5 overseas big hitters who failed to make a mark in the Indian Premier League
Flat tracks, short boundaries and quick outfields have made the Indian Premier League a tailor-made tournament for the big hitters. Many overseas players performed well in the IPL and got picked for their national side. The high scoring contests made sure that the likes of Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, David Warner, Kieron Pollard and Chris Lynn had a great time.
Some had a good time with the bat, while others struggled. Some reputed big hitters failed to make it to the playing eleven because of their vulnerability against spin. Some went unsold during the auctions because of their poor record against the turning ball.
These are the big hitters who didn't do justice to their talent in the IPL.
#5 Mitchell Marsh
The 26-year-old all-rounder from Perth has a good bat swing and can hit the ball miles away. Mitch is a familiar face in the Australian middle order, especially in the 50-over format. He also scored ample amount of runs in the Big Bash League for Perth Scorchers.
He is still remembered for his heroics in a Champions League T20 match against the Dolphins from South Africa in Mohali, where the Perth Scorchers needed 12 runs off two balls, and he smashed a couple of maximums to win the match for his side.
Things had not been the same for him during the IPL. He started his IPL career playing for the Deccan Chargers, back in 2010. He also played for Pune Warriors India and Rising Pune Supergiants, but failed to make a significant mark.
He failed to make it to the playing eleven on a regular basis and just scored 225 runs in 20 matches, at a strike rate of mere 114.8. He is a far better batsman than his IPL figures suggest, and he surely didn't make the most of his abilities.
He won't be seen in action this year, as he decided to opt out of this year's IPL.