The Indian T20 League provides many up and coming players with a platform to showcase their immense talent to the world. While many players, including the likes of spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, and Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, have gone on to make a name for themselves at the international stage as well, there are a few Indian T20 League stars who have failed to live up to their expectations.
Here, we take a look at five Indian and foreign players who failed to shine in their national colours in any format of the game:
Dwayne Smith
Dwayne Smith has been an integral part of the Indian T20 League and provided his fans with some blistering performances on the pitch with his bat. In 91 Indian T20 League matches, he picked up a massive 2400 runs at an average of 28.39 and a brilliant strike-rate of 135.2.
However, compare this to his statistics on the international level, and one can see why the opener makes it to this list. The batsman from Barbados has been unable to perform for the West Indies national team, with a subpar average of 18.19, 18.57 and 24.61 in 33 T20Is, 105 ODIs and 10 Test matches respectively.
Considering the fact that the 35-year-old has two Indian T20 League trophies to his name, barring the 17 half-centuries, he has not been able to cross 10 half-centuries in ODIs and T20Is for the Windies.
Axar Patel
When Axar Patel broke into the scene with Kings XI Punjab in 2014, he was dubbed one of the best all-rounders for India. He picked up 17 wickets at an economy rate of 6.13 in his debut season, winning the Emerging Player of the Year award as well as a place in the national team.
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However, he has not been able to live up to those standards for the Men in Blue, and certainly below par with India’s legendary spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Patel has managed only 181 runs in 38 ODIs, at a poor batting average of 12.32. Meanwhile, he has a meagre 45 wickets, averaging 31.31 per game. In 11 T20Is, he has picked up just nine wickets with a bowling average of 29.44.
However, at 26, he is still quite young and can turn his fortunes around if he remains consistent for the national team.
Albie Morkel
Albie Morkel is a household name on the cricket pitch when it comes to the Indian T20 League. The hard-hitter was a key part of the tournament for eight consecutive years, having won the trophy with Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011.
The South African All-rounder scored 974 runs at an average of 24.35 and possessed an impressive strike-rate of 141.98. He also scalped 85 wickets but was unable to keep the same form going for the Proteas. In his 58 ODIs, he only managed an average of 23.7, and an average of 21.19 in 50 T20Is did him no favours.
He only had one Test cap as well, and played his last international game for the Proteas in 2015, before retiring from all forms of cricket last year.
Mohit Sharma
Another important member of the successful Chennai side, Mohit Sharma was a key part of the Chennai-based franchise in 2013, where he picked up 20 wickets, leading his side to the finals. He backed his performances with 23 wickets in 2014, winning the Purple Cap award in the process.
However, his international career was far from perfect. Although he picked up 31 wickets in 26 ODIs, Sharma has a poor bowling average of 32.90. He was part of India’s squad during the 2015 World Cup, picking up 13 wickets in eight matches at an average of 24.15. His inconsistency has seen him make only 34 appearances in limited-overs for the Men in Blue, scalping 37 wickets. In eight T20Is, he has picked up just 6 wickets, averaging a poor 31.83.
Chris Lynn
Chris Lynn has established himself as one of the most explosive openers in the Indian T20 League over the last two seasons with Kolkata. Thanks to these performances, the Aussie has 1280 runs in 41 matches at an average of 33.68 and a whopping strike-rate of 140.66.
On the back of these showings, he earned himself a call-up to the Australian national team, which is a matter of pride for any Aussie cricketer. However, Lynn has been inconsistent for the national side, unable to displace their own explosive opening pair of Aaron Finch and David Warner.
Lynn has made only four ODI appearances, and 18 T20 appearances, last playing for the Aussies back in 2018. Averaging just 18.75 and 19.4 in ODIs and T20Is respectively, Lynn’s career with his national team seems all but over.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain
