The Indian Premier League Season 10 got off to a swaggering start with some rousing performances and thrilling finishes. Here is Sportstar’s pick of players who lit up the first week of the IPL.
The left-hander played a whirlwind knock in the Indian Premier League opener, scripting Sunrisers Hyderabad’s comprehensive victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sporting a weird hairdo, Yuvraj, alongside Moises Henriques, toyed with the bowling, hitting seven fours and three sixes in his 27-ball 62. Yuvraj’s innings was marked by pulls and lofted strokes that reminded the spectators of the impact the batsman can have when in peak form.
The Australia captain carried his hot form in the recently concluded Test series against India into the Indian Premier League, scoring an unbeaten 84 in Rising Pune Supergiant’s last-over victory against Mumbai Indians. Smith was quick to pounce on loose deliveries, and he paced his innings smartly, running the singles and twos besides hitting boundaries. He eventually finished the game with a ball to spare hammering two consecutive sixes.
The explosive batsman came into his own for Kolkata Knight Riders against Gujarat Lions with an awesome display of power-hitting in his unbeaten 93. Playing alongside Gautam Gambhir, Lynn tore into the Lions’ bowlers. He hit all eight sixes in the Knight Riders innings, helping his team cross the line with more than five overs to spare. His strikes were strong, flat and sometimes way long — all executed with nonchalance.
The diminutive batsman muscled his way to a 37-ball 69 that helped Royal Challengers Bangalore defeat Delhi Daredevils by 15 runs on April 8. After having started somewhat sedately, Jadhav picked the bowlers he wanted to target — leg-spinner Amit Mishra and seamer Carlos Brathwaite. With a resourceful and entertaining stroke-play, he struck two sixes and two fours off both bowlers. He helped RCB post 157, a total that was defended with an effective bowling performance.
The Kings XI Punjab captain scripted his team’s win over Rising Pune Supergiant, ‘leading from the front’ with smart tactics and thoughtful captaincy, besides superb batting. Chasing 164 for victory, Maxwell took control of his team’s innings after KXIP was reduced to 84 for 5 in the 12th over. He scored an unbeaten, 20-ball 44, combining with South African David Miller to ensure his team’s victory with an over to spare. Maxwell and Miller, who scored an unbeaten 30, put on 79 for the fifth wicket off 7.5 overs.
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