From Mayank Yadav’s fiery spells to Sunil Narine’s pyrotechnics, the second week of IPL saw jaw-dropping displays. TOI looks at some of the top performers.
QUINTON DE KOCK (Lucknow Super Giants)
De Kock is doing what he does best – open the innings, put the opposition attack under pressure and give his team a solid start. His knocks become more crucial considering skipper KL Rahul has struggled to get going.
Matches: 2, Runs: 143, Highest: 81, Average: 71.50, Strike Rate: 152.13
SHUBMAN GILL (Gujarat Titans, captain)
The weight of captaincy isn’t affecting his game. His unbeaten 89 against Punjab Kings and ever-improving strike rate is ample proof of him growing into a potent T20 player as well.
Matches: 2, Runs: 125, Highest: 89*, Average: 125, Strike Rate: 164.00
SUNIL NARINE (Kolkata Knight Riders)
He has been given ‘Licence to Thrill’ and unlike his last seven innings as opener – from 2020 to 2023 – when he got into the double digits only once, this year he has been on the money. His 39-ball 85 against DC is also his highest in T20s.
Matches: 1, Runs: 85, Higest: 85, Average: 85, Strike Rate: 217.94; Wickets: 1, Best Bowling: 1-29, Average: 29, Economy Rate: 7.25, Strike Rate: 24
RISHABH PANT (Delhi Capitals)
Back on the field after a long break, Pant showed that he has fully recovered from the lifethreatening accident. He showed that his swashbuckling game is intact with his back-toback half-centuries.
Matches: 2, Runs: 106, Highest: 55, Average: 53, Strike Rate: 185.96
RIYAN PARAG (Rajasthan Royals)
The 22-year-old is finally delivering on the promise he showed as a teenager. Against MI, he weathered the initial pressure before taking Rajasthan Royals to a comfortable win. During the innings, he also displayed the range of shots at his disposal – on both sides of the wicket.
Matches: 1, Runs: 54, Highest: 54*, Average: -, Strike Rate: 138.46
NICHOLAS POORAN (Lucknow Super Giants)
The West Indian always had an explosive game and now he has added consistency to it. Coming in at No. 5, the lefthander’s quickfire knocks are putting LSG in a position to post totals or chase down targets.
Matches: 2, Runs: 82, Highest: 40*, Average: 82, Strike Rate: 195.24
ANDRE RUSSELL (Kolkata Knight Riders)
After a below-par 2023, he has found his mojo and looks in the mood to dismantle opposition attacks. The allrounder’s bowling has gone up a notch as well and it has added flexibility to Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling unit.
Matches: 1, Runs: 41, Highest: 41, Average: 41, SR: 215.79; Wickets: 1, Best Bowling: 1-14, Average: 14, Economy Rate: 11.67, Strike Rate: 8
SHASHANK SINGH (Punjab Kings)
There was some confusion over whether Kings had bought the right ‘Shashank Singh’ during the auction. With his match-winning knock against GT, he has dismissed all the doubts.
Matches: 2, Runs: 70, Highest: 61*, Avg: -, Strike Rate: 194.44
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL (Rajasthan Royals)
He may have spiralled down the pecking order when it comes to the spinners’ spot in the Indian white-ball set-up, but time and again he keeps delivering performances that are hard to ignore – like his spell of 3/11 against Mumbai Indians.
Matches: 1, Wickets: 3, Best Bowling: 3/11, Average: 3.66, Economy Rate: 2.75, Strike Rate: 8
KHALEEL AHMED (Delhi Capitals)
When he gets it right, he is the best left-arm pacer in the country. His opening spell against Chennai Super Kings suggests that if groomed properly, he can deliver at the highest level.
Matches: 2, Wickets: 3, Best Bowling: 2/21, Average: 21.33, Economy Rate: 8, Strike Rate: 8
IMPACT PLAYER: VAIBHAV ARORA (Kolkata Knight Riders)
The pacer was a notch above the rest of the seamers on display during KKR vs DC match. He got the ball to move and troubled the DC batters throughout.
Matches: 1, Wickets: 3, Best Bowling: 3/27, Average: 9, Economy Rate: 6.75, Strike Rate: 8
MAYANK YADAV (Lucknow Super Giants)
Only time will tell how consistent the right-arm pacer will be from here on and how he handles all the adulation that has come his way. One thing that’s going his way is a lethal combination of pace and accurate line and length.
Matches: 2: Wickets: 6, Best Bowling: 3/14, Average: 6.83, Economy Rate: 5.13, Strike Rate: 8
JUSTIN LANGER (LSG, coach)
The Australian took over the reins of the team just this year and has had an instant impact with Lucknow Super Giants putting in some impressive displays in the opening encounters of the IPL.
Those who stay in the XI: Andre Russell, Riyan Parag, Yuzvendra Chahal
Those out from last week’s XI: Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen, Mustafizur Rahman, Nandre Burger, Virat Kohli, Harpreet Brar, Jasprit Bumrah
(Stats updated before SRH vs CSK on April 5)
