In an apparent bid to cut cost, the Kolkata Knight Riders team management on Monday "politely" asked five of the players, who are yet to feature in the side's 14-member squad in any match, to leave the team hotel.
The players are Ranadeb Bose, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sourasish Lahiri, Yashpal Singh and Hokkaido.
One of the players said they were "politely given the option of either staying at the team hotel or going home."
"It was clear what the team management wants. Apparently coach John Buchanan feels that he has found his set combination and had no need for the fringe players," one of the players said.
