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

IPL 2021 was stalled midway after some players and support staff members were affected by Covid-19. However, BCCI has announced that the remaining matches of the tournament will be conducted in September-October later this year. UAE will be the venue for the 2^nd phase of IPL 2021.

The first leg of the tournament witnessed 29 thrilling matches and managed to entertain fans for a short period. The 2^nd phase of IPL 2021 is expected to be equally entertaining.

Many domestic and overseas players impressed everyone with their incredible performances in the first leg. Among batsmen, players like Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, and Faf du Plessis bagged the spotlight.

In bowling, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Chris Morris, Rahul Chahar, and Rashid Khan displayed a spectacular show.

However, they were also few deserving players who did not get a chance to play any match. Here we talk about the Benched Overseas XI of the first leg of IPL 2021.

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

Tim Seifert (Wicket-Keeper)

Tim Seifert was part of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021. The New Zealand player became part of the franchise during last season by replacing injured Ali Khan in the squad. So far, the wicket-keeper batsman has not played any match in the Indian Premier League. In IPL 2021 too, he was benched during all the 7 games that the KKR played.

The right-handed batsman has played 35 T20I games for New Zealand, smashing 695 runs at an average of 24.82 a strike rate of 133+. He has also hit 5 half-centuries. With his aggressive batting style, he will be a great choice for an opener in the team of Benched Overseas XI of IPL 2021 first leg. Seifert should also be picked as the wicket-keeper.

Jason Roy (Captain)

Jason Roy initially went unsold in IPL 2021 auction but he was later picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad as a replacement for injured Mitchell Marsh. The English cricketer should be the other opener in this team and should also be picked as the skipper. Sunrisers Hyderabad did not pick Jason Roy in the playing XI in any of the 7 matches in IPL 2021.

Jason Roy is a regular member of the England national team in the limited-overs format. The right-handed batsman has earlier played in 2018 and 2017 editions of IPL, in which he scored 120 and 59 runs respectively. In the 2018 season, his heroic knock of 91 off just 53 balls helped Delhi Daredevils to defeat Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets while chasing a mammoth 195-run target.

Liam Livingstone

Liam Livingstone was part of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. The English cricketer was picked by the franchise during the auction for Rs. 75 lakh. However, he left the tournament midway citing issues of bubble fatigue. He is another overseas player who did not play any match in this year’s edition.

In the 2019 season, the right-handed batsman played 4 matches for Rajasthan Royals and scored 71 runs with the highest knock of 44 in one game. Livingstone will be a beneficial addition to Benched Overseas XI of the first leg.

Finn Allen

Finn Allen was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season as a replacement for Josh Philippe. The New Zealand batsman participated in IPL for the first time this season. However, RCB benched him during all the 7 games they played during the first leg. The 22-year-old Kiwi batsman has a great record in T20 cricket.

He has played 3 T20Is for New Zealand, scoring 88 runs along with a fifty in one game. In 16 T20 matches at the domestic level, Allen has smashed 625 runs at an average of 44.64 and a spectacular strike rate of 187+. He has also smashed 7 fifties.

Sam Billings

Sam Billings was picked by Delhi Capitals in the auction for Rs. 2 crores. He is a wicket-keeper batsman from England. Delhi Capitals did not pick him in the playing XI during the first leg. Billings has played 22 matches in the Indian Premier League so far and scored 334 runs at an average of 17.57. He has a decent strike rate of 133+.

During the 2018 and 2019 editions, he was part of the Chennai Super Kings. Earlier, he played for Delhi Daredevils in 2016 and 2017 editions. Sam Billings should be part of the benched overseas XI of the first leg as he will strengthen the batting department.

Mitchell Santner

Mitchell Santner was part of Chennai Super Kings in the 2021 season but did not make it to the playing XI in any of the team’s 7 matches. The bowling all-rounder has been part of the franchise since the 2019 edition. The New Zealand cricketer has played 6 matches in the tournament so far, scoring 32 runs and picking 6 wickets.

He has good experience at the international level as he has played 52 T20Is for New Zealand in which he picked 60 wickets. Santner will be a good choice for an all-rounder in this team.

Andrew Tye

Andrew Tye was part of the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. The Australian pacer left the tournament midway as he feared being locked out of his home country and also due to bubble fatigue. During his stay in the tournament, he was benched by Rajasthan Royals in the initial matches.

Tye should be picked as the pacer in this team. He has played 27 matches in IPL so far, grabbing 40 wickets at an economy of 8.46. The 2018 season was Tye’s golden period, as he scalped 24 wickets in the tournament while playing for Kings XI Punjab.

Ben Cutting

Kolkata Knight Riders picked Ben Cutting during the auction for Rs. 75 lakh but they kept the English all-rounder away from the field in all 7 matches. The right-handed batsman has played 21 matches in the tournament since the 2014 season, piling 238 runs at an average of 21.63 and strike rate of 168+.

The right-arm medium pacer has also picked 10 wickets. He is another player who will add strength to the team of Benched Overseas XI of the first leg.

Lockie Ferguson

Lockie Ferguson was part of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021 but the franchise benched him in all 7 games. The New Zealand pacer has played in the 2017, 2019, and 2020 editions, picking 11 wickets in 14 games.

Ferguson is a capped player from New Zealand who has played in 37 ODIs and 13 T20Is, picking 69 and 24 wickets respectively. The right-arm pacer should be another pacer in this team.

Anrich Nortje

Anrich Nortje was part of the Delhi Capitals in the 2021 season. He had to miss the initial games due to quarantine protocols. He was not picked by Delhi Capitals in the 8 matches since pacer Avesh Khan was doing a commendable job for the team. However, Nortje was expected to play for the franchise at a later stage.

Last season, the South African pacer picked 22 wickets in 16 games and was the 4th highest wicket-taker in the tournament. The right-arm pacer should be inducted into this team as he will strengthen the bowling department.

Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa was part of Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021. The Australian spinner was benched by the team for multiple games at the start. Later, he left the tournament due to the surging Covid-19 cases in India.

The leg spinner has played 14 matches in the IPL tournament so far, picking 21 wickets at an economy of 7.73. Among the benched overseas players of the first leg, Zampa is the best choice for spinner and should be picked in this team.