IPL as a tournament is very challenging for the best players from every cricket playing nation to compete against each other. To succeed against them calls for hard work, perseverance, dedication and great skill-sets giving the opposition a run for their money. Inspite of the uncertainty surrounding the last season, we had the BCCI successfully conducting the tournament in UAE and making it the grandest of all seasons with respect to viewership and profit.
Given the layoff owing to the lockdown, many players brought their A-game into play at IPL 2020, helping the franchise in their own capacity. While a few struggled with form and failed to live up to the expectations at the lucrative league. Thus said, they will look to rectify the aspect in the upcoming season and win as many matches as they can with their impeccable display. In the below piece, we look at 5 underperforming players from 2020, who will have a good season in 2021:
1. Glenn Maxwell
A fiery batting all-rounder from Australia, who carries a lot of expectations come every season of the IPL, Maxwell was a big flop during the 2020 season, scoring just 108 runs from 13 games without hitting a single six. With the ball, he picked only 3 wickets, making it a tough choice for KXIP either to leave or retain him in the line-up.
Eventually, he was released ahead of the new season and cricket pundits expected him to either get a no or low bid given his dismal showing. To their amazement, he went for an even higher price than the previous season, being picked by RCB for a whopping amount of INR 14.25 crores.
Considering his reputation as the ‘Big Show’ who could change the course of a game with his attacking display, RCB were more than happy to spend the big bucks and now it will be upon Maxwell to justify that faith and be among hefty runs as he is for Australia always.
2. Andre Russell
A sturdy, muscular West Indian, who can destroy opposition bowling attacks within a span of a few overs, Russell too had to endure a poor season in 2020, scoring only 117 runs from 10 games at an average of 13 and strike rate of 144.
Opposition bowlers seemed to have planned well against him, either keeping the ball away from his hitting arc or bowling bouncers to him. A knee injury added to these woes, making it a horrible season for the West Indian considering his usual standards.
Retained by KKR for the upcoming season, Russell will be hopeful of remaining fit throughout and pulling off match-winning performances, getting the Kolkata based outfit closer to winning their 3rd title.
3. Ravindra Jadeja
A vital cog of the CSK line-up, Jadeja had a disappointing season with the ball in 2020, snapping up just 6 wickets from 14 games, making it the second-lowest wicket tally for him in his entire IPL career. He did finish a few matches for them at the backend, contributing 232 runs at an average of 46.40 and a mind-boggling strike rate of 171.85, in totality.
Being a left-arm orthodox bowler, Jadeja adds variety to the CSK bowling attack and has been bestowed with the responsibility of keeping the runs down in the middle overs. Unfortunately, he disappeared for plenty in the last season, either bowling it too short or in the hitting arc for the batsmen.
Skipper Dhoni and the CSK management will hope that the bowler puts this all aside and approaches the new season with renewed vigour and confidence. His stellar display with both bat and ball will go a long way in solving the temporary woes for the side and making him the frontrunner for a future captaincy stint.
4. Rishabh Pant
An attacking wicketkeeper-batsman from Delhi, Pant has stole the limelight in the last few months, courtesy of his immaculate batsmanship helping India win the historic series down under and also the home series against England coming from behind.
Witnessing such an epic display, many would have forgotten that Pant was coming off a mediocre season at IPL 2020, scoring 343 runs from 14 games at an average of 35. Given the high standards that he sets for himself, the numbers were nowhere near what Pant is capable of.
But as said earlier, fortunes have drastically changed for the daredevil batsman, who is now turning everything into gold with his Midas touch. His rich vein of form just before the new season has come as a blessing in disguise for DC, who will hope that he persists with it and helps them secure their maiden title.
5. Pat Cummins
Becoming the most expensive buy during the player’s auction for IPL 2020, going for a whopping INR 15.5 crores to KKR, Cummins was expected to put up a show giving the right value for money.
To the disappointment of KKR and his earnest followers, Cummins scalped just 12 wickets from 14 games at an average of 34.08 and an economy rate of 7.86. While he scored 146 runs from 11 innings at an average of 20.85 and strike rate of 128.07.
Inspite of the numbers not doing any justice to the massive price-tag, KKR made the tough call of retaining him at this price for the upcoming season and yet again trusting the Australian pacer to do the job.
We all know how destructive he could be once in complete rhythm and for that, Cummins has to keep the thoughts of the price-tag aside and bowl in a fashion peculiar to him, getting vital scalps and reflecting the pressure back on the opposition.
