Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: The benched XI of IPL 2021 | Looking at players who played 2 games or less in the Indian Premier League 2021
The Indian Premier League is the best T20 cricket league in the world. Players from all around the globe participate in the league making the competition very tough. There are many quality players who don’t even get picked in the auctions while many don’t even get to play any games throughout the season due to team combinations.
IPL 2021 was no different as there were many good players who didn’t even get to play a single game or more than one or two games throughout the season. Today we’ll select a playing 11 of such players who didn’t get enough opportunities to showcase their skills in IPL 2021.
We’ve selected players who have played a maximum of two games in IPL 2021 for their respective franchises.
CricBlog’s Benched XI of IPL 2021:
1. Ajinkya Rahane (Captain)
Ajinkya Rahane played only two games in IPL 2021 for the Delhi Capitals. He couldn’t find a place in the eleven as Delhi had Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan at the top followed by Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. Fitting Rahane in there wasn’t the logical move.
Rahane has scored 3941 runs in 151 IPL games at an average of 31.52 and striking at 121.33. He also has two hundreds to his name. Rahane has been one of the most consistent players in the IPL and is the 12th highest-run scorer in IPL history. He can utilize the powerplay and can hold one end with others playing around him.
Rahane will be the opener for our Benched XI and will lead this side as well.
2. Narayan Jagadeesan
Narayan Jagadeesan has been a part of CSK’s squad for quite some time now. The wicket-keeper batsman from Tamil Nadu is a consistent performer in the domestic circuit. Jagadeesan has scored 702 runs in 30 innings at an average of 35.10 and strike rate of 125.35. He was the highest run-scorer in the SMAT 2020/21 with 364 runs in eight matches averaging 72.80 and striking at 141.
Jagadeesan has been at CSK since 2018 and he made his IPL debut in IPL 2020. He didn’t have a great start to his IPL career but he surely has the potential to be one of the top batters of the tournament in the future. Jagadeesan was the third-highest run scorer in TNPL 2021. He will be the second opener in our eleven.
3. Mohammad Azharuddeen
Many of you may have heard this name for the first time. However, all who know of him will know how good a player he is. Mohammad Azharuddeen was a part of RCB’s squad in IPL 2021. The 27-year old is a attacking top order batter from Kerala. He recently scored the second-fastest century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-2021 in just 37 balls against Mumbai. He scored an unbeaten 137 off 54 deliveries with nine fours and 11 sixes.
Azharuddeen has scored 452 runs in 22 innings at an average of 22.55 and a strike-rate of 142. He is a very exciting young player who didn’t get any opportunity in IPL 2021. Azharuddeen will bat at 3 in our Benched XI.
4. Sam Billings (WK)
Sam Billings didn’t get to play even one match in IPL 2021. He was a part of the Delhi Capitals squad. Billings as a batter hasn’t performed up to his full potential yet but he has been terrific with the bat in the last one year or so. Billings is a good player of spin as well as pace bowling. He performed really well in the last BBL scoring 260 runs in 10 innings striking at 142.85, which is excellent for a number 4.
5. Tim David
Tim David has been one of the most talked about cricketers in recent times. The right-hander is very destructive and can tear apart any bowling line-up on his day. David has scored 1469 runs in 58 T20 innings at an average of 34.97 and strike rate of 153.50. His numbers in T20Is are 558 runs at an average of 46.50 and strike rate of 158.52 in 14 matches.
Tim was picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore but he got to play only one game. Before coming into the IPL David had played in the CPL, BBL and PSL, and has shown what he can do with the bat.
6. Ben Cutting
Aussie all-rounder Ben Cutting was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad and didn’t even get to play despite Andre Russell’s injury. Cutting is an explosive lower-order batter and is very handy with the bat. He is an experienced campaigner and has scored 2368 runs at an average of 22.76, striking at 149 in 143 T20 innings.
Cutting was in good form in the last BBL playing for the Thunder. He can open the innings as well if needed.
7. Krishnappa Gowtham
Krishnappa Gowtham was picked up by CSK for 9.25 Crores in the auction before IPL 2021, but he didn’t play a single game in the whole tournament. Gowtham is an bowling all-rounder who bowls off-spin and is known for his destructive batting towards the end of the innings. Gowtham has played 24 games in IPL and has picked 13 wickets at an economy of 8.26 while he has scored 186 runs at a whopping strike-rate of 169.
He has picked 41 wickets in 62 T20 games and has scored 594 runs at a rate of 159.24. Gowtham is a utility player and can contribute with both bat and ball.
8. Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav was in the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2021 but he too didn’t get to play even one match this season. Umesh is a seasoned campaigner and has picked 119 wickets in 121 matches. He can be very lethal in the powerplay, and has been in great form in red ball cricket. He will hope to continue that in the IPL whenever he gets the chance.
9. Navdeep Saini
Navdeep Saini played only two games in IPL 2021 and he failed to perform. Saini bowls quick, consistently clocking 140+. He hasn’t fulfilled his potential till now but he can bowl hard lengths and can be a very good asset for any team.
10. R Sai Kishore
Ravisrivasan Sai Kishore is a left-arm orthodox bowler from Tamil Nadu. He was in the CSK squad for IPL 2021 and didn’t get to play any game this season. He is very economical and a genuine wicket-taker in domestic circuit. He has picked 33 wickets in 30 matches at an economy of just 5.28.
Sai Kishore was the second wicket-taker in TNPL 2021 with 13 wickets in seven games with an economy of 5.85. He has already shown a lot of promise and is one for the future.
11. Imran Tahir
Imran Tahir was in CSK for IPL 2021 and played only one game in this edition of the IPL. Tahir at the age of 42 is still one of the best leg-spinners in T20 cricket. Tahir picked 13 wickets in 11 games of CPL 2021 at an economy of 6.40. He is a genuine wicket-taker and adds a lot of value to any team he plays for.
CricBlog’s Benched XI for IPL 2021:
Ajinkya Rahane (c)
N Jagadeesan (wk)
Mohammad Azharuddeen
Sam Billings
Tim David
Ben Cutting
K Gowtham
Umesh Yadav
Navdeep Saini
R Sai Kishore
Imran Tahir
So, this was our Benched XI for IPL 2021. We hope you liked it. Thanks for reading.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
