IPL 2020: 5 players who might be playing their last IPL

The 2020 IPL Auction that took place in the last month (or we should say last year or maybe even last decade) saw the franchises filling the gaps in their respective squads. Eight franchises collectively bought a total of 62 players.

The franchises, at the 2020 IPL Auction, managed to make some exciting buys as Pat Cummins turned out to be the most expensive player at INR 15.5 Crore. However, alongside making some smart buys, quite a few franchises made some blunders as well. All in all, the franchises managed to form comprehensive and diverse squads.

Nonetheless, it is worthy to note that, owing to many crucial factors such as age, team dynamics, and fitness levels, the imminent edition of IPL might turn to be the last one of their cricketing careers for quite a few players.

Also see – BBL Most Wickets

Thus, taking into consideration all of the mentioned factors, here is a pick of five players who might be featuring in their last season of IPL. These players have played some very good brand of cricket at the IPL stage and many of these players played a crucial role in mentoring youngsters.

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Shane Watson has been one of the best all-rounders in the history of IPL

#1 Shane Watson (Chennai Super Kings)

The swashbuckling batting all-rounder from Queensland has proved to be a suitable addition to any franchise that he has played for across the globe and Shane Watson's contribution to IPL has been immense.

Having featured in 134 IPL games thus far, the 38-year-old batting all-rounder has amassed 3575 runs at a decent average of 31.08 and an excellent strike-rate of 139.53. His tally also include four centuries and nineteen half-centuries.

For the last two years, Watson's form with Chennai Super Kings has been fantastic, and he will be trying to deliver on the same lines in the upcoming edition of IPL as well. Although the form has not been an issue for Watson, it is his fitness that is becoming a bottleneck for him. To bring it into the picture, we saw Watson grappling with an injured knee in the finals of IPL 2019. Thus, pending his fitness issues, the forthcoming IPL season could turn out to be his final exhibition in T20 cricket.

Note: All statistics as on January 12, 2020

Kolkata Knight Riders bought Pravin Tambe at the base price of INR 20 Lakhs

#2 Pravin Tambe (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Pravin Tambe - the oldest ever player to feature in IPL - shot to fame owing to his exceptional display of spin in IPL 2014 with Rajasthan Royals as his base. In that year, the 48-year-old spinner scalped 15 wickets at an average of 23.73 and an economy rate of 7.26, with the best bowling figures being 4 for 20.

However, after that breakthrough season, Tambe failed to perform with the same kind of intensity in the coming two seasons (IPL 2015 and IPL 2016) as he managed to grab just seven and five wickets respectively. Nonetheless, after three years of exile, Tambe got into the scheme of things as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought him for INR 20 lakhs at the 2020 IPL Auctions.

The forthcoming IPL season might happen to be the last one for Tambe as KKR has quite a few spin options in the name of Sunil Narine, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy. Besides, the 2021 IPL Auction is supposed to be a mega auction as all the franchises will get disbanded next year.

Hence, considering the same, KKR may consider him a short-term option, and it might very well be the case that he will not in the scheme of things for other franchises at the 2021 IPL Auction.

Amit Mishra has been one of the best spinners in the history of IPL

#3 Amit Mishra (Delhi Capitals)

Having featured in 147 IPL encounters, and having taken 147 wickets at an average of 24.19 and an economy of 7.35, Amit Mishra has been one of the best spinners in the history of IPL. More so, the veteran leg-spinner will be coming to the stage of IPL 2020 with a series of decent performances in IPL 2019.

Nonetheless, the forthcoming IPL season might as well be the last T20 tournament for the 37-year-old leg-spinner. The reason being Delhi Capitals (DC) have their spin department sorted with Ravichandran Ashwin, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Axar Patel in their ranks.

Besides, with Lamichhane in the DC squad, we may see Delhi benching Mishra for quite a few games in IPL 2020. In the last ten T20 matches played with Haryana, Mishra managed to scalp only three wickets. Hence there is a very good chance that IPL 2020 might turn out to be the last appearance for Mishra in T20 cricket.

Lasith Malinga might be playing his last IPL in 2020

#4 Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)

Lasith Malinga - the Sri Lankan bowling legend - has been one of the best pacemen in the entire history of IPL. Malinga's IPL numbers justify his excellent run in IPL. Having played 122 IPL games and having grabbed 170 wickets at an average of 19.82, Malinga is the highest wicket-taker of IPL.

Malinga's journey as a player seemed to have ended as the paceman decided to join Mumbai Indians (MI) as the bowling mentor in IPL 2018. Nevertheless, Malinga returned to the field as Mumbai Indians bought him at the 2019 IPL Auction. The investment turned out to be fruitful for MI as Malinga's experience came handy in the high-pressure finals of IPL 2019 while helping them to win their record fourth IPL title.

With plenty of fast bowling options at MI's disposal, and the Sri Lankan stalwart Lasith Malinga's struggles with fitness, IPL 2020 might as well come to be the last one for the legendary bowler, known for his toe-crushers.

Dale Steyn has been a home for a lot of injuries

#5 Dale Steyn (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Dale Steyn - the back of the South African bowling attack in the 2010s - happens to be one of the most respected fast bowlers in the history of IPL. Until this date, Steyn has been a part of 92 IPL matches. From these games, the paceman has managed to grab 96 wickets at an average of 24.73, a strike-rate of 21.93, and an economy rate of 6.76. The numbers say a lot about Steyn's stature.

Steyn seemed to be in good touch in IPL 2019. However, owing to a shoulder injury, he was ruled out of IPL 2019 and managed to play just two games in IPL-12. Interestingly, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) signed Steyn as a replacement for the injured Nathan Coulter-Nile. Having released him after 2019 IPL Auction, RCB bought him back at the 2020 IPL Auction.

Steyn has been amidst a lot of injuries, and much like Malinga, the approaching season of IPL might as well be Dale Steyn's farewell season.