IPL Week 1: We call it Best vs Best for a reason!

The Indian Premier League is touted to be the ‘Best vs Best’ for a reason.

It’s just been over a week that the fiery fest of the IPL has returned with its eleventh edition and we have already witnessed record-breaking batting efforts to nail-biting last-ball thrillers in 12 matches so far.

So, here’s a weekly catch up and the highlights that lamented in the stadiums when the eight teams clashed with each other:

Sunrisers Hyderabad starts off with a bang

Sunrisers Hyderabad was staring into the abyss after BCCI barred David Warner from the IPL. The team lost their skipper and their leading run-scorer of last two seasons still, they have started off the tournament with a bang.

Hyderabad leads the points table with six points and has all their three matches.

Their new skipper Kane Williamson has taken the lead from the front and has embraced the responsibility with ease. Moreover, Shikhar Dhawan’s consistent knocks have troubled all the bowlers and he has scored 130 runs at a strike rate of 141.30 in three matches.

Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan have efficiently filled up Warner’s shoes and have clinched all their three victories in style.

Shuddering start for defending champions

Mumbai Indians are conventionally slow starters and they have started off their IPL campaign this year on a disappointing note as well.

The defending champions are sitting on the last spot with three losses at the end of the first week.

They lost their tournament opener to Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad by one wicket in the last over.

Their defeat against Delhi Daredevils also came with no balls to spare.

Mayank Markande- the new kid on the block

Mayank Markande showed his prowess in the very first game against Chennai Super Kings and has claimed seven wickets so far in the tournament.

The 20-year old leggie also earned the praise of Afghanistan pacer Rashid Khan who said that he was quite impressed with Markande.

Best Knock:

There were plenty of blitzkriegs which stole the limelight. But, Andre Russell stood out last week.

Though his unbeaten 88 off 36-ball against Chennai couldn’t help KKR win, his innings impressed us all.

His innings comprised just one four, and 11 huge sixes, including a couple that went out of the ground.  It equalled the record for most sixes in any T20 innings of less than 100.

Best Spell:

17-year-old Mujeeb Ur Rahman created a huge impression in the last week.

Kings XI Punjab’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman returned with 2/28 against Delhi in his first outing and then 1/29 against Bangalore.

Speaking at the presentation, MS Dhoni called Mujeeb the ‘big difference’ that snatched the game away from Chennai.

Against Chennai, Rahman bowled three overs- the sixth, the tenth and the twelfth over conceding only eighteen runs.

Stats corner:

Sanju Samson hit ten sixes during his knock of unbeaten 92 off 45 balls against Bangalore. It was the second most in any sub-100 innings in the IPL.

Andre Russell hit 11 sixes in his 88* against Chennai Super Kings.

It is the highest sub-100 innings in the IPL.

Quote of the Week:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni suffered a back injury yet he continued to play. After being asked how he managed to continue even after an injury he responded, “…God has given me enough power. I don’t need to use my back a lot. The hand can do the job.”