IPL 2020 News: Worst released player of all IPL teams ahead of IPL 2020 auction

Worst released player of all IPL teams: The SportsRush present before you one name from each team which shouldn’t have been released.

Eight Indian Premier League franchises released as many as 67 cricketers yesterday ahead of the IPL 2020 auction. This list including some quality players means that the auction next month will be worth watching.

While Chennai Super Kings and SunRisers Hyderabad have released five players each, the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals have released as many as 11 and 12 players respectively.

Considering the performances of some players in IPL 2019, it was difficult for them to be retained for IPL 2020. Having said that, franchises have surprisingly also released some players who had done well in the last season.

Worst released player of all IPL teams

Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders baffled one and all on the back of releasing opening batsman Chris Lynn. The 29-year old Australian players is among the most sought-after T20 batsmen around the world.

It is worth mentioning that Lynn was Knight Riders’ second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2019. In 13 matches, Lynn had scored 405 runs at an average of 31.15 and a strike rate of 139.65 including four half-centuries.

Talking of current form, Lynn was the fourth-highest run-scorer in the recently concluded Global T20 Canada. The 29-year old had scored 295 runs in seven matches at an average of 42.14 and a strike rate of 186.70 including a couple of half-centuries.

Having bought Lynn for a whopping INR 9+ crore in the auction, Knight Riders might be looking to again buy Lynn at a lesser price.

Kings XI Punjab

Among the seven players that Kings XI Punjab have released includes England all-rounder Sam Curran. The southpaw has scored runs at an average of 23.75 and a strike rate of 172.72 including a half-century in eight innings.

With the ball in hand, the 21-year old cricketer dismissed 10 batsmen in nine matches at an average of 32.30, an economy rate of 9.78 and a strike rate of 19.80 including a match-winning hat-trick.

Whenever Curran was promoted in T20s by Punjab and Surrey, he stood tall on his potential. Also playing T20Is for England these days, Curran could have been an impact-generating player for KXIP in IPL 2020.

Mumbai Indians

Having done all of swaps, trading and releasing players before today, defending champions Mumbai Indians were among the most active teams in the trading window.

While Indians were mostly pinpoint with their decisions, one didn’t expect them to release West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph especially after he registered the best-ever bowling figures in the IPL. The 22-year old bowler from Antigua is currently a part of the national team as well.

Playing for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League, Joseph had picked nine wickets in nine matches at an average of 28.44, an economy rate of 7.75 and a strike rate of 22.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Having released a whopping (11) players yesterday, Royal Challengers Bangalore gave the impression of going for a fresh strategy in the auction. When they had bought West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer in the last auction, it was considered to be an impressive move.

Having said that, Hetmyer has now been released by the franchise. In five matches for RCB in IPL 2019, the southpaw had scored 90 runs at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 123.28.

While the decision to include him had backfired in the first four matches, Hetmyer (75) stitched a match-winning 144-run stand for the fourth wicket alongside all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh Mann (65*). Royal Challengers proved the notion of backing Hetmyer wrong yesterday.

SunRisers Hyderabad

Retaining most part of their squad, SunRisers Hyderabad have released only five players. While veteran all-rounder Yusuf Pathan was one of the released players, one felt all-rounder Deepak Hooda’s current form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could have saved him.

In the six matches that Hooda has played for Baroda in the tournament, he has scored 177 runs in six matches at an average of 35.40 and a strike rate of 156.63 including two half-centuries.

Delhi Capitals

The nine players which Delhi Capitals have released include overseas players such as South Africa’s Chris Morris and Colin Ingram and New Zealand’s Colin Munro.

It is true that Morris didn’t perform as well as DC would have liked in the last season but someone of his potential can be persisted with in this format. While Morris’ batting numbers in IPL 2019 were dismal, he picked 13 wickets in nine matches at an average of 23.53, an economy rate of 9.27 and a strike rate of 15.23.

While Morris is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the ongoing Mzansi Super League, he had an impressive season for Hampshire in England’s T20 Cup. In 11 matches, the 32-year old pacer had picked 12 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 24.75, an economy rate of 7.85 and a strike rate of 19.

Rajasthan Royals

Having released the most (12) players yesterday, Rajasthan Royals have also hinted at wholesome changes for IPL 2020. Their list of released overseas players include Australia batsman Ashton Turner, West Indies fast bowler Oshane Thomas, New Zealand spinner Ish Sodhi and England all-rounder Liam Livingstone.

In the four matches that Thomas had played in IPL 2019, he had dismissed five batsmen at an average of 15.80, an economy rate of 7.90 and a strike rate of 12. Having also done well for Jamaica Tallawahs in CPL 2019, it was expected that RR would bank on the speedster.

In six matches in IPL 2019, Thomas picked nine wickets at an average of 31, an economy rate of 11.62 and a strike rate of 16.

Chennai Super Kings

It is worth mentioning that much like Hyderabad Chennai Super Kings also released a minimum of five players. It is really difficult to pick out one player whom CSK shouldn’t have released for all their released players either didn’t play for them in IPL 2019 or haven’t been playing as well in this format in other T20 leagues.

If still one has to name a player which Super Kings could have retained, it would be one out of the English pair of wicket-keeper batsman Sam Billings and all-rounder David Willey.