Who makes it into the IPL BENCHED XI for this season ?

MIDDLE ORDER

4) Saurabh Tiwary

Saurabh Tiwary is another example of dearth of opportunities for a probable talent. He made a brilliant start of his IPL career with Mumbai Indians. He was with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rising Pune Supergiants for a brief stint where he didn’t get much chances. This season he was roped in by Mumbai Indians again. The table toppers didn’t tinker too much with the winning combination. The rise of Pandya brothers and Nitish Rana meant that Saurabh Tiwary had to sit in the dugout for all their matches. In the 80 matches that he has played in the IPL, he has 1224 runs to his name at an average of over 27.

5) Shakib Al Hasan

One of the best all rounders in world cricket and the captain of Bangladesh T20 team, Shakib Al Hasan got a solitary game this season with KKR. Usually slow wicket of Eden Gardens has favoured the pacers this IPL and this meant that Colin de Grandhomme has been a regular in the playing XI for KKR. Shakib is arguably the best T20 player to be benched in IPL 2017.

6) Mohammad Nabi

Sunrisers Hyderabad picked up two relatively lesser known Afghanistan players in auction of IPL 2017. One of them, Rashid Khan has been the talk of the season so far and another one, Mohd. Nabi, the captain of Afghanistan national cricket team hasn’t got the opportunities he deserved. In the two games he has played so far, against KXIP and MI, he has impressed with his disciplined bowling effort. The exploits of Kane Williamson and Moises Henriques good showing with the bat has made Sunrisers bench him for the major part of the tournament.

7) Rishi Dhawan

One of the most well known faces in the Indian domestic circuit, Rishi Dhawan has been one of the consistent performers for Himachal Pradesh. Before being picked up this season by KKR for Rs 55 lakh, he was with MI and KXIP. He has played 26 IPL matches and scored 153 runs and taken 18 wickets. His IPL scores doesn’t speak of his immense talent with both bat and ball. But the confidence shown by Kolkata management in Yusuf Pathan meant that he has not taken the field for KKR till now.

About the author

Akshay Malik