The 2019 season of the IPL came to a close last night in a thrilling fashion. Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by 1 run to win their fourth IPL title.

The 12th season of the Indian Premier League saw a highly competitive league phase, followed by gruelling battles in the play-offs.

As with every year, the competition unearthed new talents and the season was flurried with remarkable individual performances. However, there were many big names who carried hopes for their sides at the beginning of the season, but failed to shoulder responsibility.

Let’s take a look at eleven players who disappointed in this season of IPL.

Ambati Rayudu

The Indian batsman has been going through a rough phase. A dip in form weeks before the World Cup in England and Wales cost him a place in the 15-member Indian side for the tournament. His struggles continued in the IPL, where he failed to forge starts for Chennai Super Kings. Rayudu was dropped to the middle-order in favour of Faf du Plessis, but he failed to replicate the success of his previous season this year. With a poor strike rate of 93, Rayudu certainly takes a fair share of blame for CSK’s failure in complimenting Dhoni efficiently with the bat.

Robin Uthappa

Uthappa has played a major role for the Kolkata-franchise in the past many years, and was central to their title-winning campaign in 2014, where he was the side’s highest run-scorer. However, form isolated him in this year as Uthappa looked a shadow of his terrific past with the Knight Riders. The player had been a major part of the middle-order for KKR, but he failed to step up, scoring only 281 runs throughout the campaign. His slow innings of 40 in 47 balls in the final league game of the season against Mumbai Indians was a huge factor in KKR losing out on a play-off spot.

Colin Ingram

The Delhi Capitals had a mightily impressive season this year in the IPL. The side reached the play-offs for the first time in seven years. However, their South African batsman Colin Ingram found himself at a wrong place at the wrong time. Ingram, who is primarily an opening batsman, was sent at five due to the presence of DC’s Indian core in the top-4. Ingram’s weakness against spin-bowling further escalated his problems, as he failed to deliver with the bat for the Capitals. The batsman scored 184 runs in 12 games, at a poor average of 18.4.

David Miller

KXIP made a reasonably strong start to the season, but inconsistencies in their batting order cost them a place in the play-off. David Miller’s failure in providing finishes for KXIP was one of the big reasons for the side’s disappointing season this year. The South African batsman has been frustrating with the bat, scoring only 213 runs in 10 games. Miller’s poor show in the IPL this season is made worse by the fact that he was one of the players retained by the side last year.

Dinesh Karthik

The Kolkata Knight Riders captain remained in scrutiny for some of his on-field decisions this season. Moreover, his own form with the bat remained a concern for the franchise. KKR's owner Shah Rukh Khan even urged the side to step up to compliment Andre Russell, who probably remained the only performing asset of the side alongside Shubman Gill in the batting order. Karthik scored 253 runs in 14 games which included two half-centuries.

Ben Stokes

For a second consecutive season, Stokes failed to live up to his reputation in the IPL. Rajasthan Royals had yet another frustrating season, as they finished seventh in the table. The English all-rounder scored 123 runs and took six wickets in 9 games throughout the competition. His performances were poor in the previous season as well, but he kept the run flow in check, just giving over 8-an-over. This time, however, his economy rate was soaring high at 11.22.

Krishnappa Gowtham

The Rajasthan Royals bowler was the franchise's star in the last season. However, his stock fell as rapidly as it went up in 2018.
Gowtham played only 7 games for RR and was dropped from the side, owing to poor form. Throughout the season, the right-arm off spinner managed to take only one wicket at a staggering average of 166.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep has been the backbone of KKR's bowling line-up for the past two years. However, form deserted him this season as he struggled with his line and lengths throughout the competition. This season was Kuldeep's worst ever in the history of the IPL, as he took only four wickets and faced a drop from the side. With the World Cup around the corner, the wrist-spinner would be desperate to turn the things around.

Mohammad Siraj

RCB had various issues in their squad, but their bowling was perhaps one of the most glaring ones. The side leaked runs at a rather worrying rate and their set of Indian bowlers failed to make a mark. With an economy rate of 9.55, Siraj took 7 wickets in nine games throughout the season. The arrival of Dale Steyn forced Siraj to spend time on the sidelines. However, an injury to the South African provided Siraj with another chance to make amends. Needless to say, the Indian pacer failed.

Umesh Yadav

Another RCB frontline bowler, Umesh Yadav failed to replicate his previous season's form. A lack of bowling options, however, meant that Umesh played 11 games for the team, taking 8 wickets at an economy rate nearing 10. Umesh took 20 wickets for RCB in the previous season, but a serious drop in pace haunted the Indian bowler this year. He also failed to improvise with his swing in the lack of speed, which further raised issues.

Jaydev Unadkat

For a second season running, the Rajasthan Royals pacer failed to deliver for the franchise. Unadkat's price-tag may not be his fault, but his performances hardly inspire confidence in RR's bowling unit. Unadkat took 10 wickets at a poor economy rate of 10.66 this season. This year also included the third-most expensive 20th over of the innings, courtesy Unadkat. CSK captain MS Dhoni hit him for three successive sixes as Unadkat leaked 28 runs in the final overs of a league stage game.