Considered by many as the world’s most competitive T20 tournament, the performance in the IPL is arguably the most important metric to gauge the player’s ability. Teams splurge heft sum on the star players in a bid to win the championship, but not always do they get the expected returns. Franchises often persist with high-profile players despite a string of poor returns, because they understand very well that one innings or one spell is all it takes for such payers to turn around their season. But sometimes, that moment never comes.

As the 2022 edition of the tournament comes close to its business end, let’s take a look at five high-profile cricketers who didn’t live up to expectations:

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has to be the first name in this list. The former RCB skipper is in the midst of the roughest patch of his career. Had it not been for his previous performances, Royal Challengers must have dropped him from the playing XI. His indifferent form is one of the primary reasons Royal Challengers have blown hot and cold throughout the season. Kohli has so far amassed 216 runs in 12 matches, and his only half-century of this season came at a sluggish tempo.

2. Kieron Pollard

An exceptional hitter of the ball with an ability to nail yorkers at an alarming consistency, Pollard has been the crucial arm of the five-time champions Mumbai Indians. But in IPL 2022, Pollard has failed to make his presence felt with both bat and ball. His indifferent form with the bat has cost Mumbai Indians games they had no business losing. Pollard has totalled just over 100 runs in 11 games at a mediocre strike rate of 107.

3. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is another Mumbai Indians player in the list, and that very much explains the franchise’s woeful run in the IPL 2022. Rohit has looked totally out of place this season, unable to provide breezy starts to his team, and thus putting too much pressure on their inexperienced middle-order. After 12 T20s, Rohit is yet to reach a half-century. If he fails to do so in the last two games, it will be the first season since the inception of this tournament in which Rohit didn’t manage even one half-century.

4. Ravindra Jadeja

A lot was expected from Ravindra Jadeja after Chennai Super Kings appointed him as the skipper. But it didn’t end well for him, as the franchise lost six out of the first eight games under his captaincy. A rib injury then ruled him out of the remainder of IPL 2022. Jadeja signed off with 116 runs and 5 wickets in 10 games, one of his worst performances in Chennai’s jersey.

5. Mayank Agarwal

Until last season, Mayank Agarwal was one of the most destructive Indian openers in the league. With KL Rahul tasked with anchoring the innings, it was Mayank who went all guns blazing in the Powerplay. This season, however, his 176 runs in 10 games came at a strike rate of 127.