The IPL is in its 10th season and we have seen some brilliant performances by various players. Some of these players have entertained us almost throughout the ten seasons and can almost be called IPL veterans. However, 10 years is a long time and these veterans have also aged. We have seen in the past that reputation is not a factor that franchise owners and administrators consider while choosing their squad. With the mega auction coming up next year, most of the players will be back in the auction pool. Here are five IPL legends who might be playing their last season.
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5) ZAHEER KHAN
The current DD skipper has retired from all forms of the game in 2015 and has been playing the IPL only. At the age of 38, he is still looking good. However, injuries have affected him and he may announce his retirement from the IPL after this season. If he chooses to play on next year, Daredevils are unlikely to retain him if there is a retention policy. Zaheer is arguably the best Indian fast bowler ever. With an astute mind, he is probably one of the most intelligent pacers to have graced the game along with Wasim Akhtar.
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It has been a treat to watch him play for India and now, in the IPL. He is 10th on the list of highest wicket-takers in the 10 seasons with 99 wickets to his name. It would be a perfect opportunity for Zak to get his 100th IPL victim and then announce his retirement after this season. He is a legend in his department and it will not come as a surprise if the Daredevils rope Zaheer in as a bowling coach next year. For now, we can enjoy his out-swingers in the last few games of this season.
4) ASHISH NEHRA
Ashish Nehra’s story is a true inspiration. Having battled with injuries throughout his career, he has never given up and always come back stronger. He is one of the few players who made their debuts in the 1990s and are still active in professional cricket. He has played in the IPL for many teams including Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He made a comeback to the Indian team in 2016 at the age of 35 and impressed everyone at the 2016 World T20. In the IPL, he has been prolific with the ball especially for Daredevils and the Chennai Super Kings.
A veteran bowler who leads the bowling attack from the front and also guides youngsters as well is an asset for any team. However, his continuous injuries may prevent franchises from bidding for him next year. With 106 wickets in the IPL, he is the 7th highest wicket-taker in the League over the 10 years. Nehra may also be seen in the role of a pace bowling coach for the Sunrisers next year which would immensely benefit them.
3) YUSUF PATHAN
This man burst into the scene with his explosive batting in the inaugural season of the IPL and continued his aggressive batting for the Rajasthan Royals till 2010. He notched up the fastest century in the IPL with RR. He was then bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011. He has been inconsistent for KKR. However, he has won the Knight Riders a few matches on his own and hence, the KKR management has persisted with him. With age not on Yusuf’s side, he may fail to get a buyer in the mega auction in 2018.
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Yusuf has been an excellent all-rounder and is capable of turning a game single-handedly. He has scored 2884 runs in IPL and is on the 12th spot on the list of highest run-getters. He has also picked up 42 wickets since 2008. He is a utility player and the only chance he has of playing in IPL 11 is if KKR decide to persist with him further. Else, we may just be seeing the last of one of the best hitters of the cricket ball who has hit 143 sixes in the League.
2) LASITH MALINGA
He has been the best bowler in the world for a long time. He is the highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League with 152 wickets. Malinga has been stupendous with the ball for Mumbai Indians for so many years. However, if recent form is anything to go by, this year’s Malinga is not close to the Malinga we are used to seeing. He has been expensive and has not been picking wickets as regularly as he used to. He has been a burden on the MI on certain occasions and had also been rested for a few games when MI tried out a few other combinations.
Malinga has also been very injury-prone off late and missed the entire 2016 season. He is also ageing and that is not making things any easier for Slinga Malinga. With his unique action, he has always troubled the batsmen. Mumbai Indians may decide to persist with him next season in spite of his injury or form. However, if MI decide to move on, it will be pretty difficult for Malinga to find another franchise. Malinga may also be a good candidate to replace Shane Bond as the bowling coach of the Mumbai team next year.
1) CHRIS GAYLE
Christopher Henry Gayle has been an enigma and has made IPL his own playground. Smashing all kinds of bowlers out of the park is what he is known for. However, he has had a terrible season this year with RCB and has been dropped from the squad on many occasions. He has only hit 1 fifty this year and has looked like a pale shadow of his former self. He misfired for KKR in the first 3 seasons. He went unsold in 2011 and came in as a replacement for injured Dirk Nannes to RCB. Since then, he has absolutely launched himself and won a huge number of matches forming lethal partnerships with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
However, the 37 year old Jamaican is in the twilight of his career and we may be seeing the last of him in the IPL this year. He has over 10,000 runs in T20 cricket. He has scored 3578 runs in the IPL alone hitting a mammoth 262 sixes which is the highest by a huge margin. He is also the 7th highest run getter in the IPL in all 10 seasons. Gayle has been a legend in his own right but the Universal Boss might not find a franchise for himself in the mega auction of 2018 and it seems RCB are also not too interested in buying him back or retaining him. If this is indeed his last season, we are definitely going to miss his huge sixes and hard-hitting. His 175 will probably remain the highest individual score in the IPL forever. Gaylestorm will never be forgotten.
