Planet "M"

#IPL2019: As it happened
Infogram

Rishi Dhawan (RD): Both. I had bowled to Sachin paaji in nets only. It was a great experience. Recently, got a chance to bowl to Viru bhai during Vijay Hazare Trophy. Both are legends. So would love to bowl both.

What do you love more: Books or Cricket?
RD: I don’t read books so cricket only.

What is the best advice given to you?
RD: Sachin paaji once told me that you are good bowler and batsman so concentrate on both. Do your best to be a good all-rounder. I always keep that in my mind.

If you were a Film Director, whom you would sign as your lead actor and actress?
RD:  Hero..obviously me [laughs] and heroine koi bhi Bollywood ki. Chalo Katrina Kaif ko le lunga. (Any Bollywood heroine. Okay, I would sign Katrina Kaif)

What does Rishi Dhawan like the most about his life as a cricketer?
RD: Best thing is that I get to play cricket which is my love. I just enjoy a lot when I play cricket so best thing about life is that I am a cricketer.

He was named the best Under-19 cricketer by the BCCI for the 2012-13 season. After that, his performance with Kings XI Punjab brought him the Emerging Player trophy for the 2014 edition of IPL. He took a five-wicket haul in his second only first-class match against Delhi last year; whilst his performance with the Under-23 team helped India win the 2013 ACC Emerging Teams Cup.

Coming from the ranks of Junior cricket with gradual transformation to the Senior side, Gujarat’s Akshar Patel has a lot to promise with both bat and ball.

An admirer of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, cricket never came as the first choice to the lanky southpaw spinner. When Akshar expressed his wish to become an engineer, it was actually his father who forced him to play cricket seriously.

Since his First-Class debut in 2012 to the ongoing India-Sri Lanka series, he capitalized the chances given to him. Be it the 2013/14 Ranji season with Gujarat or the debut IPL season with KXIP this year – his performance in the One Day Internationals made everyone a fan of him.

He has 29 First-Class wickets to his name with an impressive economy of 2.10 whereas his best bowling figure stands at 7/75 – all that from just 8 matches.

Talk about his performance in the shortest format of the game, his bowling average falls at 22.52 in comparison with 24.10 that he manages in the First-Class cricket.

While his bowling records impress equally in the List A career, his batting ability lower-down the order often comes handy. It was seen during the Quadrangular series finale – in August this year – where he and Rishi Dhawan paired to add 93 runs for the seventh wicket that thumped Australia A in a close encounter at Marrara Oval in Australia.

The same kind of hitting he did during the 1st ODI between India and Sri Lanka at Barabati Stadium of Cuttack: scored 14 off just 4 balls that he faced, out of which two went on for sixes as India put 363/5 on board after brilliant centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan for the first wicket.

His bowling figure of 3/40 in the 3rd ODI at Hyderabad even left R Ashwin shy of him who managed just one at the expense of 43 runs. Note that Akshar Patel bowled a maiden over too.

At the age of just 20, Akshar Patel, however, has had a brilliant start to his career. While it may be too early to comment on his all-rounding ability, especially his comparison with Ravindra Jadeja for an ODI slot, performing at the international level is one thing and staying there while improvising your own game is another.

But when he said “I have set a goal, to play for India when I am 23 or 24, and I am working towards that” in an interview last year, it can be assumed he knows his game even better.

1. Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals)

Shane Watson

101 off 61 balls vs Chennai Super Kings: A part of the Rajasthan Royals since 2008, Shane Watson smashed the first ton of IPL and still ended up on the wrong side. Watson will consider himself unfortunate as all the other centuries of the tournament ended up in a winning cause.

2. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Chris Gayle

175* off 66 balls vs Pune Warriors: The giant Jamaican is one of the finest exponents of the T20 game. The lazy gait overshadows the raw power and timing that is generated by minimal footwork. Considering his previous bashings of the bowlers, this one was expected. For Pune Warriors India bowlers, it was their bad luck that Gayle chose them. Records tumbled as Gayle knocked fastest century in history of cricket, highest T20 score and most sixes (17).

3. Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)

Suresh Raina

100* off 53 balls vs Kings XI Punjab: The last time Raina celebrated a century in IPL was when he reached 98 and mistook it for a century in 2009. He had to wait four years to slam his maiden IPL century and he did it in style against Kings XI. Once again he celebrated when on 99 and thankfully he reached his century.

4. David Miller (Kings XI Punjab)

David Miller

101* off 38 balls vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: While everyone were talking about Gayle, David Miller was fancying his chances against RCB. Facing an improbable target after losing three wickets in eight overs, Miller played a blinder and made Virat Kohli pay for one of those rare dropped catches. Such was his ferocity that RCB bowlers ran out of idea and by the time they came up, Miller had finished the game with two overs to spare.

Even as they have journeyed from the famous Ponting vs. Tendulkar debates during India-Australia clashes to 'Pondulkar', the two batting maestros of cricket failed to create a similar magic for the Mumbai Indians. With only 109-runs between them, Ricky Ponting must either promote Rohit Sharma or Ambati Rayudu ahead of him.

If the backbone fractured Delhi Daredevils were underwhelming with David Warner-Unmukt Chand as the openers, the the arrival of Virender Sehwag hasn't assuaged their concern. Though, skipper Mahela Jayawardene has been among runs, Delhi yet to find the perfect combination.

With Chris Gayle being their key player, RCB has tried Tilakaratne Dilshan, Mayank Agarwal and Lokesh Rahul in the opening slot and yet to figure out the best. An all-guns-blazing Bangalore have competitive players in them, but none to partner Gayle at top.

The newbie in the house, SunRisers comprises T20 specialist batsmen but lacks local talents. With four-overseas players rule, they need local talent to post a bug score on the board.

The defending champions, KKR, could open with either Jacques Kallis or Eoin Morgan as opener since Bisla is consistently falling short with runs. With Gautam Gambhir doing well at top, Manoj Tiwary should be promoted to the No.3 slot. Nevertheless, they have been one of the most balanced sides of IPL.

Pune Warriors is one side which is replete with all-rounders. They should persist with Robin Uthappa-Aaron Finch as an opening pair. Middle-order batting is a cause to worry though as the too fragile to convert starts though problem lies in the shaky middle-order which is leaking wickets rather scoring runs.

The Rahul Dravid-led Royals where the batting revolves around Shane Watson, Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Dravid at no. 3 has been delivering consistently. Rahane has continued from where he left last year, amassing runs. Brad Hodge has been a reliable finisher for them.

Kings XI has not been given good starts by Adam Gilchrist and Mandeep Singh. The middle order has been quite consistent but need the openers to fire to exert dominance on the opposition.

They have always been slow-starters but have also been the most consistent side. With Vijay showing some form, Michael Hussey would be the best man to join him at the top. The middle-order’s over dependence on Dhoni is a worry though.

In between all these attractions of money and glamour, what fascinates you to follow IPL – T20 format, your home team, favorite players or what else?

Let me say, isn’t it the formation of players that every club has? Likes of Australians calmly/gracefully sharing dressing room with their ancestor enemies – Poms, merged with pace of Africa, designed with patience of Lankans, electricity of Kiwis, all-rounding ability of Windies and never-say-die attitude of Bangladesh within Indian heroics.

Exactly, this is the term that defines IPL as most reputed T20 Cricket League ever.

Today, let’s talk about some cricket resides in IPL – century holders and their contributions, interesting defense of Daredevils and who is gaining actual benefits of IPL!

Though, IPL snatches all charms and headlines in its debuted match.

That swashbuckling inning of KKR’s Brendon McCullum (158* vs RCB) kicked off IPL in a style. Beginning with a blast, year 2008 brought new investors to cricket.

All different cricket talk and analysis, team formations, hours of debates on predictions, team-strengths and weaknesses, respective performances are given credit. In reply, IPL, too, gave fabulous matches, breath-taking finishes, close-win, unfortunate defeats and much-anticipated tied matches.

Season-1 (2008):

Beginning with a ton wasn’t enough though, as Mike Hussey of CSK came with another century (116* vs KXIP) on day-2. A string of 13 sixes in that inning is still an IPL record. T20 league that begun for betterment of Indian players; sadly none of any local boy gestured with a ton.

And at the end of season-1, we have a SIX of IPL tons and entertainers being McCullum, Hussey, Symonds, GilChrist, Jayasuriya and Shaun Marsh – four from Australia and each from New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Interestingly, season-1 witnessed crazy stat of ‘two Australians’. Symonds & GilChrist scored tons with a strike rate of 220+ for the same franchise – Deccan Chargers. Whereas Rajasthan Royals, winner of 2008 IPL season, witnessed century celebrations of Symonds and Shaun Marsh against themselves.

Season-2 (2009):

In 2009, IPL moved to Rainbow Nation – South Africa. Bouncy track, fast pitches; selection of Africans over other overseas players was an obvious point. Reason being – home conditions. Unlike season-1, IPL-2 had only two centurions – an African and an Indian.

Young Manish Pandey bagged title of ‘First Indian IPL centurion’ (at Centurion, SA). Playing for RCB, his 100 came against mind game of Symonds who constantly tried to distract his focus. This ton is special, not because it came from an Indian player; but also, it came from a 21-year old lad that too on African soil. Whereas, AB de Villiers being another centurion for IPL-2.

Though, Suresh Raina of CSK was supposed to be the first Indian IPL centurion who scored a brave 98 runs against Rajasthan Royals at Centurion, SA. A tough catch by Graeme Smith restricted him; else it could have been a boundary for a ton celebration.

Season-3 (2010):

IPL-3 came and we’re back to India. Drawing inspiration from Manish Pandey, two other Indians – Yusuf Pathan and Murali Vijay impressed with respective art. Pathan, who represented Rajasthan Royals that year, grabbed fastest IPL ton (100 off 37 balls, vs Mumbai Indians). His strike rate of 270.27 is the highest ever by any centurion in all IPL seasons.

Second highest run scorer for CSK in 2010, Murali Vijay’s ton (127 off 56 balls) vs Rajasthan Royals set a record for Chennai – highest team total (246-5) in any IPL season.

With continuing Australians charms to IPL, David Warner joined IPL Century club in season-3. Words with KKR, who were sympathize with two centuries against themselves. Double ‘D’ – David Warner and Mahela Jayawardene (abbreviated for Denagamage Proboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene) did this honor for Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab respectively.

Season-4 (2011):

A year to be written in golden words for Indian cricket and their dominance towards World Cup 2011. World Champions, India, without enough celebrations shattered in club teams to fill IPL outfits.

And no surprises, Indians sparkled in front of club spectators, too. One hand, Sachin and Sehwag treated themselves with an IPL century; on the other hand, a new name has been added to IPL stars – Paul Valthathy. Recognized as next sensation after Yusuf Pathan, his inning of 120* runs against CSK did the job. Most 4s in an IPL inning (19 fours) and the boy from Mumbai has become a local star for Punjab.

Though, IPL-4 had lots more to remember for. Who can forget Gayle-force and that too twice; wrapped in a single season. Playing for RCB, century-knock against Kolkata (102*) and Punjab (107) made him first IPL player to have two century in the kitty. Moreover, he is the only player to score two IPL centuries under the same club and the only holder of two centuries in single season.

Adam GilChrist is the second who has two IPL centuries under his belt. His second ton came against RCB while playing for Punjab in 2011.

Season-5 (2012):

IPL-5 and now slightly tagged with boredom. Reason could be too much cricket or debacle of Indians at International arena. After all, we’re playing in India and how can see them losing again.

Yet, a new ray for India’s future has arrived in form of Ajinkya Rahane. New centurion in list and thankfully, an Indian addition. Rahane who is playing as an opener, a ton (103*) against strong RCB adds more value to his role and style. Representing Rajasthan Royals this year, Son of Mumbai expected to be the next Dravid in line.

Kevin Pietersen hardly has a complete IPL season (due to national responsibilities); this year gifted him with a ton.

Conceptual benefit:

After all excuses, for most of the overseas players; IPL is a platform to find form and fitness. If BCCI began this league for calculating Indian benefits, then sorry to say we need to be smarter though. Inclusion of four foreign players is a key point for other boards to count on.

A fair comparison: IPL hundreds' distribution between Indian and non-Indian players

A Skipper has seven nations to choose four foreign players; but for rest of the team, Indians are the only options. Henceforth, it demands more fitness and performing skills comparatively.

However, from beginning it’s been a place for young lads to perform and attract selectors for promotion – national cap. Likes of Watson, Marsh, Wayne Parnell, Angelo Mathews, and JP Duminy are the prime examples of it. Their potential at international level is alike of IPL where Indians stands? Remember Yusuf Pathan, Ravinder Jadeja, Ashwin, Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav, Sudeep Tyagi and Rahul Sharma. These are few examples, list is quite long though.

Still, tournament is in progress and more gems are expected to extend this list. Hope they will keep promising performances at supreme level too.

In the end, just a surprising stat.

You know, Delhi Daredevils being the only team who don’t have a single century against them (considering all IPL seasons; else count on Pune too).

Graphics: Monika Arora