5 International Legends Who Flopped Badly In IPL

Cricket has always been a game of talent, focus, determination, fitness and of course skill. But with the advent of T20 cricket, especially the IPL, the criteria of adaptability has also been added to the list.

Cricket news: These 5 players were legends for their nations but could not replicate that success for their respective IPL franchises

There have many players like Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, etc., who have been at great heights for their nation and have later successfully managed to adapt in the shorter formats of the game.

However they are some who have drastically and miserably failed in the IPL despite been a huge sensation for the national team. Here is the list of 5 such players.

5. Michael Clarke

Clarke had guided Australia in the transitional phase when the previous legends like Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne had announced their retirements.

He had successfully led the Baggy Greens to victory in the 2015 World Cup as well as triumphed in the Ashes against England.

‘Pup’, as Clark was lovingly called, had a Test average of 48 and ODI average of 44 and was an aesthetically pleasing batsmen of his generation. He had also scored centuries against many nations which included the likes of South Africa, India and New Zealand.

As an expert player of spin, he was expected to do well in IPL. However he had a torrid time in two seasons for Pune Warriors India in which he scored just 98 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 104.

4. VVS Laxman

Laxman is perhaps the classiest batsman India have ever produced. He is greatly remembered for his record-partnership with Rahul Dravid in a Test match against Australia, where he led his nation to victory despite having been forced to follow on in the first innings.

There are many players who have great records against weaker teams, but Laxman always preferred to torment the mighty Aussies in his glittering 16-year long career.

In the IPL, he played for Deccan Chargers in the first three editions and Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the fourth edition, but could not replicate his international success.

Having played 20 innings, Laxman scored just 282 runs with a strike rate of 105, which is not at all synonymous to his enormous talent.

3. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

After Brian Lara and co. retired from International cricket in 2000s, it was Shivanarine Chanderpaul’s shoulders who took all the responsibility.

He single-handedly faced tough opponents and carried his team over the line as he averaged over 50 in Test cricket. But as he was never a big-hitter of the cricket ball, it came as a surprise to everybody when Royal Challengers Bangalore bought him in the first season.

Chanderpaul scored a meagre 25 runs playing three games for his side and had a strike rate of 80.

2. Andrew Flintoff

Flintoff is considered as one of the best all-rounders of his generation because of his hard-hitting ability with the bat and his uncanny pace with the ball.

He had an average of over 30 with the bat in International cricket and has picked 226 Test wickets and 169 ODI wickets. He was also responsible to single-handedly win an Ashes series for England just like Ian Botham once did.

However his IPL career did not go well as he played a single season under CSK, where he played 3 matches and scored 62 runs with a strike rate of 116. With the ball he took just 2 wickets but conceded almost 10 runs per over.

1. Ricky Ponting

Ponting is perhaps the greatest captain of Australia and the second-best batsman. He has many records to his name with the most International caps, most Test centuries, most Test runs by an Australian, etc.

With an average of 51 in Tests and 42 in ODIs, he led the Australian team to two successive World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007. He was also a part of the winning squad in 1999 World Cup.

However he had always struggled in Indian pitches and that continued in the IPL too. He was part of Kolkata Knight Riders for first two editions and changed sides in 2013 as he featured for Mumbai Indians.

In his entire IPL career, he has batted in 9 innings and scored just 91 runs with an average of just over 10 and a horrific strike rate of 71.09.