Not enough opportunities: SA players ignored by IPL teams

In general, South African players struggled throughout the Indian Premier League (IPL) series, which concludes with the final this weekend, but the absence of some of the nation’s top players will leave SA fans wondering what might have been.

Admittedly, most of those who got a chance did not blow the world apart, but it was strange to see some of South Africa’s best players in the short format being largely dismissed during the 2023 IPL campaign.

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While each team played 14 matches in the league stage of the competition, only five South African players – Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram. Anrich Nortje and David Miller – contested 10 or more matches.

Of those players, only top run-scorer Du Plessis and in-form Klaasen (10th in the run-scoring list) were able to deliver standout performances.

The performances of some of the other members of the SA contingent were less impressive, and they struggled to make an impact on the sport’s most explosive stage.

SA stars missing

Most notable, however, was the absence of some of SA’s top T20 players, who could perhaps have made a real difference for their teams if they had been given more time on the park.

Experienced batter Rilee Rossouw and his Delhi Capitals teammate Lungi Ngidi did not even get a game, along with rising star Dewald Brevis (Mumbai Indians) and Donovan Ferreira (Rajasthan Royals).

In addition, six other South African players other – Quinton de Kock, David Wiese, Sisanda Magala, Tristan Stubbs, Dwaine Pretorius and Duan Jansen – turned out in fewer than five games in the top-flight annual IPL campaign.

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Of course, Du Plessis was superb, with the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain making 730 runs in 14 matches, including eight half-centuries, while Klaasen contributed 448 runs in 12 matches for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The rest of the 18 SA players at the IPL did not make much of a splash, however, resulting in South Africans making little overall impact on the series.

But one does have to wonder if there might have been a different outcome if the country’s top players had all been given sufficient opportunities.

They might not always be consistent, but if they are expected to shine,they need to be given a chance.