The Indian Premier League began in 2008 with its first season. In 15 editions, the premier competition has attracted some of the biggest names in cricket. There is a concern that in this IPL 2023, these are the 5 Players Who Will Skip the Mega Event.
The 10 franchises will again engage in a tough battle when the IPL 2023 is expected to begin playing the following year.
However, certain players who have often shown their mettle in the T20 tournament will not be playing in the 16th edition of the T20 event. This article discusses the 5 Players who will skip the mega event.
5 Players Who Will Skip the Mega Event IPL 2023
The following five players will not participate in the 2023 IPL.
Sam Billings
Sam Billings has a successful track record in the T20 league. In the shortest format, the 31-year-old has played in 242 games and has amassed 4654 runs with a strike rate of 130.40. He has also proven his batting skills on the international stage, scoring 478 runs at a strike rate of 129.89 in 37 T20Is.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) selected Billings for INR 2 CR for the 2022 season to improve their batting lineup. The wicketkeeper batter, however, was unable to excite the audience with his skills. He only scored 169 runs in eight games with a strike rate of 122.46.
Billings has decided to skip participating in the upcoming IPL 2023 to focus on the game’s longer format. Using his Twitter account, the England batter announced the information.
He said in his tweet, “Have taken the tough decision that I won’t be taking part in the next IPL @KKRiders. I want to focus on longer-format cricket At the start of the English summer with @kentcricket.”
As a result, the Kolkata franchise decided not to sign Billings for the following T20 season.
Alex Hales
Alex Hales is a powerful cricket ball striker who can start attacking the opponent with the first ball. The 33-year-old has often shown his mettle in T20 leagues worldwide. He has played in 374 games in the shortest format and collected an unbelievable total of 10534 runs with a strike rate of 147.49.
At the 2022 mega auction, Kolkata Knight Riders selected Hales to boost their batting order. However, the striking batter resigned from the tournament before the 15th edition, claiming bubble fatigue.
The Middlesex-born player had a fantastic T20 World Cup 2022, scoring 212 runs in six matches at the championship competition with a fantastic strike rate of 147.22. Fans expected to see him in the next IPL after hearing about his performances in the T20 spectacular in Australia.
Hales has decided to skip the upcoming season of the cash-rich league due to workload issues, so this won’t be the case. On the other hand, the England batter has been released by KKR in advance of the next IPL auction.
Pat Cummins
In the most extended format of the game, Pat Cummins is one of the top seamers. For Australia, the 29-year-old has taken 199 wickets in 43 Test matches. Even though he hasn’t been as successful in the shortest format, he has played great for his country. In 50 matches, the legendary seamer has claimed 55 wickets for an economy of 7.37.
For the 2022 season, Kolkata Knight Riders decided to invest in Cummins and selected him for a hefty price of INR 7.25 CR. The all-around bowler took seven wickets in five games, but he also allowed runs to be scored at a rate of 10.69. The Sydney-born player batted brilliantly against the Mumbai Indians in match 14 to lead his team to victory, scoring 56 runs off just 15 deliveries.
Cummins has been a crucial part of the KKR lineup because of the balance and all-around ability he provides to the side. The veteran all-rounder, however, has decided not to participate in the upcoming edition of the lucrative T20 competition and has given his busy international schedule, which includes an Ashes series and the 2023 ODI World Cup, as the reason for Cummins’s absence.
Cummins tweeted on his Twitter account, “I’ve made the difficult decision to miss next year’s IPL. The international schedule is packed with Tests and ODIs for the next 12 months, so will take some rest ahead of an Ashes series and World Cup. Thanks so much to Kolkata Knight Riders for their understanding. Such a terrific team of players and staff, and I hope I can get back there ASAP.”
Therefore, Ahead of the IPL auction 2023, Kolkata decided to part ways with Cummins and released him.
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is one of cricket’s top middle seamers in the world. The 32-year-old has made a name for tearing apart strong batting lineups with his blistering speed and has been an impact player for Australia in all forms. In 58 T20I matches, he has taken 73 wickets with an economy of 7.63.
In 27 IPL games, Starc has taken 34 wickets at an economy rate of 7.17, highlighting his bowling power. The experienced bowler last played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the rich league in 2015 and has yet to be in the prestigious competition.
In the 2018 player auction, the left-arm pacer offered his name. Kolkata Knight Riders paid an amazing INR 9.4 CR to get him.
But before the season started, Starc’s right leg injury made him unfit for the game. However, KKR believed that the talented seamer would participate in the 2023 player auction. But there is news that Mitchell Starc Opts Out of IPL 2023 Due to Ashes. His comeback to the IPL has now been further delayed. The Australian seamer is not set to perform in the following season.
Kieron Pollard
In the T20 league, Kieron Pollard has been a monster of a player. The 35-year-old has played in 614 games. He has collected an unbelievable total of 11915 runs with an unbelievable strike rate of 150.25. He has also been a clever client with the ball, taking 309 wickets at an economy of 8.22.
The T20 great has established his supremacy in the Indian Premier League as well. The power of his hitting has silenced some of the best bowling attacks. The veteran all-rounder has scored 3412 runs at a strike rate of 147.32 in the 189 IPL matches.
Furthermore, he has taken 69 wickets for a total economy of 8.79 and has given Mumbai Indians significant breakthroughs. The Trinidadian-born player has been crucial to Mumbai Indians’ success in the cash-rich league.
According to Pollard, “It hasn’t been the easiest decision to make as I will keep playing for a few more years, but I understand that this incredible franchise which has achieved so much needs to transition, and if I’m no longer to play for MI then I cannot see myself playing against MI either, Once an MI always an MI.”
But, it is news that Pollard will be MI’s mentor and batting coach in IPL 2023.
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