IPL 2019: 5 players who teams will regret releasing this season

Preparations are in full force as the 12th season of the Indian Premier League is just a couple of weeks away. Even though the actual action will begin from 23rd March, the build-up for the season started when the teams decided to release players in November. Certain franchises let go of players whose performance was not up to the mark in IPL 2018. While Chennai Superkings and Sunrisers Hyderabad showed faith in their current squads and released only a few players, the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, and Delhi Daredevils made big changes to their squads.

Even though most of the players released by the teams were non-performers, there are certain players who should not have been let go. Over the past few months, these players have shown some great form on the International level. Here are 5 players who their respective teams will regret not retaining for IPL 2019.

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#5 Quinton de Kock

de Kock pulls one away

Quinton de Kock is among the top wicket-keeper batsmen in the world. The Proteas gloveman has played a lot of destructive innings at the top of the order for South Africa in international cricket. Even in the IPL, the 26-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant couple of seasons. In 2015 he averaged 40.66 in only three matches, while in 2016 he scored 445 runs at an average of 37.08.

Owing to his good IPL numbers, RCB bought him in the 2018 auction. But unfortunately, the South African failed to impress scoring just 201 runs in eight matches. Thus, he was sold by RCB to Mumbai Indians in this season's first trade. The left-hander is in terrific form in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka and is expected to start in the playing XI for Mumbai Indians.

#4 Marcus Stoinis

Stoinis will play for RCB in IPL 2019

Marcus Stoinis first played for Kings XI Punjab in the 2016 edition. The all-rounder had an impressive debut season with the Kings, scoring 146 runs at an average of 36.50 and picking up eight wickets in seven matches. In 2017, he featured in only five matches for the 2014 runners-up.

At the 2018 auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore bid aggressively for Stoinis before Kings XI Punjab used their right to match card to retain him for a whopping 6.20 crores. However, the Australian failed to live up to expectations. Stoinis scored just 99 runs and picked up a meager three wickets in seven matches. Prior to this season, He was thus traded for Mandeep Singh with RCB.

However, Stoinis has been in a rich vein of form of late. He has shown the ability to bat steadily on Indian pitches in the ongoing ODI series against India. Kohli has already said that the 29-year old is an impact player and if keeps up his form in the T20 league, Kings XI Punjab will surely regret the decision.

#3 Shikhar Dhawan - Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH will miss Dhawan's experience in the top order

Shikhar Dhawan started his IPL career with his home team Delhi in 2008. He shifted base to Mumbai Indians the following year. However, it was at Sunrisers Hyderabad where he came to his own. The Southpaw is Sunrisers' second-highest all-time run-scorer and has played numerous stunning innings for the franchise.

In the absence of David Warner last year, Dhawan hit 497 runs at an outstanding average of 38.23 and a healthy strike-rate of 136.91 and was instrumental in the team's journey to the final. But Dhawan was reportedly not happy with the franchise and was looking for a new home. Eventually, he was traded to Delhi Capitals for Shahbaz Nadeem, Vijay Shankar, and Abhishek Sharma.

Dhawan has been the backbone of Sunrisers' batting for years now and his experience has been vital to their success. Allowing their most experienced player to leave does not look like the best decision taken by Sunrisers.

#2 Glenn Maxwell - Delhi Capitals

Maxwell opted out of IPL after being released by Delhi Capitals

Glenn Maxwell is one of the biggest hitters in World Cricket at the moment. The Australian has earned the reputation of scoring quick runs and destroying the opposition bowling attack. However, he is known for his inconsistency at times. Maxwell has been guilty of playing one shot too many and throwing away his wicket at the wrong time on a lot of occasions. This has been a major reason for his failure to not cement a regular place in his national side.

However, Maxwell has always been in demand in the IPL. The all-rounder made it big in 2014 when he was in the form of his life. Maxwell scored over 500 runs at a phenomenal strike-rate of 187.75 that season. Unfortunately, he has not able to maintain that level in following years and scored just 169 runs in 12 matches for Delhi Daredevils last season.

This resulted in Maxwell's release from the team and he opted out of IPL 2019 to focus on his international career. Maxwell is having a terrific tour of India has played a couple of stunning knocks for the Aussies. The 30-year-old won the second T20 against India single-handedly for his team and Delhi Capitals will miss his big hitting this season.

#1 Vijay Shankar - Delhi Capitals

Shankar has been in sensational form for Team India

Another player who Delhi Capitals might regret losing from last year is Vijay Shankar. Shankar has been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit which helped him earn a big paycheck at last year's auction. By the start of the tournament, Shankar had made his international debut for India in the Nidahas trophy.

Interestingly, despite having a decent season, Shankar was traded by Delhi Capitals in the move to bring Shikhar Dhawan to the club. The all-rounder scored 212 runs at an amazing average of 53 and high strike-rate of 143.24 in the 2018 edition. At the time Delhi Capitals traded Shankar, he wasn't part of India's ODI and T20 squads. However, Hardik Pandya's unavailability provided an opportunity to Shankar and he has made full use of it. The 28-year-old has been in sensational form with the bat and is in the reckoning for a place in India's World Cup squad. Delhi Capitals' think tank will surely have second thoughts about the move seeing his recent exploits.

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