IPL 2020: 5 Players Who Might Be Playing For The Final Time

It is that time of the year again when players from most nations are gearing up for the biggest T20 franchise cricket festival. Since its inception, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been wide open to almost all the cricketers around the world. The experienced cricketers, with their years of honing their skills, distribute their wealth of knowledge to the youngsters. However, there comes a time when age starts catching up with them.

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It is an uphill task to move on from the sport that has given them so much. Nevertheless, their bodies do not seem to co-operate with the mental and physical rigours of international cricket. As a result, their performances start to diminish with each passing year and eventually they are forced to walk away. No matter how significant their contributions might be, many cricketers may be gearing up for the final hurrah in the upcoming season of the IPL.

We take a look at five cricketers who we could be seeing the final time in the lucrative IPL 2020:

Imran Tahir:

The Pakistan-born leg-spinner Imran Tahir bid farewell to the 50-over format at the international level at the end of South Africa’s campaign in the 2019 World Cup. However, Tahir expressed his intention to keep playing for the Proteas in the shortest format. He finished the World Cup with 11 wickets from nine games.

Tahir was predictably retained by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the forthcoming season. He had a profoundly enriching previous season where he snapped 26 wickets in 17 games at an average of less than 17. At 40, his passion for the gentleman’s game is visible for everyone to see in the form of his animated celebration at getting a wicket.

His performances are also a harbinger for the same. However, it is hard to see how beyond 40, Tahir can get through such a demanding sporting event. With the veteran partaking in almost every T20 league throughout the year, he could call it quits from the IPL.

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Harbhajan Singh:

India’s most successful off-spin bowler played for Mumbai Indians since the start till the year 2017. Chennai Super Kings bought his services in the year 2018 for INR 2 crore. Harbhajan Singh has not only proved his worth as a leading spinner for the franchises he featured for but also as an adept lower-order batsman.

A veteran of 160 games in IPL history, he has 150 scalps in its history. He last represented the national side in the year 2016. At the age of 39, the doors look closed for him to the Indian team. The Turbanator is yet to announce his retirement from the international area. The 13th season of the IPL could be the last we see of Harbhajan Singh on the field.

Chris Gayle:

The Jamaican left-hander is one of the most demanded players all around the globe, especially when it comes to franchise cricket. Christopher Henry Gayle is amongst the highest run-getters in the IPL history, having won the Orange Cap in 2011 and 2012. Gayle has mustered six centuries in IPL history, which is the most by any batsman in the tournament history so far. He is ruthless when it comes to power-hitting.

At the age of 40, however, the swashbuckling batsman is not the same performer that he once was. He was expected to set the stage on fire in the World Cup 2019 which he couldn’t. Most recently, he also underperformed in the Mzansi Super League, having averaged less than 20 in six games. Thus, despite his rich history in the overall competition, Gayle may not feature in the IPL beyond 2020.

Lasith Malinga:

The 36-year old Sri Lankan has made T20 cricket his forte. Lasith Malinga announced his retirement from  ODI cricket earlier this year and vowed to continue to play T20 cricket for his national side. Sitting at the top of the wicket-takers list in IPL history, Malinga scripted a thrilling win for Mumbai Indians this year that gave the franchise its fourth IPL title.

Even at the twilight of his illustrious career, Malinga’s toe-crushing in-swinging yorkers which is his bedrock can castle any batsman today. However, he has gone through several injuries which have dampened his pace. Because of the increasing risk of injuries, his impact is not the same as it was. He is likely to play the T20 World Cup in Australia before he hangs up his boots.

Shane Watson:

The Australian all-rounder, in his distinguished IPL career, was crucial for Rajasthan and Chennai in their title triumphs in 2008 and 2018 respectively. It was through this competition that Shane Watson shot into the limelight and became the most dependable all-rounder of his era for Australia. He retired from international cricket in 2016 and carried on with playing franchise cricket all over the world.

The Queenslander promised to come back the next year after coming up short in leading the yellow army to their second successive IPL title. The 38-year old batted bravely despite the wound in his leg before his run-out turned the tables for MS Dhoni’s men. With Watson being on the wrong side of the 30s, his body may not support him to carry the all-round activities required to do in a T20 game. Sadly, it may be the last time we see the burly all-rounder in the extravaganza.

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