IPL 2021: Three overseas players who may not find a place in the starting XI

The IPL 2021 auction is all done and dusted. After 292 players were shortlisted for the 61 available slots, only 57 managed to get contracts. South Africa’s Chris Morris became the most expensive signing in IPL history with Rajasthan Royals shelling out Rs 16.25 crores for his services. The likes of Kyle Jamieson Glenn Maxwell and Jhye Richardson also bagged multi-million dollar contracts. With such a huge price tag, the pressure on these players will be enormous to deliver. They are set to play crucial roles for their franchises in the upcoming season. At the same time, there are some players who are looking set to warm the bench for a majority of IPL 2021.

So through this article, we are taking a look at three players who are unlikely to play regularly for their teams in IPL 2021.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman:

Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp for IPL 2021. The Afghanistan star was bought by the Hyderabad-based outfit at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore. Mujeeb must be excited to share the dressing room with his illustrious compatriots Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi in the upcoming season. There is, however, absolutely no guarantee that he would share the field too with them that too on a regular basis. Currently the third-ranked T20I bowler in the world, Mujeeb would have been an automatic choice in any other team but it is tough to say that he would get the same treatment in the Sunrisers camp.

David Warner, Kane Williamson and Rashid Khan are the automatic overseas players for the team and it would be extremely tough for Mujeeb to get the nod as the fourth overseas player ahead of the likes of Nabi, Jason Holder and Jonny Bairstow. Mujeeb’s stocks have also gone down after his poor campaign in IPL 2020 where he played for Punjab Kings.

Mustafizur Rahman:

After playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians in the past, Bangladesh ace Mushfiqur Rahman is gearing up to turn up for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. The Royals signed him at his base price of Rs 1 crore. And it looks like it would be extremely tough for Mustafizur to be a part of Royals’ playing eleven regularly. One just cannot see the Royals picking Mustafizur ahead of the likes of Jofra Archer and Chris Morris. With both Morris and Archer being handy batsmen, it would be even tougher for Mustafizur to get a game this season.

Jimmy Neesham:

Mumbai Indians secured Jimmy Neesham’s services for IPL 2021 by buying him at his base price of Rs  50 lakh. And while Neesham will definitely be excited to be a part of IPL’s most successful team and the defending champions, one cannot see him playing regularly for the franchise. In fact, it would not be too surprising if he does not play a single game in the season. In Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya, Mumbai have two of the best all-rounders in the world and it would be extremely tough for Neesham to get a chance in the playing eleven. The presence of all-rounder Krunal Pandya further makes things tougher for Neesham. The New Zealander’s poor record in IPL does not help his cause either. In 9 IPL games so far, he has scored only 61 runs and picked up three wickets.