IPL 2021: 5 Overseas Players Who Have Never Played A T20I But Featured In The IPL

The IPL franchises have always given opportunities to overseas players who aren’t part of the national team yet but have been performing really well in the domestic arena. Some of the legends of the game have always been part of the IPL after retirement from international cricket as well as while playing in only one format for their country.

Legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid will feel lucky that they represented the Indian team in at least one T20 international which has been missed by most of the legends from their era. Here are five overseas players who have never played a T20i but played in the IPL.

5 Overseas Players Who Have Never Played A T20I But Played In The IPL:

Hardus Viljoen:

Hardus Viljoen has played one test match for South Africa and has never played an ODI international or a T20 game yet. He has been on the radar among the selectors and the right arm fast bowler might soon wear the national colours.

He is currently in as a net bowler in the Chennai Super Kings team and will be hoping to find a contract after missing out in the IPL auction.

Viljoen was part of the Kings XI Punjab squad in the 2019 and 2020 IPL and has overall played 6 games in the IPL so far picking up 7 wickets. He is a wicket-taking bowler and tends to be on the expensive side most of the time. He has played for various franchises around the world and he can hit the long ball down the order as well.

Graham Napier:

One of the most gifted all-rounders from Essex was Graham Napier who made the headlines after a 58 ball 152 in domestic T20 tournament and was roped in by Mumbai Indians in the 2009 auction. Graham Napier has played one solitary IPL game against Kolkata Knight Riders scoring 15 runs from 16 balls.

Napier was one of those all-rounders who could hit the 140 kmph mark with the ball as well as tonk the sixes out of the ground.

He made it to the England squad for the T20 Worldcup but couldn’t feature in a single game which was very surprising. The 41-year-old last played for Essex in 2016 and has retired from the game now.

Aiden Blizzard:

The former left-hander from Tasmania has not been able to make it to the Australian squad but was a long hitter of the cricket ball and has played some exciting innings in the domestic T20 tournaments including an 89 off 38 balls in his debut for Victoria Bushrangers in 2007.

He was picked up by the Mumbai Indians in the 2011 auction and was part of the squad until 2012. He has played in 7 IPL games so far scoring 120 runs in his career with one half-century. His first-class numbers weren’t that great and it never pushed his case for the national selection despite his hard-hitting ability.

Darren Lehmann:

Darren Lehmann who was one of the stalwarts of the Australian famous cricket era in the early 20th century is serving as a Cricket coach in Australia now. The 51-year-old had a phenomenal domestic career and he can always hit the long balls along with his handy left-arm orthodox bowling.

He played just two games in the IPL in 2008 for Rajasthan Royals as a cover for the injured Graeme Smith scoring 18 runs in the two games. He later became the coach of the Deccan Charger in 2009 and won them the IPL trophy. He has been part of two World Cup-winning teams in 1999 and 2003, however, he never made it to the Australian T20I team.

Shane Warne:

Shane Warne was one of the most underrated T20 bowlers and he surprised everyone in the inaugural edition as Rajasthan Royals went on to win the trophy in 2008 under his captaincy. The spin wizard played from 2008 to 2011 edition and did not take part in the IPL after that.

He has picked up 57 wickets in 55 IPL games overall at an economy of 7.27 at an average of 25.38. The leg spinner had an illustrious career in the ODI format as well as test format, however, he retired from international cricket in 2007 and never made it to the Australian T20 side.