5 popular overseas players who scored 50+ scores on IPL debut
Pressure of the big stage didn't bog the players down
Players find themselves under immense pressure while honing their skills in the Indian Premier League (IPL), more so if they are making their debut. The pressure of price tags and the expectations from the fans can bog a player down easily. It can be tough for the player mentally.
In such a scenario, if a cricketer gets a 50 plus score on IPL debut, it shows the mental stamina of the player. Over the years, a number of batters have shown their prowess in their very first appearance in the IPL.
In the article, let’s look at 5 popular overseas players with 50 plus scores on IPL debut
1. Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum lit up the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru with his power-hitting in the inaugural IPL match back in 2008. The New Zealander opened the batting and smashed 158 runs off 73 balls with the help of 10 fours and as many as 13 sixes.
The batters at the other end were mere spectators as McCullum kept finding the boundaries at ease. He played at a strike rate of 216.44 and made sure Kolkata Knight Riders amassed a mammoth score of 222 against hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
2. Michael Hussey
In the very next match, Michael Hussey, also known as Mr. Cricket, scored the second century of IPL 2008. The left-hander took the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) bowling attack to the cleaners and scored 116 runs off 54 balls with the help of eight fours and nine sixes.
He came to bat at No.3 and didn’t let the bowlers settle into a rhythm. On the back of his knock, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) racked up a massive score of 240 on the board. Punjab, led by Yuvraj Singh, scored 207, but their valiant efforts went in vain.
3. Shaun Marsh
Shaun Marsh had a memorable campaign in IPL 2008 as he won the Orange Cap and later broke in to the Australia national team. In his very first game in the tournament, the left-hander gave an account of his skills. Marsh scored 84 runs off 62 balls with 11 fours and one six.
His knock helped Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) chase down 165 with seven balls left against the now defunct Deccan Chargers. Marsh came to open the batting and stayed unbeaten until the very end. The left-hander also won the Player of the Match award for his knock.
4. Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith was a fulcrum of the South Africa batting unit during his playing days. But he had his moments while playing in the IPL as well. Back in 2008, Smith plied his trade for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the champions of the inaugural edition, and played some crucial knocks.
After being asked to chase 215 by the Deccan Chargers, Smith came out all guns blazing. He scored 71 runs off 45 balls with nine fours and two sixes while opening the batting. On the back of his knock, the Royals reached the target with one ball left in their innings.
5. Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara oozed class when he batted for Sri Lanka across formats. Over the years, he has garnered numerous laurels for standing tall in critical situations. In Match No.2 of the IPL, the former left-hander showed his class in the game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Although his team, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), lost by 33 runs, Sangakkara managed to show his class. Batting at No.3, the southpaw scored 54 runs off 33 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes. He played at a strike-rate of 163.64, but failed to take his team over the line.
