5 Superstar Cricketers Who Failed to Leave a Mark in IPL, Two Were World Cup-Winning Captains

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises often invest heavily in international stars, expecting them to replicate their global performances. However, some big names, despite their reputation, could not make a lasting impact in the IPL. Here are five such cricketers:

1. Herschelle Gibbs
South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs was part of the 2009 IPL-winning Deccan Chargers. In 36 IPL matches, he scored 886 runs at an average of 27.68 with a strike rate of 109.78. Among overseas batsmen who scored over 500 runs in IPL history, Gibbs had one of the lowest strike rates.

2. Glenn Maxwell
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell received huge bids in almost every IPL auction, but apart from a few seasons, he struggled to deliver consistently. In 13 IPL seasons, he scored over 500 runs only twice. In five seasons where he played 10 or more matches, he failed to reach even 200 runs.

3. Tillakaratne Dilshan
Sri Lanka’s explosive batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan played 52 IPL matches between 2008 and 2013. He scored 1,153 runs at an average of 27 and a strike rate of just 114. His bowling contribution was also minimal, taking only 5 wickets.

4. Aaron Finch
Aaron Finch, who captained Australia to the 2021 T20 World Cup, represented nine IPL teams. In 92 matches, he scored 2,091 runs at an average of 25 and a strike rate of 128. Despite his stellar international record—34 average and 142 strike rate in 103 T20Is with two innings over 150—Finch could not consistently replicate this in IPL.

5. Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan, who led England to their first-ever ICC World Cup title, played 83 IPL matches across four franchises. He scored 1,405 runs at an average of 22.66 with a strike rate of 122. Morgan also captained Kolkata Knight Riders but failed to leave a significant mark in the league.

While IPL has showcased the brilliance of many stars, these players, despite their global accolades, struggled to meet expectations in India’s premier T20 league.