IPL 2016: 5 domestic stars who are not playing this season
The IPL is undoubtedly the biggest spectacle of all when it comes to Indian cricket, the most electrifying cricket league in the world is also a manifesting platform for the domestic players. When in 2008 the IPL took off, money poured in from every direction and it changed the fortune of the cricketers, not that the players were languishing without money earlier but the tournament certainly made them richer.Also Read: IPL 2016 Teams and full players listApart from money the stage of the IPL is big enough to get global recognition and, more importantly, good performances from players lead to national call-ups. The glorious money splashing league also works as a pool for talent. Also read: Delhi Daredevils IPL 2016 Schedule, Team Squad, and Venue DetailsThe ideal core of the league was to promote new talents in Indian cricket and hence the rule of only a maximum of four foreign cricketers available in any playing XI. Over the years, the IPL has been very successful in producing national cricketers who after showing good performances go on to represent Indian.The likes of Murugan Ashwin and Pawan Negi shocked everyone when they went for massive amounts in the IPL player auction 2016. But there are also some superstars of Indian domestic circuit who didn’t get any franchise despite brilliant displays in the domestic arena.Here are the five domestic stars who are not playing IPL 2016:
#5 Munaf Patel
This right-arm medium-fast bowler from Gujarat was an important member of 2011 World Cup winning Indian team. The former team India player was once touted as Indian’s most promising pacer.
Also read: IPL 2016 Schedule, venue details
Munaf made his debut for the Indian national team in 2006 and since then played 13 Tests, 70 ODIs and 3 T20Is for India and picked up 35, 86 and 4 wickets respectively. Apart from the international stage, he also performed consistently in the first-class arena.
In 66 first-class matches, he picked up 225 wickets at an average of 24.11. The Ikhar-born bowler made his IPL debut in 2008 for the Rajasthan Royals. In 15 matches that season he picked up 14 wickets which were instrumental in his team’s triumph.
Munaf stayed with Rajasthan till 2011 when he was signed by the Mumbai Indians in the IPL player auction. In a total of 61 IPL matches he picked up 73 wickets at an average of 22.47 and with a strike-rate of 17.98. At the age of 32, he is still performing well in the domestic circuit but has been overlooked by all the franchises in the auction.