This year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) has been unlike any other, with 18 scores of 200 or more already recorded – equaling the total from the entire 2022 tournament. However, despite most teams preferring to chase, it hasn’t always been easy. The Impact Sub rule has allowed for more spinners to be used, with little concern for their batting abilities. The tournament has also seen fascinating comebacks and trends, such as Ajinkya Rahane’s success as a No. 3 batsman, Junior Tendulkar’s heroics in the last over, and lower-order batsmen orchestrating stunning turnarounds. With the IPL now at the halfway stage, we reflect on some of the successful moves made by teams. One standout story has been the resurgence of Ajinkya Rahane, who was dropped from India’s Test team and central contracts list. However, he has found success with Chennai Super Kings, boasting a strike rate of almost 190 and averaging 44 at No. 3, making him a valuable asset to the team. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes joined the team with a focus on batting, and Deepak Chahar returned from injury only to be injured again after conceding 94 runs in nine overs across three matches.
In the first match, CSK’s bowling resources seemed stretched thin, and Tushar Deshpande was expensive. Ravindra Jadeja, one of the best bowlers this IPL, had to be used efficiently, so Dhoni turned to his Sri Lankan signings – off-spinner Maheesha Theekshana and medium-pacer Matheesha Pathirana – to weigh in. They did more than that. In a high-scoring thriller against RCB, Theekshana tightened the screw before Pathirana defended 19 in the last over. Next match, they were once again effective just when KKR were looking to break free in the chase of 235. They may average more than eight per over, but together they are proving to be a difficult combination to face in the slog overs.
Mohammed Siraj has proven to be Royal Challengers’ Bangalore’s go-to bowler, averaging 16.64 runs for each of his 14 wickets, with an economy of 7.38 and striking every 13.7 balls, irrespective of the scenario they find themselves in. With Harshal Patel’s slower balls almost found out and Vijaykumar Vyshak still being eased into the attack, RCB desperately needed one Indian fast bowler to step up to the task of managing the front end and back end of the innings. This has been quite a turnaround for Siraj, averaging over 10 per over in 2022 but now transformed into a fitter, more aware bowler who can unleash a mean yorker in the death overs.
The natural inswinger was always difficult to play in the Powerplay but wielding more control over the wobbled seam variation, Siraj has added another dimension to his new-ball bowling. Successful turnarounds have been a trend, and there is no set pattern to it. On days Rinku Singh, the anchor recedes into the shade of Rinku Singh, the finisher, KKR hit five sixes in the last over. When Mumbai Indians look like once again slipping into a batting coma, Tilak Varma comes in at No 5 to shine with a 46-ball 84 in an innings where the next highest score is 21. If Shardul Thakur’s 29-ball 68, Nicholas Pooran’s 19-ball 62, and Shimron Hetmyer’s 26-ball 56* are examples of successful turnarounds when all hope was lost, Varma and Jason Roy (61 off 26 against CSK) will tell you not every such innings has a fairytale ending. The point is, it isn’t over till it’s really over, and it’s only making the IPL even more gripping.
The highlights reel of this IPL will be a selection of Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rahane, Siraj, and Rinku Singh; as well as Yashashvi Jaiswal, Arjun Tendulkar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dhruv Jurel, and Tilak Varma. Young, ambitious, and with nothing to lose, the next generation of cricketers have once again shown India is T20 ready. The scrutiny of being Sachin Tendulkar’s son notwithstanding, Arjun has already given a fine account of his composure by defending 20 runs in the last over. Jaiswal endured a mediocre season last year, but this year he is a changed man, striking at nearly 150. That Rajasthan Royals are investing in the right talent is also evident from how Jurel has come up the