IPL 2019: Five Players Who Could Play Their Last Season

The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will once again witness some of the exciting talents fight it out for the most coveted trophy. Meanwhile, IPL 2019 will kickoff earlier this year on March 23 (Saturday). In addition to, the league will take place in India despite the General Election taking place at that time.

The upcoming edition of the league will many players making their debut. Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dubey and Sam Curran, who bagged good deals in the IPL 2019 auctions. On the other hand, this league will also mark the end of many cricketers career.

Here is the list of five cricketers for whom IPL 2019 can be the last season in the cash-rich league:

CHRIS GAYLE

Arguably the greatest batsman in the shortest format of the game, Chris Gayle has shown his trademark hitting wherever he has played cricket. The giant cricketer from Windies started his journey in IPL with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

However, he changed his base in the 2011 edition of the IPL to Bangalore making the Chinnaswamy Stadium his own. He has innumerable memories in that ground making the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium his own den. Chris Gayle’s seven years of stint with RCB came to an end last year when Kings XI Punjab availed his service last year. He was successful with the franchise scoring 368 runs in 11 matches including a hundred.

Moreover, Gayle also tops the chart of the most number of sixes in the history of the tournament with 292 sixes. Although Punjab have retained him for IPL 2019, but this can be his last season going by the fact that he will turn 40 this year.

YUVRAJ SINGH

Yuvraj Singh has been one of the glorious names in Indian cricket. He was an architect for the MS Dhoni-led side that won the World Cup in 2007 and 2011 respectively. However, an untimely health problem pushed his career miles back. But the warrior, as he is famously known, fought back the deadly disease to come back to the field. However, his career graph is on a downslide now.

The golden boy from Punjab was the team’s icon player in the first two seasons. However, the organisers removed the status and Kumar Sangakkara took over the captaincy duties. Meanwhile, he changed the base in 2011 joining the Pune Warriors before missing the next two editions due to severe health problems.

In the next two editions, Yuvraj Singh fetched a hefty sum from RCB and Delhi but failed to put up strong performances. In 2016, he joined Sunrisers Hyderabad and was a part of their successful IPL campaign. He came back to his home franchise in 2018 but failed to make a mark which compelled Kings XI Punjab to leave him prior to the auctions.

After going unsold in the first round of 2019 IPL auctions, Mumbai Indians brought the veteran all-rounder at his base price. Considering his form in recent times and age, this can be the last season for Yuvraj Singh in the premier T20 league.

SHANE WATSON

The all-rounder from Australia has featured in various T20 leagues despite retiring from international cricket in 2015.  Watson played in the Indian Premier League for the Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural IPL season in 2008. He was a star performer for the side during their victorious campaign as he won the player of the tournament award.

Watson continued to represent the Royals until 2014 and scored his first century in T20 cricket in 2013 against Chennai Super Kings. In the 2016 edition, Royal Challengers Bangalore roped his services making him the most paid cricketer in that season.

In addition to, Shane Watson featured for Chennai Super Kings in the last edition of the league. He scored two centuries in the league helping his side lift the title for the third time. As a result, the franchise decided to retain him for IPL 2019 given his form in the ongoing BBL.

However, this can be the last season in the Indian Premier League for the veteran all-rounder with the age going against him.

LASITH MALINGA

Since the inception of IPL,  Lasith Maling has only represented Mumbai Indians. He has been a star performer for the franchise winning three titles with the side. Moreover, he is also the highest wicket-taker in the history of IPL with 154 scalps to his name at an economy of 6.86.

In addition to, the speedster on the Purple Cap with 28 wickets to his name in the 2011 season of the league. However, Malinga started to lose his form and as a result, failed to attract any buyer during the 2018 auctions. Later on, Mumbai Indians appointed him as the bowling mentor.

He is back once again for the blues on the back of some notable performances for his national side. But IPL 2019 is likely to be his last season as the pacer is likely to announce his retirement after the ICC World Cup.

MURALI VIJAY

Indian National Cricket team Test specialist, Murali Vijay had a horrific time with the bat last year. He managed to score only 282 runs from 15 innings and as a result, lost his place in the team. The selectors dropped him from the Test squad against Australia; however, made a comeback for Australia only to fail again.

After plying his trade for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) till 2013, he changed his shift to Delhi. The following year, he joined Kings XI Punjab (2015-2017) before returning to Chennai in the last year. Meanwhile, when everybody thought that CSK won’t retain him for the upcoming season, the franchise decided to retain the veteran batsman.

However, his place in the side is not certain with Ambati Rayudu and Shane Watson coming out good in the opening slot last season. And with and performance on the wrong side, this can be the last season for Murali Vijay in the cash-rich league.