IPL 2021: 5 big releases before the 2021 IPL auction

These are possibly the five biggest released players ahead of the IPL 2021 auction.

The eight franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) unveiled the list of players that they released and retained on January 20, 2021. BCCI and IPL GC had set that date as the deadline for the franchises given that the auction for the 2021 IPL is around the corner and preparations needed to begin.

All the franchises discussed hard and strategized in order to leave out players keeping in mind their needs and the purse that they will get after releasing some players. Royal Challengers Bangalore released 10 players, the most, and will have 35.70 crores left to spend in auction.

IPL 2021: Franchise-wise list of all players released and retained

In the list of released, players, there were some big names as well, who were let go either because of their performance in the previous editions of the tournament or because the franchise wanted to have more money in the purse during the auction.

Therefore Team COC takes a look at the five biggest releases before the IPL 2021 auction

CHRIS MORRIS (RCB)

Chris Morris, the South African all-rounder was bought by the RCB franchise for a huge INR 10 crores in IPL 2020 auction. The big-hitting batsman and fiery pacer was injured for starting few matches but was included in the playing XI as soon as he got fit.

IPL 2021: "Disappointed not to be selected," jokes footballer Harry Kane on RCB's players retention list

He played 9 games and picked 11 wickets and made 34 runs in total. He was a good addition to the team, who needed someone with pace after Dale Steyn was hugely out of form at the start.

However, it seems the RCB franchise thought that the price tag was too much for Chris Morris to retain at INR 10 crores. They thought that it would be better if they let him go into the auction and then buy him back at a lesser price.

AARON FINCH (RCB)

Aaron Finch has played for 8 franchises in IPL starting from 2010 and RCB was his eighth team in the tournament. There were high hopes from the Australian white-ball captain, who is the only player to hit two scores of over 150 in T20I cricket and holds the record for the highest individual score in the T20Is as well- 172.

IPL 2021: Parthiv Patel takes jibe at Royal Challengers Bangalore after being released ahead of auction

Unfortunately for RCB, Finch just couldn’t get going at the top, despite the team management backing him giving him a run of 12 matches. He managed just 268 runs with one half-century at a strike rate of 111.20, a far cry from his usual T20 strike rate of 141.74.  

Releasing Finch also allows RCB to now play the promising Josh Philippe as opener-keeper in upcoming IPL 2021 and freed up 4.40 crore rupees for them in the auction as well.

HARBHAJAN SINGH (CSK)

Harbhajan Singh, who will turn 41 in July this year, had opted out of the IPL 2020 edition which was played in UAE owing to personal reasons. It was highly doubted that CSK would retain the veteran off-spinner who was bought at a base price of INR 2 crore in IPL 2018.

IPL 2021: Harbhajan Singh confirms exit from CSK camp ahead of the upcoming IPL

Harbhajan was part of CSK’s 2018 IPL win but picked just 7 wickets in 13 matches. He had a good outing in IPL 2019, with 16 wickets in 11 matches. However, him pulling out of IPL 2020, left the franchise without a right-arm off-spinner and it played a role in them not qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in their IPL history.

Though Harbhajan Singh is expected to enter the IPL 2021 auction, given that he has not played any cricket of any kind in the past two years, apart from IPL, and at the age of 40 plus, it will be interesting to see which team bids for the off-spinner.

GLENN MAXWELL (KXIP)

Glenn Maxwell has had practically one very good season for Kings XI Punjab when in 2014 he made 552 runs and helped the franchise reach its first and only final to date. He then made 310 runs in IPL 2017 but failed to make a half-century in that edition.

He was released before the IPL 22018 auction and Delhi Capitals bought him, but he couldn’t manage to do much scoring 169 runs in 12 matches. He opted out of IPL 2019 to prepare for the World Cup that year but entered the IPL 2020 auction.

AUS v IND 2020-21: Glenn Maxwell will be a hot sell at IPL 2021 auction, says Michael Vaughan

KXIP again bid for him and bought him for a humongous INR 10.75 crore, making him one of the most expensive players in that year’s auction. However, what followed next was an utter disappointment as he returned with 108 runs in 13 matches at a strike-rate of 101 and failed to hit a single six. The franchise finished at the 6^th spot.

KXIP released Maxwell, despite reports indicate otherwise, as this freed up 10.75 crore rupees for them in the auction and they might buy him back for a lower price in IPL 2021 auction.   

STEVE SMITH (RR)

Perhaps the biggest release before the IPL 2021 auction was that of Australia’s Steve Smith, who led the Rajasthan Royals franchise in half of IPL 2019 and the whole IPL 2020. RR had retained Steve Smith for INR 12.50 crores.

AUS v IND 2020-21: "Time for Steve Smith to become Test captain; give him chance for redemption," says Ian Healy

However, the franchise finished last in IPL 2020, and Smith was highly unimpressive with the bat scoring 311 runs in 14 matches with 3 half-centuries and at a strike-rate of 131.22. The franchise had probably made their mind up to release him, given his price tag and that his style of play was not suited for the T20 format.

They have named Sanju Samson as the captain for the IPL 2021 and can use the money they got from releasing Smith to buy backup fast bowlers for Jofra Archer and co.