10 IPL Cricketers Who Fizzled Out After Showing Promise
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a spectacle of talent, pressure, and opportunity. It’s a platform where careers are made overnight, and sometimes, unmade just as quickly. With the glitz, glamour, and global attention that the IPL commands, expectations from players are sky-high. While some stars rise to the occasion and become household names, others fail to live up to the hype, crumbling under the weight of expectation, inconsistency, or poor form.
Here are 10 IPL cricketers who fizzled out after showing great promise
1. Manpreet Gony
Once a promising pacer for Chennai Super Kings, Manpreet Gony burst onto the scene in 2008 with his raw pace and aggression. He was even rewarded with an India call-up after his impressive IPL debut season. Injuries and form issues, however, quickly derailed his career. Gony never quite lived up to the initial promise and eventually faded from both IPL and international cricket.
2. Saurabh Tiwary
Touted as the next ‘MS Dhoni’, courtesy his hairstyle and Jharkhand roots, Saurabh Tiwary impressed in the 2010 IPL for Mumbai Indians. He was even signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a whopping ₹7.36 crore in 2011. But inconsistency plagued his game, and he never evolved into the dependable middle-order bat many expected.
3. Manvinder Bisla
Who can forget his match-winning 89 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2012 IPL final? Inconsistency and lack of opportunities in subsequent seasons saw Bisla fade away. Despite being the hero of Kolakat’s maiden title, he never cemented a permanent place.
4. Swapnil Asnodkar
He was a key player of Rajasthan Royals in its IPL 2008 victory. Known for his aggressive opening, Asnodkar was outplayed by bigger names and never regained form post-2008.
5. Pawan Negi
When Delhi Daredevils bought Pawan Negi for ₹8.5 crore in 2016, fans were shocked. The left-arm spinner and handy lower-order bat had a good season with CSK, but he failed to justify his price tag. His bowling lacked bite, and his batting didn’t click either. He soon became a forgotten player in the IPL circuit.
6. Varun Aaron
Clocking speeds over 145kmph, Varun Aaron was once considered the future of Indian pace bowling. Despite getting opportunities with Kolakat, Bengaluru, and Rajasthan, Aaron never found consistency. His expensive spells and lack of control eventually led to his exclusion from IPL teams.
7. Unmukt Chand
After leading India to victory in the 2012 U-19 World Cup, Unmukt Chand was expected to be a future star. He was signed by Delhi Daredevils but failed to impress in the opportunities he got. His inability to adapt to the T20 format led to a steep decline in his IPL and domestic career.
8. Rahul Sharma
The tall leg-spinner was a surprise package for Pune Warriors India in 2011. His economical spells even earned him an India cap. But controversies and poor form plagued his career. His sharp decline meant he vanished from both domestic and IPL radar within a few seasons.
9. Ishwar Pandey
A consistent performer in domestic cricket, Ishwar Pandey got his IPL break with CSK. However, his lack of pace and penetration didn’t suit the T20 format. Despite being part of the squad, he rarely made the playing XI and eventually dropped off the radar.
10. Yusuf Pathan
Back in those days (2010), he held the record for the fastest IPL century (37 balls). After his peak years with Rajasthan and Kolkata, Yusuf’s strike rate dropped, and younger players replaced him. He retired from all forms of cricket in 2021.
Do you know of any other IPL cricketer who had a similar turn of fortunes? Let us know in the comment box below.
