Kevin Pietersen and 10 Other Big Names Released by IPL Franchises

Monday was the deadline for Indian Premier League franchises to announce which players they were releasing—and there were some big names who got the chop when the lists were finally revealed.

Kevin Pietersen was only claimed by Delhi in the previous auction but was not retained by the Daredevils. They endured a miserable campaign in 2014, winning just two games as they finished bottom of the table.

Pietersen, who captained the team and managed 294 runs in 11 matches, was one of 13 players to be cut loose by Delhi to give them a larger purse to spend next season.

Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore also decided to make dramatic overhauls of their rosters, all with the aim of freeing up funds.

So who else is now looking for a new team in 2015? We pick out 10 leading names who, like Pietersen, find themselves back in the pool of available players. 

Remember, though, that their most recent employers could still yet bid to bring them back at the next auction. Feel free to give your verdict on what the franchises should do by using the comments section.

Yuvraj Singh

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It has been a tough time of late for Yuvraj Singh, a player who holds the distinction of once hitting every delivery of a Stuart Broad over for six during a Twenty20 match in 2007.

Not included in a 30-man provisional squad selected by India for the defence of their World Cup title early in 2015, the left-handed batsman was then deemed surplus to requirements by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Yuvraj, who was the most expensive player purchased in the last IPL auction, managed 276 runs in the 2014 season for a team that failed to qualify for the knockout stages despite also boasting Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle in their ranks.

Darren Sammy

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Like the Royal Challengers, the Sunrisers Hyderabad also failed to finish the group stage of the 2014 tournament in the top four.

Darren Sammy captained the franchise, having steered the West Indies to glory in the ICC World Twenty20 in 2012. The all-rounder, though, was unable to lead by example in the IPL.

Sammy played in 10 matches and contributed 108 runs with the bat. He also picked up only three wickets in a really disappointing year, particularly after he was such a pivotal part of the team the previous season.

Aaron Finch

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Aaron Finch has built himself a fearsome reputation as a big-hitting batsman in limited overs cricket.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him up in the previous auction to team up with fellow Australian David Warner at the top of their order, with the Victorian moving to his fourth different franchise.

Finch scored 309 runs, including an IPL career best of 88 not out, but it was not enough for the Sunrisers to stick by him for now. It remains to be seen if they will pay up to bring him back next year.

Dinesh Karthik

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Dinesh Karthik was part of a fresh-looking Delhi squad that was assembled in the hope it could reach the latter stages of the competition.

Instead, they struggled badly from the outset and were cut adrift at the bottom of the standings, even with wicketkeeper-batsman Karthik making three half-centuries.

The 29-year-old—who started out his IPL career with the Daredevils before moving on to Kings XI Punjab and the Mumbai Indians—was only signed in the last auction, and for a hefty price as well.

Murali Vijay

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Another casualty as the Daredevils opt to shake things up, Murali Vijay failed to fire in his first, and possibly only, season for Delhi.

Vijay mustered 207 runs in 11 innings for his new franchise—a disappointing return, considering he had previously enjoyed several productive campaigns for the Chennai Super Kings.

Although he has earned himself a place at the top of the India order in Test cricket, the right-handed opener is in a select group that has scored more than one century in the history of the IPL. 

Cheteshwar Pujara

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Cheteshwar Pujara is perhaps not the type of batsman that would be expected to make a big splash for a franchise in the IPL.

With a classical style and a tight defence, he has understandably prospered in the long format of the game. Pujara has a first-class best of 352 in domestic action and has made two double centuries in Test cricket for India.

In 2014, he was not a regular for Kings XI Punjab—playing in six matches and scoring 125 runs. He had previously played for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Ross Taylor

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Ross Taylor has now had two spells in Delhi; the second stint saw him appear in only four games for the Daredevils in 2014 before being released.

The New Zealand batsman, who previously played for the franchise in 2012, has been hampered in his availability in some seasons due to international commitments.

Taylor, a player who uses his flexible wrists to often work the ball to the leg side, could once again be limited in his IPL stint next year as New Zealand are touring England in May.

Irfan Pathan

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Irfan Pathan is a bowling all-rounder who can bolster any tail with his powerful hitting down the order.

However, 2014 was not a good year for the player. He managed just 55 runs and four wickets in his 10 appearances for the struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Pathan has played 29 Tests and 120 one-day games for India. A left-arm swing bowler who is also a left-handed batsman, he was part of the national squad that won the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007.

Zaheer Khan

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Zaheer Khan was signed for a second stint at Mumbai, having previously represented the Indians in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

The experienced seamer, 36, appeared in six matches and picked up five wickets this year. His economy rate of 6.53 was impressive, but he did not play in the eliminator semi-final against the Chennai Super Kings.

Zaheer has played in 92 Tests and 200 one-dayers for India and helped his country win the 50-over World Cup on home soil in 2011.

Albie Morkel

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Johannes Albertus Morkel, better known as Albie, had played for Chennai Super Kings up until this year.

The Bangalore Royal Challengers signed the South African all-rounder but only picked him in seven matches. He mustered 45 runs, picking up four wickets, and has now been set free.

Perhaps better known for his hitting with the bat, Morkel was a key cog with the ball in a very successful Chennai side. He has taken 80 wickets in his IPL career with a best of 4-32 in the debut season of the competition.