It was a record year for English participation in the IPL, but were the returns equally high? We break down their contributions, player by player
Alan Gardner21-May-20185:57
English players underperforming in the IPL?
Sam Billings, Chennai Super Kings
Billings was not in the XI for CSK’s opener, but Mark Wood’s omission after one game opened up another overseas spot. Billings was Man of the Match in their next match, smashing 56 off 23 balls as they chased down a target of 203 – but that innings accounts for almost half of his runs as he has flitted around the middle order. Excellent fielding adds a string to his bow and he could yet have an impact in the knockout stages.Jos Buttler, Rajasthan Royals
Unarguably the star man of the England contingent, and one of the players of the tournament overall. Buttler began with a series of 20-something scores batting in the middle order, before a move up to opener unleashed the T20 beast within. He promptly produced innings of 67 (off 26), 51 (39), 82 (58), 95* (60) and 94* (53), equalling the IPL record for consecutive fifties and helping set up a run to the playoffs – although a surprise England Test recall has deprived Royals of his services.Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler celebrate the victory•BCCITom Curran, Kolkata Knight Riders
In a Kolkata team that features three default overseas picks – Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn and Andre Russell – Curran was vying with Mitchell Johnson and Javon Searles for the fourth spot. He claimed more wickets than the other two put together (in the group stage), but was rarely given a full quota of overs and an economy of nearly two runs a ball led to him losing his place. Has only featured once since April 21.Alex Hales, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Hales finally made his IPL debut, halfway through Sunrisers’ 2018 campaign and three years after being called up as an injury replacement by Mumbai Indians. He hit consecutive 45s at the start of a six-game run in the team but, as with KKR, there is really only one overseas spot open at Sunrisers (Kane Williamson, Shakib Al Hasan and Rashid Khan occupy the other three) and Hales was dropped for the last group game.Chris Jordan, Sunrisers Hyderabad
After taking 11 wickets in nine games for RCB in 2016, Jordan has been kept warming the bench at Sunrisers, where he has made one token appearance in each of the last two seasons. He subbed in for the injured Billy Stanlake early in the tournament, delivering a creditable four overs for 31 as Kings XI racked up 193 for 3, but has not had another chance since.Moeen Ali, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Moeen was left kicking his heels as RCB rotated through their star-studded stable, only coming into the team for the last five games. He bowled tidily and produced once significant innings – smearing six sixes in 65 off 34 (outpacing AB de Villiers) against table-topping Sunrisers – as RCB won three in a row to keep alive hopes of reaching the playoffs. Got a positive namecheck from Virat Kohli at the end of the tournament, so there’s hope for the future.Moeen Ali brought up his maiden IPL half-century•BCCILiam Plunkett, Delhi Daredevils
An injury replacement for Kagiso Rabada, Plunkett was in and out of a struggling Daredevils XI. Like many of the England players involved, he produced one notable performance – taking 3 for 17 in his first match, although Daredevils still could not convert victory – among some much more forgettable stuff. Only managed to pick up one more wicket in six appearances and saw his economy rate balloon.Jason Roy, Delhi Daredevils
Roy’s IPL jaunt in 2017, which saw him play three innings for Gujarat Lions, presaged a drop in form that cost him his England ODI spot. He only featured five times for Daredevils this time around, but did at least grab the limelight with a dominating 91 not out to set up the team’s first victory. He was soon out of the side again, as Daredevils chopped and changed, and a weakness against spin limited his impact.Ben Stokes, Rajasthan Royals
Last year’s MVP, bought for a whopping GBP1.37m by Royals, Stokes’ 2018 IPL was a bit… meh. The only Englishman apart from Buttler who was an automatic pick, he just could not get going with the bat despite consistent starts – nine of his 13 innings reached double-figures but his best score was 45. Weathering questions about his bowling fitness, Stokes was Royals’ most economical seamer and only Jaydev Unadkat sent down more overs. They squeezed into the last four but Stokes had already headed home for England duty.David Willey loads up•BCCIDavid Willey, Chennai Super Kings
Willey’s late call-up, filling a spot left vacant by the injured Mitchell Santner, caused much grumbling in Yorkshire – and there has not been too much for the combative left-armer to cheer about. Had to bide his time before getting a chance, producing figures of 4-0-24-1 in a comfortable CSK win, but then saw six overs across two games disappear for 71. Lungi Ngidi’s rise may have put paid to any further opportunities.Chris Woakes, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Although Woakes continued the wicket-taking form that he showed in his maiden IPL season with KKR last year, a series of leaky performances at the death saw him fall out of favour at RCB. He had the best strike rate (13.7) of any RCB bowler but an economy above 10 after five games was deemed too expensive. Uncertainty over their best XI led to much shuffling among overseas players but Woakes did not return.Mark Wood, Chennai Super Kings
A cheap pick late in the auction, Wood found himself making his IPL debut on the opening night in front of a packed Wankhede. Some thought his pace and skiddy angle of attack would be suited to conditions – but an opening over that conceded only two runs was as good as things got. He ended the night with 0 for 49 and was cast aside, eventually deciding to come home early and get red-ball practice ahead of England’s Test summer.*Could still be involved in knockout stage
