IPL 2018: Top 5 players who are NOT playing this season

Cricket's biggest domestic event, the IPL, is all set to take the centrestage from April 7. The IPL is one of the most successful and competitive T20 leagues in the world, and is watched by fans and experts everywhere. Moreover, almost every big cricket star plays in the tournament.

With the 2018 season expected to be bigger, better and grander than all the previous editions, players are eagerly waiting for it to start. But there are some players who are set to miss out on an opportunity to showcase their talent this year.

Here, we take a look at the top five players who will not feature in this year's IPL.

1) David Warner

David Warner's exit from the tournament is a major setback to SRH

Cricket is often called the gentleman's game, and one thing that sets it apart is the spirit in which it is played. Cricket is also a game of uncertainties; five days ago if someone had told you that a fully fit David Warner would not be allowed to play in the IPL, you wouldn't have believed him.

But now, that is a reality.

There are very few batsmen in the world who come close to possessing Warner's destructive skills in the T20 format. The Australian opener is one of the most feared batsmen around the world. He was also the captain of the SRH and the vice-captain of the Australian national cricket team.

However, one big mistake can cost you all you've earned in years. Warner was found guilty of hatching a ball tampering plan along with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, because of which he was handed a one match ban by ICC. But Cricket Australia later issued a one year ban to David Warner, after which his IPL contract for this year was also terminated.

2) Steven Smith

Steven Smith is one of the best batsmen in the world

The captain of the Australian national cricket team and the top-ranked batsmen in Test cricket, Smith is considered to be the greatest batsman of this generation. After his brilliant performance in the recently concluded Ashes, cricket pundits were even comparing him to Sir Don Bradman.

Smith was one of the most highly respected and popular cricketers in the world, but it all changed in a matter of minutes. During the third day of the third Test against South Africa, Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing sandpaper on the ball. In the press conference that followed, Smith accepted that he already knew about the ball-tampering and that it was planned by the leadership group which included him too.

After this revelation, Smith faced sever backlash from the media and the fans. He was handed a one-match ban by the ICC, after which he was banned by Cricket Australia for 12 months. In the wake of the verdict, Smith was banned from playing in IPL 11 too.

What happened was totally unfortunate, and it's hard to believe that fans won't be seeing him play in this season of the IPL.

3) Joe Root

Joe Root is regarded as one of the best batsmen of this generation

The current captain of England's Test cricket team, Joe Root is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of the modern day game. Root is one of England's most consistent batsmen across all three formats. His technique and temperament set him apart from almost all the other batsmen.

Root has scored over 10,000 runs in international cricket across all formats and is currently ranked among the Top 10 batsmen of the world in both Tests and ODIs. But even after proving himself at the international level, Root remained unsold in the 2018 IPL auction.

The IPL is a different tournament altogether, and experience plays a huge role in it. Root did not feature in any edition of the IPL before 2018, and this year when his name came up at the auction no team seemed interested in him.

Root's fans will be disappointed that they won't get to see their favorite cricketer in this year's IPL too.

4) Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga is the highest wicket taker in the history of IPL

The highest wicket taker in the history of the IPL, Lasith Malinga went unsold at the 2018 IPL auction.

Malinga is the most successful bowler in the history of the IPL, having taken taken 154 wickets in 110 matches at an astonishing economy rate of just 6.86 runs per over. There was a time when Malinga used to the most sought after player in the shortest format of the game, as he used to send chills down the spines of batsmen with his toe crushing yorkers and deceptive slower balls.

But father time has taken its toll on Malinga, and it is hard to believe that fans won't be seeing the magic of Malinga in the 11th season of the IPL. He will instead be seen in a new role this season, as the bowling mentor of current champions Mumbai Indians.

5) Nathan Coulter-Nile

RCB will miss Nathan Coulter-Nile this season

Nathan Coulter-Nile is one of the most promising and versatile fast bowlers in the world. He has been associated with the IPL for over five years now, having played for three different franchises in the process.

Although Coulter-Nile has played in five seasons of the IPL, he didn't get too many chances to show his true ability. It was in the last season with KKR that Coulter-Nile bowled to his potential and created havoc, taking 15 wickets in just 8 matches at an economy rate of 8 runs per over.

Coulter-Nile was bought by RCB in this year's mega auction for 2.2 crore rupees, but he has been ruled out of the tournament because of injury. The Australian is a tremendous talent and his presence will be missed in this year's IPL.