IPL 2017: Top 5 players this season who have retired from international cricket
Over the last few years, IPL has emerged as the biggest platform for young cricketers to prove their mettle and establish their name in international cricket. In the same manner, this T20 cricket league has also provided an opportunity for experienced cricketers to still hang around in the limelight post retirement.
Cricketers across the world have used IPL as an effective medium to stay connected with the game even after their retirement from international cricket and in fact, some cricketers have performed so well in this tournament that fans on numerous occasions have questioned whether their retirement was a bit too early.
IPL 2017 saw numerous cricketers stepping out on the cricket field donning franchise colours years after hanging up their boots in the international circuit. Here we look at the performances of such top five cricketers in this year’s IPL.
#5 Mitchell Johnson
The Aussie pacer retired from international cricket in 2015 and since then has appeared rarely in the IPL. After spending a year with KXIP, the left-arm pacer was bought back by Mumbai in 2017 but has featured in only two games so far.
The presence of Malinga and McClenaghan in the Mumbai squad has hampered Johnson’s chances of making it to the playing XI and his average performance in the two matches he played has further ensured that he warmed the benches for the most part of this year’s IPL.
In two games so far, Johnson has bowled eight overs, conceding 57 runs. Although his economy rate of 7.12 is acceptable, the fact that he has picked up only one wicket is certainly disappointing.
Johnson with his slingy action and pace is always an asset for any team in any format but his numbers this year have been discouraging so far. Given the way things are at the Mumbai camp, for now, it seems that the former Aussie frontline pacer may not feature again in IPL 2017.
Lasith Malinga is having a lean patch in this year’s IPL as well and that serves as Johnson’s only hope of making it to the playing XI.