Deepak Hooda (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most competitive tournaments in cricket. It is also a league where the players would get picked for prices they never dreamt of. More often than not, it creates pressure for the players to perform at all costs for their team. In many cases, it affects the performances of the players, as expectations act as a burden to the individuals.
Some of the costliest players of the league have failed to make a mark in some seasons. While some players have lived up to the expectations of the price tag, others have failed to do so. Some players were retained by their franchises due to their past performances but had a poor season. It made the team management and the owners rethink their strategy.
Here are the five instances when IPL teams regretted their retention choices:
5. Nicholas Pooran in 2021, PBKS (INR 4.2 crores)
Nicholas Pooran had two good seasons with PBKS in 2019 and 2020, respectively. In 2019, the Southpaw scored 168 runs in 6 innings at an average of 28.00 and a strike rate of 157.01. In the following season, he had a blast by scoring 353 runs in 14 innings at an average of 35.30 and a strike rate of 169.71. Ahead of the 2021 season, Nicholas was retained for INR 4.2 crores.
In 2021, Pooran had one of the worst seasons for a batter, as he scored just 85 runs in 11 innings at a batting average of just 7.73 and a batting strike rate of 111.84. The left-handed batter’s best score in the season was 32(22) against RR. In 10 other innings, he registered 4 ducks and single digit scores, failing to live up to the expectations.
4. Anrich Nortje in 2024, DC
Anrich Nortje was one of the best bowlers of the league from 2020 to 2023. In 2023, he was highly unlucky, as there were multiple dropped catches off his bowling. He was DC’s best bowler in the period and helped them to enter the playoffs twice. Ahead of the IPL 2024, the South African pacer was retained for a price of INR 6.5 crores.
Nortje’s 2024 season was nightmarish, as he claimed just 7 wickets in 6 innings at a bowling average of 42.00, at a bowling strike rate of 18.86, at an economy rate of 13.36. Delhi Capitals regretted their retention and decided to let him go ahead of the IPL 2025 season, even after bowling well for South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Predicting where each team will finish on the points table
3. Deepak Hooda in 2023, LSG
Deepak Hooda had arguably the worst season for a batter in a single edition of the IPL in 2023. The right-handed batter was on the back of a good season in 2022 with LSG, where he scored 451 runs in 14 innings at a batting average of 32.21, at a batting strike rate of 136.67, including 4 fifties. It was easily his best season as a batter in IPL history.
His performances were rewarded by the Indian Cricket Team, as he got a chance to be in the XI. Deepak was retained by LSG for INR 5.75 crores for the 2023 season. In the 16th edition of the league, Hooda played 12 innings for the Lucknow-based franchise and scored just 84 runs at a poor batting average of 7.64, at a batting strike rate of just 93.33, with a best score of just 17 runs.
2. Glenn Maxwell in 2024, RCB
Glenn Maxwell had a worse season with the bat in 2024. While he was good with the ball, Maxwell could not do the job in his primary skill. The star player played 9 innings and scored just 52 runs at a poor batting average of 5.78, at a batting strike rate of 120.93, with a best score of 28. In 8 other innings, he managed just 24 runs, which summed up his campaign.
Retained for a price of INR 11 crores following three good seasons from 2021 to 2023, the Australian batter failed to live up to expectations. As a bowler, he claimed 6 wickets at a bowling average of 21.50. However, his failure with the bat was one of the main reasons behind RCB’s struggles in the first half of the season.
1. Kane Williamson in 2022, SRH
Kane Williamson was one of the best players for SRH from 2017 to 2021. In 2018, when David Warner was absent from the league, Williamson led from the front, as he won the Orange Cap by scoring 735 runs and took SRH to the final. When things did not go well with Warner and SRH in 2021, the Orange Army needed a new direction.
They did not have a better option than Kane to lead them. Williamson was retained for a price of a whopping INR 14 crores. However, it turned out to be a disastrous season for SRH, as they finished in the 9th spot. As a batter, Williamson scored 216 runs in 13 innings at a batting average of 19.64 and a batting strike rate of 93.51 with a solitary fifty to his name.
Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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