IPL has been a breeding ground for cricketing monsters from fabled lands as they would love to put it as the youngsters get to show their extraordinary talent that also paves their way for the national roster.
There are also bigger names that come attracted to the tournament with an impressive legacy even before they step in the tournament. We are going to look at five established foreigners who came to the IPL as massive expectations but failed to live up to their billing.
1. Angelo Matthews
He was Sri Lanka’s finest in the shortest format of the game and chipped in with wondrous all-round capabilities. However, his dalliance with IPL was a stop-start affair as he always failed to strike the right chord.
From 49 matches, the erstwhile Lankan skipper could only manage 724 runs at a woeful average of 23 while a modest 27 wickets were all that his bowling finesse could claim.
Post-2017, he failed to notch up a suitor for himself and given his current age, it is a foregone conclusion that his days in the 22 yards are beyond over.
2. Cameron White
Another big name that was touted as an expert in the shortest format of the game in its initial phases, White was roped in by Bangalore for the maiden edition of this glittering fray and manifested as an utter fiasco.
From 47 matches, he could garner only 954 runs which stayed witness to a scorching 78 which was the solitary highlight of his IPL career.
White’s leadership ability didn’t help him either to grab himself the limelight that he was looking for.
- Mashrafe Mortaza
The best ever bowler to have graced the Bangladeshi echelons, their captain, Mashrafe Mortaza tried his luck in the cash-rich league in the land of their neighbours. However, it was not just a failed attempt but an utter humiliation at the hands of the Deccan Chargers.
He bowled 4 overs that leaked 58 runs, out of which 21 was smashed in the final over by the Indian hitman, Rohit Sharma to clinch a thriller.
That was the last time the KKR skipper really shoed the guts to introduce him to the attack. He shortly removed his name from the future editions of the tournament, focusing more on international cricket.
- Callum Ferguson
Ferguson is one of the most common and consistent names in T-20 cricket across the face of the planet. Not really known for gigantic strokes, he is more of a brain than brawn. Touted for his ability to time the ball to perfection and pick the gaps with consummate ease, Ferguson struggled hard to come to grips with the tormenting conditions of the subcontinent.
Playing only 9 matches, he could amass 98 runs out of which 23 was his career-best. A format where even bowlers brag about strike rates more than 100, Ferguson’s strike rate was 83.76 that made the selectors realize that he wasn’t really the T-20 typecast that his figures in Australia suggest him to be.
- David Hussey
One of the biggest names of T-20 cricket, hailing from Australia, the younger brother of Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey, Dave in comparison to the others in the list put up a commendable show.
However, the show wasn’t really enough going by the preceding standards that he set in other renowned franchise tournaments. From 64 matches, he could garner 1322 runs at a modest average of 26.71 while he scalped 8 wickets with his bowling cameos.
Despite being a phenomenal fielder, his single-dimensional finesse really didn’t come much to his aid that could have helped to play out a sustaining career in IPL.
