Sunrisers Hyderabad might release Manish Pandey. Photo credits: BCCI

In the mega-auction for IPL 2018, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises opened their purses for the players and spent huge amounts to acquire the services of some top stars. Among those players who highlighted the auction were Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, Ben Stokes, Jaydev Unadkat and few others. Out of the four mentioned players, only KL Rahul delivered to the promise for his franchise Kings XI Punjab. Pandey had a dry run with the bat whereas Stokes and Unadkat failed to do justice with the amount for which they were bought by Rajasthan Royals.

These three underperforming players could be released by their franchises ahead of the next auction, a report in The Mumbai Mirror suggests. Pandey, who was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 11 Crore, could just manage a total of 284 runs in the tournament, which saw him being dropped from the playing XI. There are high chances of the franchise soon confirming about him being released.

(Ben Stokes played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018. Photo credits: BCCI)

Stokes, who topped the IPL auction for the second running year, scored 196 runs and scalped just one wicket in the tournament. He also had an early exit from the league due to international commitments. In IPL 2019, he might miss a major portion of the tournament as England Cricket Board is expected to call back its players a month before the World Cup. This could very see him being released.

Unadkat had a dream IPL 2017, which saw him making his comeback to the national side and also going for Rs 11.5 Crore in IPL 2018 auction. He could not deliver on the promise and scalped 11 wickets, failing to do justice with his selling price. The left-arm pacer also lost his spot in the Indian team after a poor run in the IPL. He also looks set to be released by his franchise.

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A report in The Mumbai Mirror also adds that Gautam Gambhir, Glenn Maxwell might also be released by their franchise, Delhi Daredevils ahead of the IPL 2019 auction.