Just over one-third of the IPL 2023 is done and dusted. The tournament has been quite an entertaining one with plenty of close matches. The Impact Player rule that allows teams to play an additional batter and field an extra bowler has been a primary reason for that, and for also teams being able to defend targets more than in the IPLs in the past.
Despite the Impact Player rule, where teams can effectively play with 12 players, there have been a few top-quality, highly-rated international stars who have not found a game yet. Some of the high-profile international players have not been able to break into their franchises’ XI yet.
Here are 3 world-class players who are being benched in IPL 2023:
Quinton de Kock
In any other franchise, Quinton de Kock perhaps would have been one of the first names on the team sheet. He was for Lucknow Super Giants last year and would have been this year too had he been available from the first match.
However, because of matches for South Africa, de Kock had to miss the first two games for LSG, and that’s where Kyle Mayers got the opportunity and in his good form from international cricket, the West Indian grabbed his chances with both hands and cracked two belligerent half-centuries for LSG in his first two games.
This meant that even when Quinton de Kock came to India and was available, he was made to sit on the bench. LSG have struck with Stoinis, Wood, and Pooran as the other three overseas. So, Mayers putting up impressive performances in the first two matches forced de Kock to be benched for the next 4 games as well, and in the latest match, Mayers scored another fifty. This means that de Kock might have to wait more to get a game this year in the IPL.
Joe Root
Joe Root is one of the best Test batsmen in the world and has been in terrific form in the longest format. However, he hasn’t done much of late in the shortest format. Rajasthan Royals picked him up in the IPL 2023 auction for his base price of INR 1 crore in what is his maiden stint in the IPL, but the former England captain is yet to make his IPL debut as he’s been on the bench for all the 6 games RR have played so far.
He’s unlikely to get a chance anytime soon unless there’s an injury to Buttler or Hetmyer, or they lose some faith in either Padikkal or Parag.
The 4 overseas RR have played in their XIs are Buttler, Boult, Hetmyer, and rotated between Holder and Zampa in the bowling department.
Akeal Hosein
West Indies’ left-arm spinner has made a name for himself in the T20 circuit as a specialist spinner with the new ball and a lower-order power-hitter. A left-arm spinner who gets big drift and dip with the new ball and his reputation is based on that, Akeal Hosein gets into the XI of any T20 team he plays anywhere, however, he’s not been able to find a place in the line-up of Sunrisers Hyderabad, who bought him in the IPL 2023 auction for his base price of INR 1 crore.
The 29-year-old Akeal Hosein has an experience of 103 T20 matches around the world picking up 85 wickets at an economy of 6.68, impressive economy for a spinner bowling regularly in the powerplay. He’s waiting for his first chance in the IPL though.
