Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 saw many high performers this season. But that doesn't help the remaining underperformers, whose performance is compared with those of who are doing well, and they have no place to hide.
Therefore, we present to you, the IPL 2018 underperformers' XI:
Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir would not have thought things will take a dramatic turn in his IPL career. After leaving Kolkata Knight Riders to lead Delhi Daredevils, Gambhir might not be expecting he will be left out of playing XI one day, after sacrificing his captaincy and fees for the season.
D'Arcy Short
D'Arcy Short wants everyone to remember his IPL season by his last name. Yes, the much-hyped batsman from Australia found it hard to play on the slow Indian pitches. Rajasthan Royals are worried about their top order batting. Any number of opening combinations have not worked for them. The only thing left for them to do is to bring in Stuart Binny as an opener.
Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey had one job this season for SRH, and he failed in it too. Except a fifty in Uppal against Kings XI Punjab, Pandey hasn't added many runs which is a serious concern for a team whose strength isn't batting. SRH will hope for his exclusion from IPL unwanted XI as soon as possible. They are looking favorites for the top 4 and their bowling has done well in hiding their batting flaws.
Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj's performance this year may force Yograj Singh to call media for another press conference. But this time to speak against Yuvraj. If we deduct the time of strategic time-out, his batting time would be lower than the expectation fans have from him now.
Ben Stokes
The last year's IPL sensation Ben Stokes couldn't show his worth in this IPL. He failed to give enough moments to celebrate for his fans. Seems like IPL venue should be shifted near bars so that Stokes could put up a fight and performances as per expectations.
Unlike the punches, he has not got the shots right this season, which has been a big worry for Rajasthan. A quality all-rounder like him needed to turn things for the RR franchise, and he failed to do so.
Wriddhiman Saha
Saha seems to be missing the 30 yards boundaries. As mentioned before, SRH aren't a batting heavy side and with Saha's hapless show this season with the bat, it makes things harder for them. With just 79 runs off 70 balls he faced, Saha has seemed to be practicing for the England Test tour already.
Kieron Pollard
The Caribbean cricketer's addition in Mumbai Indians playing XI has just been an increase in the average height of the team and nothing else. He has been a failure in his role to fire down the order. Maybe he wants youngsters like Jasprit Bumrah to take the responsibility.
Ravindra Jadeja
For Jadeja, IPL is summer vacation fully sponsored by MS Dhoni. He turned out to be a true all-rounder, as he failed with both bat and ball (except against RCB). Dhoni, being commerce student, still playing Jadeja in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) playing XI to balance the side's asset with liabilities and get a perfect balance sheet.
Mitchell Johnson
Those who saw Johnson first time thought he is getting tattoed a centimeter for every run he concedes this season. With 191 runs in 108 balls in this tournament, he has made up for all the dot balls bowled by KKR bowlers. Being a Kangaroo, his pocket is still empty more than 99%.
Jaydev Unadkat
Unadkat has proved quality increases value and not vice versa. The pacer is one of the key players in our unwanted XI. Fans aren't interested to watch his bowling after he failed to make an impression. The only interest Unadkat is getting is from the huge amount in his bank after the 2018 IPL auction.
R Vinay Kumar
You need a special talent to be in unwanted XI by playing just two games in the halfway of the tournament. Vinay has been brilliant with the ball when he wasn't bowling with it. The pacer has conceded runs with over 16 runs per over this season.
He had to remind fans about his previous good performances by tweeting it. That at least makes sure that he has a good memory and remembers things which occur once in a year. Usually, people suck with it. Remember last Super Blue Blood Moon or Red Moon day? Me neither. Ask Vinay.
