IPL 2021: 10 Big Players Who Might Not Be Available For The 2nd Leg

BCCI has made plans to conduct the remaining matches of IPL 2021. The tournament got suspended on May 2 after few players and support staff members were tested positive for Covid-19. IPL 2021 witnessed 29 thrilling matches before getting suspended. However, BCCI has now planned to conduct the second leg of IPL 2021 during September-October.

BCCI will take the final decision during a meeting on May 29. The second leg of this year’s IPL will be conducted in UAE. BCCI is planning to conduct the tournament between September 15 to October 15, just ahead of the ICC T20I World Cup 2021. 31 matches will take place during the 2^nd leg of the tournament this year. However, active participation from players of every country might be absent from the 2^nd leg.

While Indian players will be part of the 2^nd leg of IPL, some foreign players might not be available due to their international schedule. For instance, England have to tour Pakistan in October for a 2-match T20I series. The T20I matches will be played on October 14 and October 15, and the England team will travel to Pakistan a few days early to follow the safety and quarantine protocols.

Australia is going to tour Bangladesh for a 5-match T20I series in August-September. Due to this, few Australian players might also not be available for the 2^nd leg of the Indian Premier League. Here we look at 10 players who might not be available for the 2^nd leg.

10 Players Who Might Not Be Available For IPL 2021 2nd Leg

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler might not be available for the 2nd leg of the tournament. Buttler is part of the Rajasthan Royals. Buttler is a crucial member of England’s limited-overs format due to which he will be part of the Pakistan tour. He is also England’s vice-captain in the limited-overs format. The wicket-keeper batsman is also a spectacular opener. In IPL 2021, Buttler smacked a century while scoring 254 runs in 7 matches. He had a superb strike rate of 153+.

Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes is another English player who might not be available for the IPL 2^nd leg. Ben Stokes is also part of Rajasthan Royals. He is one of the best all-rounders in world cricket at present. The left-handed batsman could play only 1 match in IPL 2021 in which he sustained a finger injury. As a result, he was ruled out of the tournament. He will be part of the Pakistan tour in October due to which he might not be available for the 2^nd leg.

Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan is the skipper of England in ODI and T20I. Since England is scheduled to play two T20Is against Pakistan in October, Eoin Morgan will be leading the team during the sub-continent tour. As a result, he might not be available for the 2^nd leg of IPL 2021. It will be a big blow for Kolkata Knight Riders as Eoin Morgan is the captain of the team. In IPL 2021, Eoin Morgan played 7 matches and scored 92 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders struggled to perform effectively in IPL 2021, losing 5 out of 7 games.

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow is another English player who might not be available for IPL 2021 2^nd leg. Being a hard-hitter and an aggressive batsman, Bairstow is a crucial member of England in the limited-overs format and plays as an opener. He will also be part of the England squad that will travel to Pakistan for the T20I series.

Therefore, his absence from IPL 2021 2^nd leg is expected. Bairstow plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL. In IPL 2021, the right-handed batsman was the highest run-scorer of his team with 248 runs in 7 matches along with 2 fifties. He also batted at a strike rate of 141+ in 7 games.

Dawid Malan

Dawid Malan made his debut in IPL 2021 while playing for Punjab Kings. Dawid Malan is the top-ranked T20I batsman in ICC rankings, therefore, he is a confirmed member of England’s T20I squad currently. The left-handed batsman will also be part of the England squad that will travel to Pakistan so he might miss 2^nd leg of IPL 2021. He only played 1 match for Punjab Kings in IPL 2021 scoring 21 runs.

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell is one Australian player who might not be available for IPL 2021 2^nd leg. Maxwell joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021. He scored 223 runs in 6 innings with 2 fifties and was the highest run-getter for RCB while batting at a strike rate of 144+.

The Australian star batsman is known for his excellence in the sub-continent and the Australian team will surely induct him into the squad for the 5-match T20I series against Bangladesh. As a result, he might not be able to participate in IPL 2021 2^nd leg.

Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis is another Australian player who might not be available for IPL 2021 2^nd leg. Marcus Stonis is a fabulous all-rounder. He plays for Delhi Capitals in IPL. In IPL 2021, Stonis featured in all 8 matches of the Delhi Capitals. He scored 71 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 144+. He also picked 2 wickets. Stonis is also expected to travel to Bangladesh for the 5-match T20I series. Due to his commitment to the country, he might be unavailable from IPL 2021 2^nd leg.

Jhye Richardson

Australian pacer Jhye Richardson made his debut in IPL 2021 for Punjab Kings. He was the highest wicket-taker in Big Bash League 2020-21 due to which he got a massive Rs. 14 crore IPL-contract by the Punjab Kings franchise in IPL 2021 auction. After his impressive show in Big Bash League 2020-21, he was picked by Australia for the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand in Feb-March this year.

He picked 4 wickets in 5 matches. Therefore, Richardson is also expected to be part of Australia’s squad for the 5-match T20I series against Bangladesh in August-September. As a result, he might not be available for IPL 2021 2^nd leg.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith is a regular part of the Australia team in all three formats. The former Australian skipper Smith plays for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021. He is one of the finest batsmen in world cricket at present. In IPL 2021, he scored 104 runs in 5 innings for Delhi Capitals. He will also be part of the Bangladesh tour in August-September later this year due to which he might miss the 2^nd leg of IPL 2021.

David Warner

David Warner is one of the most crucial batsmen in IPL. The Sunrisers Hyderabad’s player is the 5th highest run-scorer in the tournament. Warner led Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2021 but was changed as a skipper midway after the team’s poor performance in IPL 2021. Sunrisers Hyderabad only won 1 match out of 7 and held the last spot in the points table.

Warner is a regular part of the Australian national team in all three formats. Due to the Bangladesh tour, he might not be able to take part in IPL 2021 2^nd leg.