IPL 2021 2nd Phase: Benched Indian XI Of The First Leg

IPL 2021 was only able to witness 29 matches out of 60 as BCCI postponed the tournament with immediate effect after few players were affected by Covid-19. Now in a recent meeting, BCCI has decided to conduct the remaining matches of the tournament during September-October later this year. Due to safety concerns, IPL 2021 second phase will be conducted in UAE.

The first leg of IPL 2021 observed many Indian players showcasing impressive performances. In the batting, KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, and Sanju Samson were few domestic players who impressed fans. In the bowling zone, players like Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, and Rahul Chahar bagged the limelight.

However, there were some deserving Indian players who did not get a chance to play in the first leg as they were benched during the entire tournament. Here we talk about benched Indian XI of IPL 2021 first leg.

IPL 2021 2nd Phase: Benched Indian XI Of The First Leg

Robin Uthappa (Captain)

Robin Uthappa became part of Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021. He was traded from Rajasthan Royals. However, Chennai Super Kings benched Uthappa in all the 7 matches they played and went ahead with their regular openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis. The right-handed batsman has good experience in the Indian Premier League.

Since his debut in IPL 2008 edition, Uthappa has played 189 matches and scored 4607 runs along with 24 fifties. He has an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 129+. Robin Uthappa will be the best choice of opener in the Benched Indian XI of IPL 2021 first leg. Due to his experience, he should also be selected as the skipper of this team.

Wriddhiman Saha (Wicket-Keeper)

Wriddhiman Saha will be the best choice of the wicket-keeper in this team. Saha was part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the tournament but he was benched by the team in all the 7 games they played. The David Warner-led SRH went ahead with Jonny Bairstow as the primary choice of wicket-keeper, as the latter also showed an impressive batting form.

Along with keeping the stumps, the right-handed batsman Saha will play a good role as the opener. So far in 126 matches, Saha has piled up 1987 runs at an average of 25.15 and a strike rate of 131+. He has also smashed 1 century and 8 half-centuries in the tournament.

Mandeep Singh

Mandeep Singh was part of Punjab Kings in IPL 2021 but he was benched in all 8 matches by the franchise. Mandeep Singh should be picked for the no.3 batting spot in this team. So far, the right-handed batsman has played 104 matches in IPL, scoring 1659 runs. He has also smacked 6 half-centuries so far and owns an average of 22.12 and strike rate of 124+ while batting.

Shreevats Goswami

Shreevats Goswami will be another good option for batsmen in this team. The left-handed batsman did not play any game for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2021. Goswami has been part of IPL since the 2008 edition. However, he has not got enough opportunities to show his talent. He has played 31 matches so far scoring 293 runs. He has smashed 1 fifty, a knock that came in the first edition.

Sachin Baby

Sachin Baby is part of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament. He has only played in three seasons- IPL 2013, 2016, and 2017. He was benched by RCB in all the matches of IPL 2021. The left-handed batsman has played 18 IPL matches so far, scoring 137 runs at an average of 15.22 and strike rate of 135.64. Among the benched players from the first leg, Sachin Baby is another fine batsman to induct into this team.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann

Gurkeerat Singh Mann did not get a chance to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore during IPL 2021. He was benched by the team in all the 7 games they played. The right-handed batsman played 8 matches in the last season, scoring 71 runs. He has so far played 41 matches in the Indian Premier League, scoring 511 runs at an average of 21.29 and strike rate of 121+. He is another powerful batsman to induct in the team of Benched Indian XI of the first leg.

Krishnappa Gowtham

Krishnappa Gowtham was purchased by Chennai Super Kings during the auction for Rs. 7 crores. However, he was benched in all 7 games of CSK as the team chose Ravindra Jadeja for the all-rounder’s spot. In Benched Indian XI team of the first leg,

Gowtham will be a great pick for the all-rounder’s slot. The right-handed batsman has played 24 matches so far and scored 186 runs at a strike rate of 169+. The right-arm spinner has also scalped 13 wickets in the tournament.

Umesh Yadav

Delhi Capitals picked Umesh Yadav for Rs. 1 crore during the auction. However, the Indian pacer did not make it into the playing XI of the team in the 8 matches. Umesh Yadav has a great experience in IPL. He has played 121 matches so far and picked 119 wickets at an economy of 8.51.

With his experience, the right-arm pacer will definitely strengthen the bowling department of Benched Indian XI team of the first leg. Hence, he should be part of this team.

Vaibhav Arora

Vaibhav Arora was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders during this year’s auction. He is a right-arm pacer who plays for Himachal Pradesh at the domestic level. KKR benched him in all the 7 matches they played in the tournament.

Arora has not played in IPL so far but has played 6 T20 matches at the domestic level, in which he picked 10 wickets. He picked a hat-trick in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 while making his debut for Himachal Pradesh. He will be another good option for the pacer in this team.

Akash Singh

Akash Singh has been part of Rajasthan Royals for the last two seasons but is yet to make his debut in IPL. In the absence of Jofra Archer, he was expected to feature in Rajasthan Royals’ playing XI in IPL 2021 but the team picked Chetan Sakaria instead.

Akash Singh is a left-arm pacer who was part of the Indian team that reached the final of the Under-19 World Cup 2020. The young pacer will be a valuable addition to Benched Indian XI team.

Kuldeep Yadav

For the spinner in the team, Kuldeep Yadav will be a great choice. The left-arm spinner was part of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021 but warmed the bench in all the games. Yadav, who was part of the Indian team in the ODI World Cup 2019, has played 45 matches in IPL and picked 40 wickets. He has an economy of 8.27.