The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 is a few months away but the franchisees have gone into a hurdle with an auction coming up in the month of December. The team composition invariably plays the most important part in a successful IPL campaign and the respective management would want a settled line-up before the mega event.

Since the ICC World Cup is also scheduled to take place in 2019, players availability is going to be another huge factor that needs to be considered while making the squad.  IPL 2019 Auction: Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh Released; Former Selector Sandeep Patil Says, 'Not Surprised, Would Have Done The Same'.

Every team has like every season, several players who don’t fit the part or have not contributed enough. We take a look at such players from each team and explain why they need to go.

1. Chennai Super Kings - Harbhajan Singh

Spin-King Harbhajan Singh has been part of several winning teams for the club and country and won his 4th IPL with new team Chennai Super Kings. He played 13 times for the Men in Yellow and scalped 7 wickets. But the 37-year-old Singh could be a huge gamble for yet another season in Chennai and in his place, a young spinner could be drafted in. Age is not on Harbhajan’s side and we have seen him turn up for commentary more than the bowling the ‘doosra’ on the cricket field.

2. Delhi Daredevils -  Chris Morris

The South African all-rounder has survived the axe at Delhi Daredevils but is surely adding very little value to the perineal under-achievers Delhi Daredevils. The mind-boggling sum of 11 crores Delhi had paid for his services just goes to show the management considered him as a core player but he has rarely delivered. He even pulled out of the tournament mid-way and was replaced by compatriot Junior Dala. The Delhi fans would not take his inclusion with fondness considering his poor play with both bat and bowl last year.

3. Kings XI Punjab – Mayank Agarwal

The hard-hitting batsman has seen his form dip over the past three seasons and is just not able to perform at the highest level. In 11 games, he scored a paltry 120 runs for Punjab which just highlights the batting woes of the team. While the strike rate has never been the concern, soft dismissals have plagued him in IPL where he is struggling to get going. Punjab can surely do without the services of Mayank Agarwal.

4. Rajasthan Royals – Ben Stokes

The English all-rounder was one of the biggest disappointments for team Rajasthan in the 2018 season and surprised many with his poor showing. Although he claimed 8 wickets with the bowl, it was his power hitting-that made Rajasthan shell out the huge sum for him-which was nowhere to be seen. With the 2019 World Cup also on the horizon by the time IPL starts, Rajasthan need to get a player on board who will cost less deliver more as his replacement.

5. Mumbai Indians – Keiron Pollard

Keiron Pollard is one name synonymous with Mumbai Indians but with every passing season, his performance has seen a dip. He played only 9 games in the last edition, scoring 133 runs and could not bag a single wicket. While his big hitting has become a thing of the past, he could become a real burden for a franchise like Mumbai Indian who are already heavy on overseas players. It might just be the right time for the management to let go of a player who has won them several games in the past almost on his own might.

6. Royal Challengers Bangalore – Pawan Negi

The left-arm spinner had some memorable outings in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings but his stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore is something he would like to forget quickly. He played just 2 games last season and is clearly not in Virat Kohli’s scheme of things. Negi should secure release from the franchise and try a new destination where he gets more playing time.

7. Kolkata Knight Riders -  None

The Kolkata Knight Riders have retained 13 players and all of them have provided vital contributions in the previous season. In the auction, the team management will have a salary cap of 15.20 crore which they can spend on buying 12 players. They have done smart business up until now and all eyes will be on them in the auction.

8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Mohammad Nabi

The Afghanistan spinner is a gem of a bowler but is not going to get many chances with the cap on the foreign player and the presence of his compatriot Rashid Khan who is an automatic choice in the playing eleven. Nabi played only two games for SRH last season and it would be better if his experience is utilised by some other team lacking world-class spinners.Will the IPL 2019 Not Played in India? The 12th Indian Premier League Might Be Scheduled to Take Place in UAE or South Africa, Says Report.

This was our pick of players who still need to be released from their respective teams despite being on the retainer list. Do send in your views whether you agree with it or not.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 21, 2018 04:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).