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3 Overseas Players Who Might Never Get Picked In The IPL Again
Follow UsMaxwell, especially, might find it hard to get a gig in the IPL after failing two consecutive seasons with the bat
Overseas players come in as specialists in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and are expected to not only do the heavy lifting, but also benefit the local players with their wide international experience in most cases.
Players like AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle did that role so well that India became their second home.
However, there are a few players in recent seasons whose performances haven’t been exactly at the levels of expectations teams have for them, and their time in the world’s biggest cricket league might be running out.
Let’s see three such prominent examples:
Glenn Maxwell
To say Maxwell’s IPL career has been a disappointment would be a serious understatement. He has played every IPL season since 2012 (except 2019) but has crossed 500 runs in a season only twice. His average is a paltry 23.89, something which isn’t expected from a highly priced batting asset like him.
In fact, in the last two seasons, he has scored 52 and 48 runs at an average of 5.78 and 8, with strike rates of 120.93 and 97.96, respectively. With him also being on the wrong side of 30 now, teams might not want to invest in him anymore, as many new, belligerent hitters are coming up in the league.
Quinton de Kock
De Kock has over 100 IPL games in his belt and is a seasoned campaigner in the league, winning two titles with Mumbai Indians in 2019 and 2020.
However, while his keeping has still been very good, de Kock’s form with the bat has plummeted over he last two seasons. In 2024, he scored only 250 runs in 11 games at an average of 22.73, striking at 134.41. So far, his numbers are similar in the 2025 season, where he has averaged 23.83 with a strike rate of 137.50.
As he bats at the top of the order, such strike rates might be great for an anchor batter, which he isn’t, as he strikes above 140 at his fluent best. His average further complicates the picture, and teams might just prefer going for an opener who plays at a higher strike rate and average than him.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Mujeeb came in as a replacement for Allah Ghazanfar in the 2025 IPL season, but the Afghan off-spinner is yet to get a game in the league this season.
In fact, overall, he has only played 20 IPL games despite being a part of it for five seasons now. He only has 20 wickets in the league at an average of 31, leaking runs at 8.34.
With India being a hotbed of spinners, especially new ones who employ all the tricks that Mujeeb possesses, it might be possible that teams would prefer playing Indian options ahead of an overseas spinner who hasn’t had a big footprint and proven record in the IPL.