Joe Root and the other big international stars who have never featured in the IPL

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  • Root went unsold in the 2018 IPL auctions.

    Over the years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a launch pad for many future talents while being a hotbed for the biggest international stars in the game at the same time.

    However, as the 11th edition of the tournament gets ready to get underway, there have been several high-profile international stars who have never graced the T20 competition.

    JOE ROOT (ENGLAND)

    The England Test skipper is counted amongst the ‘Fab Four’ of the cricket world alongside Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson. Despite having a stellar T20 and ODI record, the Englishman has never featured in the IPL. His exclusion in the previous years had more to do with his preference to concentrate on Test cricket for England.

    When he did indeed throw in his hat into the auction ring for the first time this year, Root surprisingly found no takers and went unsold.

    Root has an excellent record in ODI cricket to boot.

    Root has an excellent record in ODI cricket to boot.

    PAKISTAN PLAYERS

    While Pakistan players were a part of the inaugural edition of the IPL, tensions between the governments of the two countries has prevented them from participating any further in the tournament. This has meant that the fans from both countries have suffered as they have been deprived of numerous mouthwatering battles, like Virat Kohli taking on Mohammad Amir.

    T20 veteran and crowd favourite Shahid Afridi played just one season in the tournament while the likes of Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed and now young Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali have all been deprived of the chance of playing in front of Indian fans.

    Fans have been deprived of the chance to watch Kohli take on Amir.

    Fans have been deprived of the chance to watch Kohli take on Amir.

    JOSH HAZLEWOOD (AUSTRALIA)

    The Australia pacer has been compared to Glenn McGrath for his unerring accuracy and control of the swinging ball but unlike the retired legend, Hazlewood has not bowled a single ball so far in the competition.

    The right-arm bowler was picked up the Mumbai Indians in 2014 but did not get a single game for the franchise all season. Despite being retained by the outfit in 2015, Hazlewood, along with Cricket Australia, made the decision to withdraw from the tournament to focus on Test cricket for his country.

    Hazlewood was a vital figure in Australia's 2015 World Cup win.

    Hazlewood was a vital figure in Australia’s 2015 World Cup win.

    STUART BROAD (ENGLAND)

    The senior England pacer has been another name who has been surprisingly missing over the years in the IPL. Now consigned as a Test specialist for England, there was a time when Broad was leading their attack in limited-overs cricket. Who can indeed forget Broad being on the receiving end of Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over during the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007.

    He was indeed picked up by Kings XI Punjab for 2011 and 2012 but he withdrew his name at the last instance in both years and has never been picked up since. His time with white-ball cricket might well be over but a younger Broad could very well have been a big draw in the IPL.

    Broad withdrew his name in 2011 and 2012 despite having a contract.

    Broad withdrew his name in 2011 and 2012 despite having a contract.

    JAMES ANDERSON (ENGLAND)

    Broad’s red-ball partner in the England set-up has himself been missing from the competition since its inception. The England pace spearhead and leading Test wicket-taker is a veteran of 194 ODIs and 19 T20Is for his country.

    English players have typically not featured much in the IPL over the years due to a clash with their home season. Still, despite claiming to be attracted towards the IPL, Anderson never once threw his name into the auction list, choosing instead to focus on his England Test career.

    Anderson has never thrown his hat into the auction ring.

    Anderson has never thrown his hat into the auction ring.

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