at one surprise name each team could release ahead of Indian Premier League auction.

#8 D'Arcy Short - Rajasthan Royals

The left-handed batsman from Australia, D'Arcy Short, was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the last IPL auction. He was in terrific form during the Big Bash League 2017-18 season that earned him a contract in the Indian Premier League. However, he was not up to the expectation as he failed to give the flying starts to his team.

He has played in 6 games and managed to score just 115 runs at a poor average of 16.42. His strike-rate was just 116 which is lesser than his T20 career strike-rate of 141. The Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan Royals could release him ahead of the auction and look to buy some reliable partner to England batsman, Jos Buttler.

#7 Manish Pandey - Sunrisers Hyderabad

Over the years, Sunrisers Hyderabad had average players in the middle-order as they were over-reliant on their top-order batsmen. But, during the mega IPL auction in 2018, they bought some big players to strengthen the middle-order. However, the move did not work as their main middle-order batsman, Manish Pandey has failed to capitalize the good starts.

Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Manish Pandey for a whopping Rs. 11 crore after having a great fight with the other franchises during the IPL auction. He featured in all 15 games for SRH last season and managed to score just 284 runs at an average of 25.81. Manish Pandey was not in good touch as he struggled to hit big shots during the 11th edition of IPL. Sunrisers Hyderabad could let him go and bring in someone who can bat at middle-order according to the situations.

#6 Mitchell Johnson - Kolkata Knight Riders

The left-handed pacer from Australia, Mitchell Johnson is one of the fearsome bowlers in the game of cricket. After having a successful career, he hung his boots from the international cricket in 2015. However, he continued to play the T20 league around the world till August 2018. He is one of the best pacers Australia have produced in the international cricket.

He could also hit big sixes with the bat. In the last IPL auction, he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders at his base price of Rs. 2 crores.

He was in and out of the team due to his inconsistent performance with the ball. In 6 games that he played in the IPL 2018, he managed to pick up just 2 wickets. Owning to his inconsistent form, KKR could release him ahead of the auction which is to be held in mid-December.

#5 Yuvraj Singh - Kings XI Punjab

Yuvraj Singh was in great form during his initial career. He became the first and only cricketer to smash six sixes in the T20 Internationals. He had the ability to smack the ball over the park. But, his hitting abilities have faded away after he was affected by cancer. He even lost his place in the Indian team due to his poor performance.

Yuvraj, who also played for many franchises in the IPL, moved to Kings XI Punjab for Rs. 2 crores in 2018. However, his inconsistent form thrown him out of the team in the second half of the tournament. The left-handed batsman has featured in 8 games and could only manage 65 at a poor average of 10.83. Preity Zinta's Kings XI Punjab could let him go to buy someone who can be reliable at the middle-order.

#4 Kieron Pollard - Mumbai Indians

Kieron Pollard has been an integral part of Mumbai Indians since the third edition of Indian Premier League. He has played many match winning knocks and also taken many crucial wickets for his team. However, the West Indies all-rounder has lost his form and is struggling to get back his form. Mumbai Indians brought him back for INR 5.4 crore using Right to Match (RTM) card on him during the IPL auction in 2018.

In the last IPL season, he could score just 133 runs in the 9 games and went wicketless. His poor form affected Mumbai Indian's chances of playing play-off's. MI already have many all-rounders in the form of Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Ben Cutting and many more in the squad. Mumbai Indians have already released Mushtafizur Rahman and Akila Dananjaya from the squad. They could release out-of-form Kieron Pollard from the squad ahead of the next IPL auction.

#3 Brendon McCullum - Royal Challengers Bangalore

The former New Zealand skipper, Brendon McCullum is one of the most destructive cricketers in the world. However, he has not been in the good touch since his retirement from international cricket. He was a part of Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions before moving to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018. During the last IPL, he was not as effective as an opener he used to be.

He ended up playing six games and could score just 127 runs at a forgettable average of 21.16. In the recently concluded Afghanistan Premier League (APL), he has played 8 games for Asghar Afghan led-Kandahar Knights and managed to score 158 runs at an average of 19.75. Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore could release him ahead of the auction and would look to bring in-form batsman like Johnny Bairstow in the squad.

#2 Gautam Gambhir - Delhi Daredevils

The Delhi-born cricketer had a poor season with the Delhi Daredevils in 2018. Under his captaincy, Kolkata Knight Riders have won two titles in the history of Indian Premier League. However, Gambhir asked the KKR management not to retain him and decided to move to Delhi Daredevils, where he started his IPL career. He was appointed as the skipper of DD keeping his past records in the mind.

But, he dropped himself from the team after having lost first five games. Gambhir scored a fifty against Kings XI Punjab in his first game and could score just 30 runs in the next four games. DD has the likes of Colin Munro, Prithvi Shaw, and Rishabh Pant at the top order and releasing Gautham Gambhir won't affect the team combination. With age is not on his side, he might get axed from the team ahead of the auction.

#1 Harbhajan Singh - Chennai Super Kings

Harbhajan Singh has been a part of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). After having played for Mumbai Indians in the first 10 seasons, Harbhajan moved to Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 11th edition of IPL. In 2018, he has featured in 13 games and failed to make an impact as he took just 7 wickets at an average of 38.57.

The Punjab born cricketer is now at the end of this career and might announce his retirement from cricket any time. Harbhajan, who has taken up the role as commentator, might end his career in cricket to start his second innings. With the likes of Imran Tahir, Karn Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and part-time spinners Suresh Raina and Kedar Jadhav in the squad, releasing Harbhajan Singh will not affect the team combination in the 12th season of IPL.

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