mid-day.com looks at the performances that made headlines in the third week of the IPL T20 tournament.
Delhi Capitals spinner R Ashwin decided to take a break from the IPL to be with his family who are putting up a fight against COVID-19. PIC/BCCI; IPL
Off-field drama
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The third week of IPL was filled with off-field drama with many foreign players apart from India and Delhi Capitals (DC) off-spinner R Ashwin and top Indian umpire Nitin Menon opting out of the cash-rich T20 league due to personal reasons and rising cases of COVID-19 in the country. The fear of being locked out of their own country after Australia announced suspending air travel from India till May 15 drove many Aussies to exit the bio-bubble. However, the BCCI went on to assure foreign players and coaches of a safe return once the tourney is over.
CSK take top spot
CSK players celebrate a wicket of RCB’s Harshal Patel at Wankhede last Sunday. PIC/BCCI; IPL
The ongoing edition has seen a big turnaround for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after finishing last season seventh. MS Dhoni’s men began their campaign on a losing note but made a strong comeback to win five matches in a row. Week 3 witnessed the three-time champions beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by big margins—69 runs and seven wickets (with nine balls to spare) respectively—to better their net run rate and take the top spot.
37 off one over
Ravindra Jadeja smashes one for a six against RCB at Wankhede last Sunday. PIC/BCCI; IPL
CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja equalled an IPL record by smashing 37 runs in a seven-ball over off in-form RCB right-arm pacer Harshal Patel at Wankhede last Sunday. Jadeja, who was dropped on zero by Dan Christian off Washington Sundar, smashed five sixes in the 20th over to take CSK from 154-4 to 191-4. The ball sequence in the last over read: 6, 6, 6 (off a no ball), 6 (free hit), 2, 6 and 4. The all-rounder had a brilliant day with the ball too, claiming 3-13 off four overs as CSK went on to win by 69 runs.
Low-scoring encounters
Punjab Kings’ Moises Henriques is bowled by KKR’s Sunil Narine at Ahmedabad last Monday. PIC/BCCI; IPL
The past week witnessed three below-par scores by teams batting first. Mumbai Indians managed just 131-6 against Punjab Kings at Chennai last Friday. In reply, Punjab won by nine wickets and 14 balls to spare. The following day, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) scored just 133-9 in the allotted 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals. Skipper Sanju Samson scored an unbeaten 42 to take RR home with seven balls to spare. Last Monday, Punjab managed just 123-9. KKR, in reply, chased the target easily with 20 balls to spare.
Sunset for Hyderabad?
Sunrisers Hyderabad players celebrate the wicket of CSK’s Faf du Plessis at New Delhi on Wednesday. PIC/BCCI; IPL
Luck isn’t going Sunrisers’ way this season with the 2016 champions losing both their games in Week 3 to slip to the bottom of the table - five defeats in six matches. The David Warner-led side came close to winning against Delhi Capitals on Sunday before going down in the Super Over. On Wednesday, Sunrisers lost to CSK despite scoring 171-3 as the Dhoni-led side chased the target comfortably with nine balls to spare. Sunrisers will hope for a turnaround in the upcoming games as they need to win at least seven out of the last eight matches to earn a playoff spot.
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