IPL hits and misses Some fire, while others fizzle out
27 May 2017 3:12 PM GMT
Hits
Gautam Gambhir
The Kolkata Knight Riders skipper was the second-highest run getter and his shrewd captaincy led his team into the Playoffs, where they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in a rain-curtailed eliminator. His team's luck, however, ran out when they lost to Mumbai Indians in the Qualifier 2.
David Warner
Another diminutive southpaw skipper who let the bat do his talking, Warner won the Orange Cap and led from the front in the Eliminator against KKR. However, rain played spoilsport and resulted in his heroic performances – including the 126 against KKR on April 30 – going in vain.
Bhuvaneswar Kumar
Muttiah Muralitharan praised Kumar as being the best bowler in the IPL and the latter proved it to be true by winning the Purple Cap with 26 wickets. Unfortunately, like Warner, this could not showcase his antics in the rain-hit Eliminator, which KKR won by chasing the Duckworth/Lewis score.
Steve Smith
2016 was the Australian skipper's annus mirabilis and he carried his good form into IPL by leading Rising Pune Supergiants into an unlucky finale against Mumbai Indians. Smith ended fourth in the top run getters' list and his captaincy also led to a change of fortunes for RPS, who had finished eighth last season.
.
Jasprit Bumrah
The 23-year-old seamer, third in the wicket-takers' list, displayed remarkable consistency and maturity to help Mumbai Indians win the finale. With 20 scalps in 16 games, Bumrah was the main spearhead as the likes of Malinga, Johnson, Southee and McClenaghan took the back seat.
Misses
Virat Kohli
Given the Indian skipper's own lofty standards, it's only logical that he finds himself in this list. Despite being the highest run-getter for his team, the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper had his worst IPL season in 2017. Kohli scored just 308 runs in 10 games, while his team won only three games.
David Miller
As one of Kings XI Punjab's swashbuckling hitters, a lot was expected of the South African. However, with only 83 runs in five outings, Miller was nothing short of a disappointment for the KXIP.
Ishant Sharma
The lanky pace spearhead put in some decent performances for India during the Test season. Unfortunately, with no wickets in six games, he did no favour to Kings XI Punjab, who bought him as a back-up.
Ravindra Jadeja
A lot is always expected from the gifted all-rounder. His performances for India in Test led him to the top of the ICC Bowlers ranking, but this year's IPL was not his, or Gujarat Lions' cup of tea. In 10 innings, Jadeja scored a little over 150 runs and only took a paltry 5 wickets in 12 innings.
Chris Gayle
Royal Challengers Bangalore could not have had it worse; neither could the hulking Jamaican. While his team finished last this season, Gayle – who won the Orange Cap twice in previous editions – managed only 200 runs in 9 games.
Next Story
