3 players who joined in as replacements but didn’t get a game in IPL 2024 league stage ft. Harvik Desai
The league stage of IPL 2024 concluded yesterday in Guwahati. The Rajasthan Royals, who were the first champions of the tournament, were scheduled to face the Kolkata Knight Riders for a match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. However, due to weather, no play was possible after the toss.
Due to a no-result, Rajasthan Royals dropped from the second to the third position in the IPL 2024 points standings. Kolkata Knight Riders secured the top position, while Sunrisers Hyderabad came in second. Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched the fourth position.
The primary factor contributing to the success of the top 4 clubs was their provision of adequate backup options in the event of a prominent player’s injury. Despite the exclusion of their preferred players from the event, the teams recruited other players to fill the empty positions. As an illustration, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has performed admirably for SRH after entering as a substitute for Wanindu Hasaranga.
Nevertheless, some teams were unable to locate ideal substitutes for their preferred players. Indeed, the aforementioned trio of players did not participate in any matches during the league stage of the IPL 2024 after being recruited as substitutes.
#1 Harvik Desai, Mumbai Indians
Harvik Desai, a wicketkeeper-batter from Saurashtra, has been recruited by the Mumbai Indians to replace Vishnu Vinod, who suffered a forearm injury. Desai became a member of the Mumbai-based franchise on April 11 as a substitute.
Despite Mumbai Indians’ early elimination from the tournament and their experimentation with benched players in the inconsequential matches, Desai was not included in their playing roster. Desai was unable to get a position since Ishan Kishan, the preferred wicketkeeper, was present for all matches.
It is important to mention that Vishnu participated in three matches for MI in the previous season, despite Kishan being present.
#2 Allah Mohammad Ghanzafar , Kolkata Knight Riders team.
Allah Mohammad Ghanzafar, born on July 15, 2007, has the chance to establish a new record as the youngest foreign player in the history of the IPL. Ghanzafar was recruited by Kolkata Knight Riders as a substitute for the injured Mujeeb ur Rahman.
Despite Ghanzafar’s prior experience playing One Day International cricket for Afghanistan, Kolkata Knight Riders did not give him the opportunity to participate in any of the league games. The chances of the Knight Riders granting the 16-year-old spinner his first IPL cap during the playoffs week appear to be slim. As a result, he will have to go back home without gaining any experience of participating in the most challenging T20 tournament in the world.
#3 Gurnoor Brar , Gujarat Titans.
Gurnoor Brar is a cricket player who bowls with his right arm and started playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Punjab Kings in the previous season. On his debut against the Lucknow Super Giants, he achieved a costly figure of 0/42. Subsequently, the Kings terminated his contract and discharged him from their team prior to IPL 2024.
Brar’s services did not attract any interest from the teams during the IPL 2024 Auction. He was recruited by Gujarat Titans as a supplementary bowler and subsequently took the place of Sushant Mishra in the team, being valued at his reserve price of ₹50 lakh.
