IPL 8: Report card – the 10 bright students and their percentage
Mumbai: The eighth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) ended with Mumbai Indians’ triumph on Sunday. Apart from the Mumbai cricketers, there were other students of the sport who rose to the occasion and delivered too. Let’s take a look at the bright scholars’ report card – the top 10 – who performed well overall.
Shreyas Iyer, Delhi Daredevils (7/10): He is an uncapped player but he fared better than many Test players, for example, Yuvraj Singh. Though Delhi Daredevils could not do much, this lad scored 439 runs with four half-centuries in 14 matches. Mind you, he is only 20.
Lendl Simmons, Mumbai Indians (8.5/10): He was promoted after Aaron Finch flew back home injured. Though Simmons doesn’t have the greatest of technique, he managed good starts for Mumbai Indians and ended up slamming six half-centuries (540 runs) in 13 outings.
Dwayne Bravo, Chennai Super Kings (7/10): Remember his last over against Kolkata Knight Riders? Ryan ten Doeschate did try to take Kolkata home but Bravo ensured he didn’t. He also won the Purple Cap bagging 26 wickets apart from scoring 195 runs.
Ajinkya Rahane, Rajasthan Royals (9/10): What a cricketer he is turning out to be with the passing days. Right from the start of the tournament, Rahane’s bat has been doing the talking and that too, aggressively. He lost out on the Orange Cap to David Warner but was more stylish to watch in the middle with 540 runs and four half-centuries.
Andre Russell, Kolkata Knight Riders (9/10): His brand of cricket is the secret to winning matches. This Caribbean single-handedly took Kolkata home for more than couple of occasions and also won the ‘Most Valuable Player’ award. He scored 326 runs with three half-centuries at an insane strike rate of 192.89.
David Warner, Sunrisers Hyderabad (10/10): Australia doesn’t need to worry even if Steve Smith isn’t around. Warner has shown his calibre of being a true leader leading from the front. Seven half-centuries, 562 runs and almost taking Sunrisers Hyderabad to the playoffs till Mumbai had the last laugh.
AB de Villiers, Royal Challengers Bangalore (9/10): Scoring a ton in the T20 format is a big deal and he made it happen again along with two magnificent fifties. AB is a modern day legend and he has proved it again with 513 runs.
Chris Gayle, Royal Challengers Bangalore (7/10): The reason behind Royal Challengers Bangalore’s late flourish in the tournament is due to AB and Gayle’s storm with the bat. Another cricketer who scored a ton this season and he has done it before too. Gayle scored 491 runs that includes two half-centuries.
Lasith Malinga, Mumbai Indians (9/10): He did not have a great start to the tournament but picked up in the later stages. Malinga always dismissed the in-form batsmen and provided that much needed breakthrough. The Sri Lankan pacer bagged 24 wickets in 15 matches.
Yuzvendra Chahal, Royal Challengers Bangalore (8.5/10): Who says India lacks quality spinners after Anil Kumble’s retirement? Chahal is the answer. He has all the variations needed to hoodwink the batters and the boy did it 23 times this IPL, in 15 matches.
