The Indian Premier League 2024 is nearing its grand finale for the season and fans are eager to find out in the next couple of matches who the 4 teams will fight out in the playoffs to become the IPL 2024 Champions.

While some teams are closing in on the top 4 positions, some of the hot favorites of the tournament have failed miserably and have bowed out of the top 4 playoff spot.

With the T20 World Cup around the corner, most national teams will want their players to be in their best form from the IPL long season and the conditions in the Caribbean Islands will not be drastically different to the Indian pitches where the IPL is being played.

With almost 40 days into the IPL, there have been a few disappointing performances from certain key T20 Stars which directly and indirectly have affected the fortunes of their respective team.

Top Flops of the Tournament

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya was made the captain of the Mumbai Indians replacing the incumbent captain, Rohit Sharma.

This proved to have backfired on the team management as the decision proved to be hugely unpopular among Mumbai Fans.

An out-of-form Hardik added to the fan hate who looked out of touch.

Mumbai Indians were the first team to be eliminated.

MS Dhoni

MSD did show sparks of his past prowess but his performance with the bat was more a show for the Chennai fans and less effective for the team cause.

While Chennai can still make it to the playoffs, a wicket keeper who reluctantly bats at number 8 or 9 position is a spent force in the team. While his popularity is unquestionable, more was expected from the former India Captain.

In his 10 innings played in the season, he has scored a total of 136 runs at 200+ strike rate but his reluctance to bat up the order has hurt his team.

Glen Maxwell

The Big Show after a memorable 50 over World Cup and was one of the top players for RCB in 2023 editions. Unfortunately, Glen Maxwell had the worst IPL amongst all International players and he was forced to sit out in the second half of the tournament being replaced by a fellow Aussie.

Due to his poor form, Maxwell himself asked the RCB team management for a mental and physical break.

Former RCB star Parthiv Patel branded the Australian as the ‘most overrated’ played in the history of IPL

In his 7 innings played in the season, he has only scored a total of 36 runs with an average of 5.14

Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingston was a player Punjab Kings banked to give the quick starts.

He will be key to England’s campaign to defend their World Cup title and his lack of form would have set the cat amongst the pigeon in the England camp.

In his 7 innings played in the season, he has only scored a total of 111 runs with an average of 22.

David Warner

After recently retiring from the longer format of the game and with captaincy burden of his shoulder the Delhi Capital opener was expected to set the stage on fire but unfortunately David Warner hit poor form at the start of the tournament forcing the Delhi Capital coach to replace him with a fellow Aussie, Jake Fraser Mc’ Gurk who kept Warner warming the bench since then.

In his 8 innings played in the season, he has only scored a total of 168 runs with an average of 21.

Rachin Ravindran

With an impressive Test season, Rachin Ravindran was the big ticket buy for Chennai Super Kings. Making his debut IPL season, Rachin has not yet made any meaningful contribution.

In his 9 innings played in the season, he has only scored a total of 161 runs with an average of 17.

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur has not been in good form this season. Shardul Thakur had the Midas touch of picking wickets which is missing this season His poor form has derailed the CSK bowling line up which look the weakest amongst all IPL teams.

In his 8 innings played in the season, he has only taken 3 wickets with an average of 8.96

Mohammed Siraj

The Indian international has been chasing leather in the IPL.

Batsmen have targeted the RCB opening bowler, who has been in poor form for the entire season.

Though Siraj has been India’s lead bowler with Jasprit Bumrah, for India in Tests and ODIs, T20Is seem to be his Achilles heel.

His IPL record of 78 wickets in 74 matches at an economy of 8.54 proves that he struggles in the shorter format of the game.

Mitchel Starc

When Mitchel Starc became the costliest player in the IPL, a lot was expected from the southpaw from Australia. While he did perform in couple of matches, his overall show in the IPL meant that he has not delivered his money’s worth.

Mitchel has taken 12 wickets so far, but he has been very expensive with an economy of 11.36 per over.

Conclusion

Bowlers have been punished by all teams this IPL and bowlers who got mindboggling IPL contracts have failed.

Wiser Franchisees this time around will be cautious in spending their big money on big-name players. With the Impact substitute likely to be scraped,franchisees prefer to spend their money on all-rounders and batters instead.

Also Read: Has India selected a World Cup-winning squad? | T20 Team Announced