With plenty of drama, excitement, and nerve-racking matches to the fore, IPL 2020 is now approaching its last few days of action! The picture seems clear as to who makes the final stage of the tournament and has an opportunity of bringing home the prestigious trophy. Just like every year, the overseas players have shouldered the majority of the responsibility and played a crucial role in the progress of their respective franchises.
The situation was slightly different this time around as the players were coming off a short layoff and thus were raring to step on the field and put up an impactful performance. Every franchise had one such player who was the go-to-man for their skipper and did the job for his side on a consistent basis to be called ‘Mr. Dependable’. We look at some of these overseas players who were by far the best bet for their respective franchises:
#1 Sam Curran (CSK)
The Englishman was CSK’s best all-round player this season who caught the eyes of the onlookers in spite of his team’s dismal performances. In the absence of Bravo, he was skipper Dhoni’s trump card who always gave his 101% in every aspect of the game. His brilliance as a cricketer saw CSK put up a fight and many a times found themselves in winning positions.
Curran has contributed 173 runs with the willow at a strike rate of 136.22 which included his one-man-show against MI when his side lost 5 wickets in the powerplay and has also picked 13 wickets from the 12 matches that he has played. Dhoni fancied bowling him in the powerplay and at the death and backed the all-rounder to do the job for his side.
Apart from this, Curran was always involved in saving crucial runs in the outfield who used to put his body on the line to prevent those crucial boundaries. He has definitely added his name in the list which features the all-time great fielders including his CSK counterparts, Jadeja and Du Plessis. His intent and positive mindset as a player has won the hearts of skipper Dhoni and coach Fleming and it won’t be a surprise if he is retained and bestowed with an even greater responsibility come the next season.
#2 Kagiso Rabada (DC)
The current purple-cap holder is definitely showing no signs of restraint. Having already picked 23 wickets from 11 games, he is truly on his way to become the highest wicket-taker in any season. Skipper Iyer has used him as a wicket-taking option which meant he had to bowl at different stages in a game maintaining a similar efficacy.
His partner in crime, Nortje has made his job easier with the early breakthroughs that he gets with his extreme pace and an impeccable line and length.They love hunting in pack and thrive off each other which is what we witness when they play for South Africa as well.
Rabada has used the heavy ball to get the better of some of the super-strikers like Dhoni and Russell and made life difficult with his short of the length stuff. The South African has achieved success in bamboozling batsmen with his off-cutters and leg-cutters, Kohli was an evident illustration of the same. It is safe to say that the bowler has gone from strength to strength and will surely play a pivotal role in the playoffs which will decide the fate of DC in search of their maiden title!
#3 Quinton de Kock (MI)
After a slow start to the season, de Kock has boarded an express train which is increasing its speed with every passing station (game)! The South African is just manifesting his worth playing for this hugely popular franchise and has taken the pressure of Rohit who can go about his merry way.
De Kock has amassed 374 runs at an incredible strike rate of 143.3 from 11 games and continues to be MI’s hope top of the order. His aggressive approach is compelling bowlers to think out of the box and helping MI reach mammoth totals on the board. His love for the pulls, hooks and the cover drive has seen MI accumulate plenty of runs and sixes in the powerplay overs.
The opposition’s best chance is to get him early on or otherwise, de Kock will run away with the match keeping his truculent approach to the forefront. His wicket-keeping skills is just another feather in his illustrious cap. The South African has saved plenty of runs by leaping high or putting a full-fledged dive. He has been sharp while keeping wickets against the spinners, grabbing anything and everything that comes his way. The credit has to go to the MI management for availing his services through a transfer window and witnessing his flourish as a player!
#4 AB de Villiers (RCB)
If it’s IPL, we are sure to witness the greatness of a man whom the world admires as a player and a human-being. Yes, I am talking about the great South African, de Villiers who like every season has set the stage on fire this time as well.
The legend has amassed 324 runs at an unbelievable strike rate of 174.19 from 11 games which includes his famous knocks against MI, KKR and RR, coming at a time when the chips were down for his side. His experience and intent has seen him dominate the best in the business and secure some wins for his side from unlikely situations.
The man backs his abilities to achieve success in testing conditions and thus world cricket rates him so highly. RCB has entrusted him with the wicket-keeping responsibility this season and as anticipated, he has left no stone unturned. De Villiers had put hours during the pre-season camp to master this aspect of his game and at the moment hasn’t dropped anything which will hamper his team’s progress.
His heroics behind the wicket and in front of it, has put his side in the driver’s seat and who knows, the maiden title might just fall in their hands as a gift from the almighty for their consistency and hard-work!
#5 Rashid Khan (SRH)
The Afghanistan wrist-spin sensation is another show-stopper in this year’s IPL. Procuring enough experience by featuring in different T20 leagues of the world, Rashid is deemed to be the senior member and leader of the bowling pack for SRH.
The bowler has picked 14 wickets from 11 games and is without doubt, SRH’s most successful bowler in the last few years. His predisposition towards using the ‘googlies’ as a wicket-taking option has gone a long way in causing opposition collapse and assisting his side in gaining the momentum.
He has predominantly bowled in the middle overs, restricting the flow of runs and picking wickets. His wicket-taking spree has eased the pressure off other bowlers like Sandeep, Khaleel and Natarajan. Having inflicted the damage early-on, they are left to bowl to other lesser known batsmen. Definitely, an illustration of what teamwork and unity can achieve for a side.
Batting is another aspect which augments his value as a player. Unfortunately, the bat hasn’t spoken much but with these last set of games to go, the stakes are high for some fireworks and crucial lower order contributions providing a requisite bulk to the eventual score.
#6 Jofra Archer (RR)
The Sussex cricketer is the most fruitful investment for RR so far. Scalping 17 wickets and scoring 107 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 198.15 from 12 games, Archer has truly been the man for RR this season.
Bowling in the powerplay, he has swung the ball both ways at a brisk pace and aggravated the woes for the batsman who lack a sound technique. Batsmen have often preferred playing him out and targeting the others in the lot. His pace, variations and ability to read the batsman’s mind have made him a useful candidate bowling at various stages of a game. Smith’s curious eyes search for Archer in times of difficulty and the Englishman as expected has found a way to deliver come the crunch moments.
The international experience is also coming handy for the speedster who has enjoyed success playing different formats in his short career. His remarkable ability to tonk the ball and pick sixes at will has assisted his side in reaching daunting totals and helped his own cause with the ball in hand. He is definitely in the race for the purple-cap and with a certain five-wicket haul to his name, the task will become that much easier.
#7 Nicholas Pooran (KXIP)
This West Indian batsman has been the backbone of KXIP middle order. His power hitting and exquisite timing has helped KXIP maintain a high run-rate even after the dismissal of their successful openers. With no significant contributions from their exorbitant buy, Maxwell this season, Pooran’s role has become momentous with respect to lower order benefaction and Punjab looks upto him as their saviour who could pull off a heist.
The batsman has garnered 327 runs from 11 games at an impressive strike rate of 173.02. With him around, the opposition can never breathe a sigh of relief for the batsman is very capable of finishing the match in a matter of few overs. He favours the long off and long on regions and backs his strength to clear the biggest of boundaries.
His presence had kept someone like a Gayle out of contention for the playing XI which speaks in a volume of his impact and magnitude as a player. His aerial acts near the boundary line have left the world awe-struck and is already compared to his fielding coach, Rhodes. With KXIP winning 5 games in a row, Pooran has become a vital cog in their lineup who is an important part of all their plans and executions in a bet to secure the 4th spot and confirm their qualification.
#8 Eoin Morgan (KKR)
Appointed as a mid-season captain, Morgan has had his own successes and failures. It was a steep task for the England limited overs skipper to lead a side which has blown hot and cold throughout the course of these 12 matches. The side hasn’t had those dominant wins which sky-rocket a team’s confidence and make them believe that nothing is impossible. The failure of West Indian powerhouses like Russell and Narine have mounted the pressure on the other batsmen to bat out of their skin and post commanding totals on the board.
Morgan who has batted at no.5 has scored 295 runs from 11 games at an acceptable strike rate of 128.26. He has been involved in finishing the innings for his side and more often than not has provided the sucker punch adding the final icing on the cake. There is no shortage of experience for this powerful left-hander who maintains a high bat-lift to give the ball a full monty.
Ex-captain, Karthik has always bounced some ideas off Morgan and assisted the Englishman in comprehending the culture and environment which KKR boast off. This camaraderie has gone a long way in ensuring the team’s progress and facilitating the player’s welfare. To their advantage, they have consolidated the 4th position and with that landslide victory against frontrunners DC, they look confident and relaxed to turn on the heat at the deciding stage of the tournament and win the coveted title for an enthralling 3rd time!
