If it’s IPL, there’s gonna be entertainment.
And that’s a guarantee.
With the 11th season of IPL already coming to an end, the cricket franchise has stayed true to its name and has assured its fans of a ton of fun, exciting matches their way.
IPL isn’t really IPL if not for all the thrilling, nail-biting finishes we see and the latest match between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad for the ticket to the final was only a testimony to that.
So, here we present you the topmost unexpected, table-turning, scintillating moments of IPL 2018:
1. Rayadu’s Resurrection
Ambati Rayadu was our forgotten hero until now. From being on the sidelines of Cricket and being called “Ambavati” by Nita Ambani in an interview once, Rayadu has come a long way.
Rayadu 2.0 is more powerful, skilled and focussed to take his team to the top.
Crossing more than 500 runs this season with a strike rate of 150+, he scored his first-ever Twenty20 hundred to guide the Chennai Super Kings into the playoffs.
The new Rayadu is just proving to become an underrated asset for his team and has changed from a person who would carelessly throw his wicket away in attempting to hit a six on a wrong delivery to a seasoned batsman.
2. Gambhir’s Exile
In a never seen before moment, Gautam Gambhir assumed the responsibility of Delhi Daredevils’ disastrous opening performance and stepped down from the captaincy.
His gamble paid off well too, because Delhi FLOURISHED under Shreyas Iyer’s charge. Delhi began winning matches and it’s openers finally started doing what they were supposed to do (read: hitting runs).
Fans surmise if Iyer had been in charge from the very first match and Prithvi Shaw and Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane been given their place in the playing eleven, Delhi *could* have made it to the playoffs.
Also Read: In Pics: 5 Young Unknown Talented Players You Need To Watch Out For In IPL 2018
3. CSK Ruling The Points Table YET Again
CSK does have a tendency to write the finest scripts (yes, pun intended).
As much as you and I’d like to hate CSK, you can’t deny having this mad respect for them.
9 Playoffs
7 Finals
6 Fair Play
4 Overall Trophies
2 IPL Trophy
1 Captain
And in a usual series of events, CSK qualified for their way into the finals by winning over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1.
They come and get the job done in the most effortless way.
4. Evolution of Sunil Narine
Narine just like his fellow teammates in West Indies team was a hard hitter, pinching runs from here and there.
His batting stint started only when his predecessors had been injured. When Andre Russel went missing from KKR’s squad, and Dwayne Bravo from Melbourne Renegades, Narine stepped up and made everyone aware of his expendable batting range.
He slowly went on from becoming a bowler to an all-rounder.
“He made 75 off 36 at the top of the order, and got the crucial wicket of KL Rahul (66 off 29). “What I liked the most about him was that he was mature, he batted through. He doesn’t think of himself as a pinch-hitter anymore. He thinks of himself as a batsman who can contribute, which is big,” – said KKR’s captain Dinesh Karthik.
5. The Young Future Brigade
IPL has always promoted young talent. Success stories of uncapped players, becoming viral sensations because of the star-studded league are numerous.
With the season coming to an end, some young players have been successful in making their mark in the game and have maybe grabbed the attention of the selectors too.
Shreyas Iyer’s 93*, on his debut as a captain, Rishabh Pant’s AB De Villiers-esque knocks, Prithvi Shaw replicating Tendulkar in his footwork and Sehwag in his running between the wickets (much to fans’ amusement) and Washington Sundar’s brilliant tryst as a finger spinner is just a teaser to these youngsters’ potential and talent.
IPL 2018 has been a treat to watch so far because just like always it was a passionate celebration of the game of Cricket.
ODI and Test Cricket fans can always argue about the necessity, validity of IPL, but the fact still remains that IPL is a beautiful, diverse, inclusive Cricket league which sees cricketers from all walks of life battling it out on the pitch for their passionate fans.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: ESPN, Indian Express, Hindustan Times
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