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As India prepare to play their 1000th ODI, ESPNcricinfo looks back at some of their most iconic moments in the format

Yash Jha04-Feb-2022Belief from the Berbice win

Eleven weeks ahead of the third men’s ODI World Cup, India’s ODI record made for bleak reading: 11 wins in 38 matches. And although six of those wins had come outside India, only one happened to be in a World Cup, when they beat East Africa in 1975.But in Berbice, and amid a raft of issues – Sunil Gavaskar’s sacking as captain, and talk of a zonal rift in the camp – they became the first team to beat a full-strength West Indies in their own backyard.Gavaskar played one of his finest one-day knocks – 90 off 117 balls – and Kapil Dev bludgeoned 72 off just 38 deliveries as India posted 282 in 47 overs, a score which would remain their highest ODI total till 1987. The seamers Kapil, Balwinder Sandhu and Madan Lal then took two wickets apiece, while Ravi Shastri took 3 for 48, as the two-time world champions were held to 255.”It’s this particular win that helps convince many of us that we may well be able to pull our weight together as a team,” Kapil would write in his autobiography .Kapil Dev cracked 175* off 138 balls and rescued India from the depths of 17 for 5•Getty ImagesTurnaround at Tunbridge Wells

The game that no one saw; yet the game that no one has forgotten.India began their 1983 World Cup campaign with a famous win over West Indies at Old Trafford – the first time the champions had lost a World Cup match – but one week on, having suffered a heavy loss to Australia before West Indies avenged their defeat, India had entered virtual knockout territory.And against Zimbabwe, the pressure told: the wheels had come off less than an hour into the match. After deciding to bat, India’s top five were all gone with the total at 17, as Peter Rawson and Kevin Curran did the early damage. And it was after this that Kapil cracked 175* off 138 balls, single-handedly taking India all the way to 266.Quite possibly, it was the most important innings in Indian cricket history, arguably one of the finest ever in limited-overs cricket and certainly the greatest knock for which there is no footage available anywhere.As Kapil soared to a then world-record ODI score, India’s flight of fancy had truly taken off.Lords at Lord’s

Zimbabwe had been defeated, Australia were brushed aside in a virtual quarter-final and England were eliminated in the semi-finals. Yet, no one gave India a chance in the final, as they stepped onto Lord’s to take on West Indies for the third time in the tournament.With India bowled out for 183 and Viv Richards having led West Indies to 50 for 1, even the optimistic few had given up. But that is when Richards top-edged a pull off Madan Lal, and Kapil at square leg turned around and ran, and kept running until he completed the catch close to the boundary rope.A few hours later, with West Indies crumbling as Lal and Player-of-the-Final Mohinder Amarnath bagged three wickets each, the Indian flag was flying over the home of cricket. The world champions had been dislodged; a force had awakened.If you thought 1983 was a fluke, 1985 proved you wrong•Getty ImagesAnother global crown

Less than two years after the 1983 World Cup triumph, another ODI crown was up for grabs – this time the World Championship of Cricket in Australia. The reigning world champions lived up to their billing with an unblemished group-stage display, earning comfortable wins over Pakistan, England and Australia, before overcoming New Zealand in their semi-final to set up a title clash with Pakistan.Kapil – no longer captain, with Gavaskar reinstated in 1984 – provided a dream start with the ball along with Chetan Sharma, as Pakistan crumbled to 33 for 4. Just as Javed Miandad and Imran Khan appeared to be stitching a recovery, up stepped Laxman Sivaramakrishnan to have Miandad stumped, and Pakistan eventually ended with 176.A century opening stand between Kris Srikkanth, who was the Player of the Final, and Shastri, the Player of the Tournament, rendered the chase a mere formality, as India won by eight wickets. As far as India-Pakistan showdowns go, this was far from a classic, but it stamped India’s arrival as a consistent side in the format.125 and all that

Less than two weeks later, the arch-rivals were locking horns in another multi-team tournament, all the way across from Melbourne to Sharjah. Pakistan seemed headed for instant redemption when Imran Khan’s stunning 6 for 14 saw India dismissed for just 125.But Kapil – clearly the man for rainy days – wasn’t giving up so easily, and with spinners Sivaramakrishnan and Shastri providing admirable company, India bowled Pakistan out for just 87. No lower total had been successfully defended in men’s ODIs at the time; only once has the mark been bettered since.India chased down a 300-plus target for the first time to win the Independence Cup final in 1998•AFPBattle of Bangalore

India and Pakistan have met several times at the World Cup, but hardly any of their contests have had the edge of this feisty encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium: co-hosts against defending champions in a knockout clash.Pakistan captain Wasim Akram’s last-minute pullout added to the tension, but it wasn’t a patch on the drama that was to follow. Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 93 gave India a platform to build on, before Ajay Jadeja’s stunning assault on Waqar Younis propelled them to 287, as 50 runs came from the last three overs.But Pakistan blazed away to 84 in their first ten, and despite Saeed Anwar’s dismissal, Aamer Sohail continued hitting. He took on Venkatesh Prasad, at one stage gesturing to the local boy to go fetch the ball from the boundary. Prasad, though, had the last laugh. Eventually, India waltzed into the semi-finals, where their hopes were dashed by Sri Lanka.Another decider, and another India-Pakistan match

Before this match, India had only ever posted 300-plus twice in ODIs, and only once in the history of ODIs had a target of 300-plus been successfully chased down.Saeed Anwar – that constant thorn in India’s flesh – and Ijaz Ahmed hit hundreds to take Pakistan to 314 for 5, but the Indian top order seemed to have it covered: they had coasted to 250 for 1 in 38 overs, on the back of Sourav Ganguly’s 124 and Robin Singh’s 82, to go with a 26-ball 41 from Sachin Tendulkar.With 65 required from the last ten overs – the match had been reduced to 48 overs each – a mini-collapse ensued, and it boiled down to three to win off the last two balls. That is when, in the fading Dhaka light, Hrishikesh Kanitkar swatted Saqlain Mushtaq for four and made himself a pop-quiz favourite for the ages.Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his 25th birthday with a century in the Coca Cola Cup final•AFPDancing in the aisles

It had already taken one of India’s most classic losses for them to be in this final – Tendulkar’s desert-storm epic two days earlier against the same opponents had been enough for India to cross the score they required to qualify for the title clash. But in the final, Tendulkar went the distance to celebrate his 25th birthday.Nearly 25 years on, the sights and sounds of that April evening remain a clear memory for so many: Tendulkar dancing down the track for fun against Shane Warne, memorably, but also against Tom Moody and Steve Waugh; the spectators, immortalised by the words of Tony Grieg on air, dancing in the aisles, and India acing a steep chase to land another multi-team trophy.And this one also had Kanitkar applying the final touch with a boundary.Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif conjured up a magical partnership at Lord’s•PA PhotosMiracle at Lord’s – again

The trophy cabinet had started to run dry post the 1998 high – after winning five out of six multi-team tournament finals in 1998 alone, India had lost nine successive finals from 1999 to 2001. There was a loss in the ICC Champions Trophy final in 2000, there were maulings to sub-continent rivals, there were tough defeats to higher-ranked teams, there were unexpected losses to lower-ranked teams… it was becoming an unwanted specialty.With this backdrop, cut to the halfway stage of the second innings at Lord’s: chasing 326, India were 146 for 5 after 24 overs, Tendulkar had just walked back to the pavilion, and at the crease were two youngsters with less than 60 matches between them.That was when Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif conjured something magical. Yuvraj dominated the 121-run association, and Kaif kept his nerve in a tense finish.It was, at the time, the second-highest successful chase in ODIs. And Ganguly, captain through most of that barren finals run, expressed his relief with a topless celebration on the Lord’s balcony.The wheels for India’s success in 2011 were set in motion with the CB Series win in 2008•Getty ImagesOn top down under

Twenty-three years on from their World Championship of Cricket triumph, India hadn’t won another final in Australia. In three attempts, they had failed to take any of the best-of-three finals to even a third game. This time, they were up against an Australian outfit that might have been on their final legs, but were still three-time defending ODI world champions. India, starting their own transition, faced an early test in their three-year plan towards world domination with a new captain at the helm.For all the talk of transition, and in the midst of some high-profile exits, it was the old guard who dominated the deciders: Tendulkar chose an opportune moment to register his first ODI hundred in Australia, helping India complete a 240-run chase in Sydney. He almost got another two days later, scoring 91 in Brisbane, before Praveen Kumar and co defended 258.The third final wasn’t needed this time either; the wheels had been set in motion.Yuvraj dethrones the champions

A little over three years later, and almost exactly eight years on from the day Australia demolished their World Cup dream in Johannesburg, India ended the longest reign in the history of the competition.While they didn’t quite have the same aura as earlier, this was still an Australia that hadn’t lost a World Cup knockout game since 1996, and Ricky Ponting wasn’t done: the Australia captain’s century took his team to 260.Only twice in the history of the World Cup had higher totals been successfully chased down in knockout contests. Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir made fifties, but a middle-order meltdown meant that when MS Dhoni departed, India still needed 74 from 75 balls with the last recognised pair in the middle.Yuvraj and Suresh Raina, two men who hadn’t entered the tournament in the best vein of form, fought resolutely at the erstwhile Sardar Patel Stadium, and gave wings to India’s title hopes.Raina made among the more vital 30 not outs India have ever seen, and Yuvraj – well on the way to winning the Player-of-the-Tournament award – followed his 2 for 44 earlier in the day with an unbeaten 57, belting a drive through the off side for the winning runs before letting out a guttural roar to belie the physical strife through which he was playing the tournament.MS Dhoni promoted himself in the 2011 World Cup final, and won India the match•Getty Images Sealed with a six
The vision from 2008 came to fruition in 2011. No team had won a world title on home soil until then, and the ride had been far from smooth for India: they lost to South Africa and tied with England after scoring 338 in the group stages before the aforementioned quarter-final win against Australia, and then defended 260 against Pakistan in the semi-finals.Mahela Jayawardene’s majestic 103* led a late onslaught that took Sri Lanka to 274; no team had ever chased more than 250 to win a World Cup final. And when Tendulkar exited the World Cup stage with India 31 for 2, the nerves were beginning to fray.But Gambhir kept the Lankans at bay, stitching two of the most important partnerships in modern-day Indian cricket: 83 with Virat Kohli, and 109 with Dhoni. He fell on 97, meaning Yuvraj – who had to contend with a demotion as Dhoni promoted himself to tackle the threat of Muthiah Muralidaran – joined the skipper for the final act.Dhoni finished off in style, Tendulkar finally got his hands on the trophy, and a generation of Indian fans got to live what they had only heard of so far: a World Cup victory.

After missing out on a T20 World Cup berth, he is again underlining his importance in an era of quick legspin

Shashank Kishore07-Feb-2022In the team meeting prior to Sunday’s first ODI, India’s captain Rohit Sharma revealed to Yuzvendra Chahal that he had noticed something from afar that may have been missed. The googly seemed to have gone missing from Chahal’s repertoire in South Africa, and the importance of bringing it back, because he usually executes with great success, was underlined again.When Kieron Pollard walked out to the middle three balls into Chahal’s first over, Virat Kohli quickly ran in to say something to the bowler. There was a slip, leg slip, short midwicket, mid-on and mid-off stationed. Was Kohli reminding Chahal of a plan? Perhaps. But what followed next wasn’t utterly unpredictable.Chahal landed a perfect wrong ‘un on fourth stump. Pollard attempted a biff into the leg side but was far from the pitch of the delivery. The ball dipped on him and beat his swing to crash into the stumps. It was ODI wicket No. 101 for Chahal. Only a ball earlier, he had Nicholas Pooran misjudging the length to be given lbw to a full delivery. He had bowled a straighter line – the legbreak coming out of the front of his hand – with more sidespin.Related

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“If I missed my length, there was an 80% chance of Pollard hitting me for six with that one,” Chahal told Rohit in a post-game chat on . “As you pointed out, I also realised [that] the more I mix it up, [and] the more I googlies I bowl, the better my legspin is.”The ball that followed Pollard’s dismissal was another wrong ‘un. A short leg was specifically placed for the lob. When new man Jason Holder stabbed at it without any conviction, the ball took the thick inside edge only to fall short of the fielder. Chahal was now in his element. Using the crease well, varying his trajectory and angles. The wrong ‘un was coming out of the hand superbly.Across 29 overs in South Africa, Chahal had bowled just 22 wrong ‘uns for one wicket. The South Africans had taken him for 6.27 to the over with the googlies, much higher than his overall economy of 4.42, variations included, since July 2018. It wasn’t as if the higher economy was made up for with more wickets; he managed just two in three games. But on Sunday, inside one just over, he had bowled two rippers and created two chances – one resulted in a wicket, the other missing narrowly.Legspinners the world over speak of their craft as being a confidence game. Sure, it may be true of every other facet of the game too, but legspin bowlers in particular need that much more going their way because their margin of error is at the bare minimum on surfaces largely tailored for batters. This margin for error reduces further when dew kicks in. This confidence only comes from having executed repeatedly, and with a great degree of success.After only four wickets at an economy of 8.26 in the first half of IPL 2021, Chahal bounced back to take 14 at 6.13 in the second leg•BCCI/IPLWhen Chahal was left out of the T20 World Cup squad, it appeared from the outside that the selectors had lost faith in his modus operandi of bowling loopy legbreaks mixed with his wrong ‘uns. Suddenly, “more pace on the ball” became the buzzword. In giving a rare peek into selection, Chetan Sharma, the chief selector, said they “needed a spinner who can find grip off the surface and deliver with slightly more speed”, while explaining the Rahul Chahar-vs-Chahal debate.When the World Cup started, Chahar found himself on the bench. It wasn’t long after that India were knocked out of semi-final contention and Chahar eventually got a look-in. Four wicketless overs for 30, and off he went. He went with the India A squad on the shadow tour to South Africa and finished his only four-day outing with figures of 1 for 125 across 28.3 overs. And Chahal, who appeared to have fallen off the radar, was back again for the home T20Is against New Zealand.Between his axe and recall, the selectors had a first-hand view of Chahal during the second leg of last year’s IPL. When the IPL came to a grinding halt in May due to Covid-19, Chahal had four wickets in seven games at an economy of 8.26. But when the league restarted in September, he was bowling at another level, finishing the season by picking another 14 wickets in eight games at an economy of 6.13 while in the UAE. It is perhaps these numbers and his performances at large that dictated his selection, even though his numbers in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s that followed were far from impressive: one wicket in five games at an economy of 8.47.The one thing Rohit has stressed on repeatedly has been the need to give role clarity to players and give them a long rope to ensure they don’t feel the axe hangs over them. This is perhaps why they went with Chahal’s experience in Ahmedabad, considering they also had two spinners – Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav – coming back from injuries.There would have been the temptation to play the rather quicker legspinner in Ravi Bishnoi, but in giving Chahal the first go, it seemed a clear sign of Chahal continuing to be a key member of the squad. And his Player-of-the-Match 4 for 49 was merely another reiteration that in an era of quick wristspin, bowlers like him who bowl slower through the air can equally make a massive impact.Rohit’s words to Chahal at the end of the same interview were particularly revealing. “You’re a very important player for us. I want you to play with the same mindset. There will be ups and downs but it’s important to have the right mindset.”As an experienced bowler who is rediscovering some of the lost mojo, this is all you want to hear from your captain.

Sunrisers Hyderabad had a chance to dismiss Rovman Powell when he had scored 18 off 14. They let it slip, and he duly made them pay

S Rajesh05-May-20223:05

What has gone wrong for Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Kane Williamson has had a wretched IPL with the bat so far – his strike rate of 96.1 is the lowest among batters who have faced at least 100 balls this season – but tonight his usually reliable catching let him down too, when he dropped a regulation chance from Rovman Powell in the 15th over of Delhi Capitals’ innings.Capitals had scored 135 for 3 after 14 overs, but Powell hadn’t yet fully got into his stride: he had 18 off 14 at that point. After that chance, though, he went into overdrive, slamming 49 off 20 balls. Five of his six sixes, and all three of his fours, came after that let-off.ESPNcricinfo LtdAccording to ESPNcricinfo’s Luck Index, that dropped chance cost Sunrisers Hyderabad 14 runs, which means had the catch been taken, Capitals would have finished on 193, not 207. This calculation is based on a complex algorithm, which assumes that if Powell were dismissed off that delivery, the 20 extra balls he faced would have gone to the batters who didn’t bat in the innings. In those 20 deliveries, according to the algorithm, Capitals would have scored 35 and not 49.In the end, the margin of defeat was more than 14, but it can be argued that Sunrisers might not have been so desperate for the big hits had the target been 14 runs fewer.Capitals dropped a catch too, when Lalit Yadav missed a tough one at long-off from Nicholas Pooran in the 18th over, but in the context of the match that chance didn’t cost them much: Pooran hit a six off the next ball and was then dismissed, caught at long-on.

Kent’s Old Father Time heads for Lord’s after latest display of unfinished business

Cameron Ponsonby30-Aug-2022It was the best of times. It was the worst of times, as Kent won a thriller at the Ageas Bowl thanks to an phenomenal all-round performance by a young upstart named Darren Stevens.It is by now a legal requirement that any game involving Stevens must carry him front and centre of each and every event. A living example of one of those ancient conventions that are somehow still part of our legislation. You must never walk cows down a street, gamble in a library or let Darren “Stevo” Stevens have a quiet game.In the Royal London Cup semi-final at the Ageas Bowl on Tuesday, Stevens was the most economical of the Kent bowlers with 10 overs for 45, before striking an audacious 84 not out off 65 balls to take his side to a three-wicket win and Kent’s first one-day final since 2018.It is sometimes difficult to understand whether you should spend your life in awe of Stevens or with a sense of pity. Because of his age (46 years and 122 days at time of writing), he is at times revered to the point of ridicule. Old Father Time who’s existing in the age of Twitter. Still cutting a dash, still doing his thing and still doing it far better than many that have followed him to cricket’s altar. This will be his fourth List A final (the first of his three previous defeats was in 2001), but his second county final in consecutive seasons, after a starring role in Kent’s Blast triumph last year.But then, as much as we may try to put a straight face on it and simply admire a player for the abilities he holds now while removing them from any context, it’s also impossible to do so, given just how much of an anomaly he is within the game.He is 46 years old, for God’s sake. For the first seven years of his life it wasn’t even a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt. He’s old enough to be half of his team’s dad. And given his legend around Kent, you wouldn’t be surprised to find out if he actually was.His ability and his evergreen versatility go hand-in-hand. With the ball, he was the wily old pro who sent down all ten of his overs in a row and put a stranglehold on an innings that was otherwise threatening to balloon out of control. But then with the bat, he played as “modern” an innings as you’re ever likely to see.Related

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He cut, he carved, he drove and he swept. Arriving at the crease with, in effect, five wickets in hand due to an injury to Alex Blake, and with 135 still to win off 19 overs, he marshalled the chase without any fuss or hysterics, even as he lost partners at the other end. But if Stevens conducted the process with serenity, he conducted his celebrations with anything but. The fist pumps were big, the cheers from the Kent balcony even bigger, the hugs with the family the best. I’m sorry, sir, but you can’t walk your cows down here, Stevo’s in town.And, as if to add an extra layer of flavour to the performance and some extra gusto to the celebrations, all this played out against the backdrop of Kent having announced that Stevens would be released at the end of the year. We have been here before. In 2019, Kent called time on his Canterbury tale before a battery of double-centuries and five-wicket hauls forced them to change their mind. In this competition, Stevens averages 113.5.Stevens’ farewell tour has now been going on longer than The Who’s. But whilst it may seem outlandish that he does wish to continue at his age, it is also incredibly simple.He does so because he enjoys it. Nothing more, nothing less. And why stop if that’s the case? Players speak all the time of when you know, you know. The body hurts that bit more and the excitement of heading to training no longer gets you out of bed in the morning. It’s over.And just as they know, so does Stevens. It’s just that where they knew they wished to stop, he knows he wishes to carry on. Thank you, Tokyo, this has been a once in a lifetime experience. I can’t wait to see you all again next year.

Love it or not – there’s plenty of new stuff to look forward to in the 16th season of the IPL

Alagappan Muthu29-Mar-2023*IPL horn blares*Al: No, no, no, no, no, no.Icome Inpeace: Ehhh… Ehhh….Al: What is this?Icome: It’s Planet Eyepeeyell. We changed the name as soon as I came back from Earth that last time. Remember? When you taught me all about the greatest sporting tournament in the history of forever. What do you think?Al: It’s awf– — the hook. It’s off the hook…Icome: So are you excited for the new season?Al: No.Icome: But it’s bigger and better this year!Al: They say that every year.Icome: But this time it actually is.Al: Tell me one way it’s bigger and better.Icome: Teams get to pick their XIs based on the outcome of the toss. They have provision for an impact player who could literally change the game. There’s DRS not just for wickets but for wides and no-balls.Al: I said one way.Finalising XIs after toss and the Impact Player rule will give team’s plenty to think about this season•BCCIIcome: Can you even imagine? A captain, if he has to bowl first, can stack his XI with bowlers and then swap one of them out for a batter in the chase.Al: It’s restricted to Indian players though. The impact player coming into the team can’t be an overseas pick. No wait, he can be, if there are fewer than four overseas players in the first place.Icome : That was a test.Al: Okay fine, I might have maybe sneaked a peek on ESPNcricinfo while standing in line to get my CSK jers–Icome: I knew it.Al: Shut up.Icome: Sure, but you have to appreciate the ingenuity. Rajasthan Royals, for example, can leave Devdutt Padikkal or Yashasvi Jaiswal out of their XI if they are bowling first and bring one of them in when it’s time to bat. In the meantime, if the pitch is turning, like it does in Chennai, they can call up M Ashwin or KC Cariappa to back up R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal. If it’s seam-friendly, or even neutral, they can opt for the extra pace of Kuldeep Sen. The impact player can, potentially, even out home advantage.Al: Is it weird that I can’t stop thinking about how much more fun school would’ve been if they had an impact player rule. I’d take my math test and ace it. Someone else would sit through PE.Icome: Yes. It’s weird. Definitely weird.Related

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Al: Moving on. The BBL tried something like this and ditched it …Icome: Which is exactly why the impact player has been given much greater leeway than the BBL’s x-factor substitute. He can come in at any time in the innings and take full part in the game irrespective of the work the person he is replacing has already done. Like, a team can bowl their powerplay specialist out up front and then replace him with a death-overs specialist who will still be allowed a four overs. Incredible, right? The scope of an IPL impact player is much larger than anything the cricket world has ever seen.Al: Y’know, you should DM the BCCI. They’ll really like you.Icome: And I like them. Especially now that they’ve allowed captains the chance to finalise their teams the toss. The SA20 did it first, which perhaps signalled to the IPL that they’ve got competition when it comes to innovation. Whatever happened, the fact is, now, before every game, a team gets to pick two sets of XIs and two sets of impact subs based on whether they will be batting or bowling, then depending on the outcome of the toss you lock one in and away you go. This could even minimise the effect of dew on the result. It won’t end it, because teams bowling second will always be at a disadvantage in conditions where it’s hard to grip the ball, but they’ll at least have extra options: an extra batter for when they’re batting and the ball is gripping and slowing off the pitch and an extra bowler for when they’re bowling and it feels like the runs just won’t stop.Al: Okay, I’ll admit, these new rules are cool. They’re actually a little like get-out-of-jail-free cards … except your options are limited. So you’ll have to be clever about it. You’ll have to plan ahead and, since it’s the first time, there’s also an element of hoping for the best.Icome: It’s a Shawshank situation.Al: You know Shawshank?Icome: You could say that.Allowing teams to use DRS to review wides and no-balls might prevent scenes like this one from IPL 2019•BCCIAl: Why did they extend DRS to wides and no-balls anyway?Icome: To make sure the right decision is made so everybody can calmly get on with the game.Al: You mean like VAR in football?Icome: What? No!Al: Why not? It’s a line call, being adjudicated with the help of technology, by a human being and last I checked we are still prone to error.Icome: At least it’ll prevent incidents like captains storming the field to berate on-field umpires.Al: Okay then. Let’s do an exercise. It’s the last ball of the match and there’s one run to win. You’re the third umpire. You’re called in because the batter has moved right across his crease, forcing the bowler to shift his line even further outside off in order to stay out of reach. The batter plays and misses. He appeals for a wide. It’s not given. For the record, the ball has landed well past the “wide line” but since he’s shuffled across it’s also kind of within his reach. DRS has brought you into play and you have to decide. Is this a wide or not?Icome: Uhh… yes… no… wait… I hate you.Al: So when’s the first game?Icome: Bro. You did not just ask me that.Al: Pretend I did.Icome: March 31st – Defending champions Gujarat Titans take on four-time champions Chennai Super Kings.Al: MS Dhoni’s last season.Icome: Only on earth.Al: What?!Icome: I’ve said too much.Al: It’s nice that the tournament can be spread out across the country now after the Covid-19 pandemic seasons, even if every team won’t play the other both at home and away. How did they work the schedule again?Icome: Each team in Group A plays the five in Group B twice and the four in their own group once, totalling 14 league matches per team.ESPNcricinfo LtdAl: Seems reasonable, if a bit quirky. Like here, look, Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals are all alternating between one game at home and one game away all season. CSK will play four of their last six games at home – potentially a huge advantage given how tight the playoff race gets around that time, while RCB are almost the opposite: starting their season with several matches at home and ending it almost exclusively on the road. Some franchises are going to have their work cut out coping with travel and recovery.Icome: Yeah, but it’s also exciting, right? 74 matches in 58 days with 18 double-headers. That’s nearly 300 hours of T20 cricket with afternoon games starting at 3.30pm local time and evening games at 7.30pm local time. There’s nothing like the start of a new IPL season, and as you can clearly see, the appetite for it extends beyond planetary borders. This place will have serious drip when CSK play Mumbai for the 1000th match of the IPL on May 6.*Cue the horn again*Icome: That’s just the best sound.Al: Really?Icome: Our intelligence agencies swear by it.Al: Intelligence agencies?Icome: Yeah, they use recordings of it in their enhanced interrogations – 100% results.Al: That makes sense. So is there any player you’re rooting for?Icome: Joe … Well, it feels like this season might be the start of the Gen Z era. Shubman Gill has never looked better. Harry Brook is all the rage. Cameron Green is pure gold. Sam Curran is beyond belief. And Jofra Archer man. The way he bowls, he could easily pass for one of us.Al: Yeah. Too bad Jasprit Bumrah’s injured. Seeing those two bowl together would’ve been epic.Jofra Archer will play for Mumbai Indians for the first time, but he won’t be able to team up with Jasprit Bumrah just yet•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesIcome: But the best part of any IPL is the new guys who take the chance to own the stage. Like Ruturaj Gaikwad did in 2021. And Umran Malik did in 2022. Ricky Ponting, the Capitals coach, is already taking up a kid called Aman Khan and his power hitting. Then, we’ve got Joe Root playing his first IPL. Josh Little, the first Ireland player, to be part of the tournament. Ben Stokes ostensibly the captain in waiting at CSK, though the hierarchy there might already be wondering how long the USD 1.9 million asset will last given the turmoil his body’s already been through.Al: Speaking of which, what’s the deal with player availabilities?Icome: The South Africans will come in on April 3. The Sri Lankans after April 8. Australia and England might get precious about their players given the Ashes start on June 16. But otherwise most of the international contingent will be free to take a full part in the tournament. Injury has become a bigger concern than availability with Rishabh Pant out, which has left David Warner as captain of the Capitals, and Shreyas Iyer out, leaving Nitish Rana in temporary charge of the Knight Riders.Al: How do you know so much?!Icome: Why do you know so little?!!Al: I’m on vacation.Icome: So?Al: So I’m trying to maintain some boundaries. It’s healthy.Icome: Your coffee cup has Virat Kohli’s face on it.Al: Shut up.Icome: So, excited yet?Al: I have to tell you the truth – and not just because I passed a sign that said my nose will grow every time I lie.Al: But, I am absolutely not excited. On an unrelated note, do you guys have teleportation? I just remembered I have a … dentist’s appointment in, umm… Ahmedabad.

And which bowler has sent down the most deliveries in a single day of a Test?

Steven Lynch14-Mar-2023Usman Khawaja has now scored Test hundreds in India, Pakistan and the UAE. How many have done this? asked Xavier Murray from Australia

Usman Khawaja’s 180 against India in the fourth Test in Ahmedabad meant he became the ninth member of a select band with Test centuries in India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Khawaja had scored 141 against Pakistan in Dubai in 2018-19, and last March made 160 in Karachi followed by 104 not out in Lahore. He’s also hit nine Test hundreds in Australia, and one in New Zealand.The only other Australian to score Test centuries in India, Pakistan and the UAE is Steve Waugh. This treble has also been achieved by Jacques Kallis of South Africa, Kane Williamson of New Zealand, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, plus three Pakistanis in Mohammad Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan. The others all completed a nap hand in Asia with centuries in Sri Lanka, apart from Waugh and Shahid Afridi (and Khawaja so far).I know that Sonny Ramadhin holds the record for the most overs in a Test innings. But who bowled the most in a single day of a Test? asked Utsav Sengupta from India

The most balls sent down by a bowler on a single day of a Test is 360 – 45 eight-ball overs – by the South African offspinner Athol Rowan, on the third day against England in Port Elizabeth in 1948-49. The same day, slow left-armer Tufty Mann delivered 328 balls (41 overs) as South Africa got through 104 eight-ball overs in the day (the equivalent of 138.4 of six balls). “Rowan and Mann virtually carried the whole of the South African attack today, and both bowled remarkably well,” reported the Times.Eight years later in Cape Town, another South African spinner, Hugh Tayfield, sent down 328 deliveries (41 eight-ball overs) during an unchanged spell on the first day of the second Test against England. The most in the current century is Muthiah Muralidaran’s 282 balls (47 overs) on the third day of Sri Lanka’s Test against Zimbabwe in Galle in 2001-02.The West Indian spinner Sonny Ramadhin toiled through 98 overs in England’s second innings at Edgbaston in 1957, his marathon effort being spread over three days. For the list of the most deliveries in a Test innings, click here.Which player has been the last man out in a Test defeat the most times? And how about being the not-out batter in defeats? asked Arjun Gupta from the United States

Jimmy Anderson is top of both these lists – not surprisingly, perhaps, given that his current haul of 179 Test caps is exceeded only by Sachin Tendulkar’s 200. Anderson has been the last man out at the end of 20 different Test defeats, and the non-striker for 17 more.New Zealand’s tailender extraordinaire Chris Martin was the last man out to round off 13 Test defeats, as was Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralidaran; so far, Nathan Lyon has been the last man out 11 times, which puts him level with Courtney Walsh. Another West Indian, Shannon Gabriel, has been at the other end for ten Test defeats; Murali is next with nine, ahead of Walsh and Danish Kaneria with eight.Mujeeb Ur Rahman made his first-class debut in Afghanistan’s inaugural Test, against India•BCCIHas anyone bowled their four overs in a T20I and not conceded any runs? asked Michael Banks from England

There has been one instance of this in an official T20I, by Canada’s slow left-armer Saad Bin Zafar, who finished with figures of 4-4-0-2 against Panama (who were all out for 37) in a World Cup Americas Region qualifying match in Coolidge (Antigua) in November 2021.There’s one other instance in all senior T20 matches, and it happened just six days before Zafar’s spell: playing for Vidarbha against Manipur in Mangalagiri, in India’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Akshay Karnewar also had figures of 4-4-0-2.The most economical spell in a T20I for a Test-playing team is Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 4-1-4-5 for India against Afghanistan in Dubai in September 2022.The West Indian fast bowler Jayden Seales had played only one first-class match before his Test debut. Is this a record? asked Mark McDonald from Trinidad

When he made his Test debut against South Africa in St Lucia in June 2021, the 19-year-old Jayden Seales had played only one previous first-class match, for West Indies A in New Zealand late the previous year. He was the fifth West Indian whose second first-class match was a Test, following George Gladstone and Clarence Passailaigue (both in 1929-30), Charlie Griffith (1959-60) and Fidel Edwards (2003). Seven other West Indians played only two first-class games before their first Test, including Garry Sobers (1953-54).Seales shares the West Indian record, but overall 34 men have made their first-class debut in a Test match, 28 of them in the 19th century. The most recent addition to this list came in June 2018, when spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman made his first-class debut in Afghanistan’s inaugural Test, against India in Bengaluru. Mujeeb has now played over 250 senior white-ball games – but that remains his only first-class match.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

As Chanderpaul junior completes Ashwin’s set, a look at other instances of one bowler claiming a father-son duo in Test cricket (spoiler: only one other family features)

Sampath Bandarupalli12-Jul-2023

Ian Botham vs Lance and Chris Cairns

Lance Cairns, the New Zealand fast-bowling allrounder, started his Test career in 1974 and played his last Test in 1985. His son Chris Cairns, also a fast-bowling allrounder, played Test cricket from 1989 to 2004. Ian Botham started not long after Lance, in 1977, and continued till three years after Chris started, in 1992.The first time Botham got the better of Lance was in the Trent Bridge Test of 1978, the batter lbw for a duck in the second innings as England romped to an innings-and-119-run win.Then, again in England in 1983, Botham got Lance’s wicket twice. The first time was at The Oval, where he sent Lance back caught by Allan Lamb on his way to a four-wicket haul, and then at Lord’s, this time during another four-for.Chris came up against Botham in just one series, in New Zealand in 1992, and while Phil Tufnell troubled him the most, he did fall to Botham once – caught behind by Jack Russell in Wellington.

Wasim Akram vs Lance and Chris Cairns

Wasim Akram played more against Chris than Lance.The only time Akram got Lance out was in Dunedin, during a burst of 5 for 56 (he had ten for the match), in 1985, Lance’s last year in Tests.Ten years later, Chris went up against Akram in Christchurch, and was bowled for 76 in the first innings.

Mitchell Starc vs Shivnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Tagenarine Chanderpaul started in Test cricket in December 2022, and with his father Shivnarine Chanderpaul playing over two decades of Test cricket – he officially retired only in 2016, in case you were wondering – there are a handful of instances of bowlers getting both Chanderpauls out. Three, to be exact.Mitchell Starc got there first.His only success against Shivnarine was in 2012, the last time the West Indian played Test cricket against Australia. It was in Roseau, in the first West Indies innings, when he was trapped lbw, but not before scoring 68.With Tagenarine, Starc has struck in both the Tests in which they have gone up against each other. The first time was in Perth in late 2022, and the next one was in the subsequent Test in Adelaide, a day-nighter. Incidentally, in that game, Starc also ran Tagenarine out with a direct hit in the first innings.Mitchell Starc appeals for the wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul – he didn’t get him with this one, but made sure to get on this list later on•Getty Images

Simon Harmer vs Shivnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul

You probably didn’t expect Simon Harmer in this list. He has played just ten Tests. Tagenarine has played (the ongoing one against India included) just seven. Even with Shivnarine’s 164, what are the odds!Turns out, Harmer got a Chanderpaul out each time he played a Test against West Indies.In January 2015, Harmer was in action in Cape Town against Chanderpaul senior and had him stumped – by AB de Villiers – down the leg side in the first innings, and in March 2023, in Johannesburg, he had Chanderpaul junior nicking to Dean Elgar at second slip (off the keeper’s gloves) in the second innings.

R Ashwin vs Shivnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul

And finally, R Ashwin. Amazingly, he has had a Chanderpaul’s wicket five times in Test cricket.You know about the latest – Tagenarine bowled by a magic delivery in the ongoing Roseau Test.And here are the four times he has got rid of Shivnarine – all in India, over two series.In 2011, Ashwin had Shivnarine’s wicket twice.The first time was in the first Test, in Delhi, when he sent the batter back lbw for 47 in the second innings during a Player-of-the-Match performance. The second time was in the next Test, in Kolkata, Shivnarine trapped lbw again.Cut to 2013, and Ashwin struck twice again.In the first match of a two-Test series, in Kolkata, Ashwin hit Chanderpaul’s stumps. Then, in the second Test at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, an lbw in the second innings. In that Test, Ashwin also took the catch to dismiss Shivnarine, off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, in the first innings.

Familiar failings haunt Temba Bavuma’s side, despite claims to have exorcised past demons

Firdose Moonda17-Oct-20231:47

‘Van der Merwe’s energy was infectious’

Okay, so this is the part where you re-read that South Africa have got over the ghosts of tournaments past and have a good laugh. Got over? Oh hell no, they’ve only got more.A power-packed South African line-up have, for the second successive time at a World Cup, failed to chase a modest score against a Netherlands side filled with South African expats. A gun fielding outfit, known for their willingness to put bodies on the line, fumbled and were beaten at their own game. And most of all, a bowling unit that was starting to show glimpses of the threat they can pose, allowed an Associate team’s lower order to score 119 runs in the last 12 overs of their innings and bat them out of the match.It’s not a crucial stage of the tournament and South Africa already have two wins and six games left to play so there’s plenty of time to get their semi-final train back on track. But this is the first time they have come under pressure in the tournament and the way they responded suggests that they have not, in fact, learnt to keep their heads when all about them were losing theirs. They unraveled in the field, almost immediately after a dropped catch, and allowed Netherlands to go from 96 for 5 at the time Teja Nidamanuru was put down to 245 for 8 at the end of 43 overs.It wasn’t so much that it was Nidamanuru – on 14 when he was given a life before being dismissed on 20 – but the events immediately after. Lungi Ngidi was the bowler Nidamanuru sent straight to Marco Jansen at fine leg and as the ball hit Jansen’s chest and bobbled out, the usually smiling Ngidi glared. Actually glared. Five balls later, Scott Edwards swept Keshav Maharaj to the deep square boundary, where Gerald Coetzee made a decent effort to stop the boundary but didn’t. The usually affable Maharaj also glared. With his hands on his hips. And his shoulders shrugged up to his ears. In less than five minutes, South Africa had gone from a confident, settled fielding unit to a group of players who were openly expressing their discontent with others in full view of 11,224 spectators in attendance and millions on live television. And things weren’t even that bad at that point.Related

• Edwards leads from front as Netherlands nail their big moment

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• 'That's a massive boost for us' – Edwards pleased to get first big World Cup win out of the way

• Live report – Netherlands vs South Africa, Dharamsala

• Edwards, van der Merwe help Netherlands script famous win against South Africa

South Africa’s extras were the top-scorer at that stage of the innings, which is a concern in its own right, but the Dutch top order had been dismissed, the ball was doing a bit and a chase of under 200 was still on. It was not the kind of situation that necessitated the captain, Temba Bavuma, to have to calm down one of his premier bowlers, in Ngidi, but that’s exactly what was happening. Not even the dismissals of Nidamanuru and Logan van Beek could get them back on track and with the wheels wobbling an old friend came in to rip them right off.Roelof van der Merwe has known and played with most of the South Africa squad and support staff, and on the field there’s no love lost. He tried to take on the first ball he faced, a back of a length delivery from Coetzee, and missed but just went again. He used Coetzee’s pace to guide the second ball past backward point and then thumped a slower ball over mid-on and a short one over third to take 15 runs off the over. He also injected an energy into the Dutch approach that Edwards picked up on and ran with. In that short period of play, van der Merwe provided entertainment when he fell over at the non-striker’s end when Edwards hammered a ball his way and excitement when he delicately dabbed Coetzee to short third. He was with Edwards when he got his half-century and at the crease when the 200 came up.His 29 off 19 balls may not seem especially significant but it was part of the highest partnership of the match and, in the end, was the difference. And when he bowled Bavuma in the last over of the powerplay, that was simply twisting the knife.South Africa’s frustrations in the field became evident•Associated PressSouth Africa’s batting has been their strength so far but it hasn’t been fully tested. While South Africa had won eight of their last 10 ODIs before this match, six of those victories were achieved batting first. One of the two they lost was the last time they batted second in an ODI, six matches ago, against Australia in Bloemfontein when they conceded 392 and were bowled out for 269 to lose by 123 runs. They last won a match chasing in March, when they beat Netherlands by eight wickets to earn crucial points on the World Cup Super League. South Africa’s last successful chase of a score over 200 was also in March, when they gunned down a target of 261 set by West Indies, inside 30 overs. They were also in trouble then, at 87 for 4 in the 13th, before Heinrich Klaasen scored an unbeaten 119 and shared a 103-run sixth wicket stand with Marco Jansen, which convinced South Africa he could bat as high as No. 7.One of the first questions to emerge from defeat this time is, should he? Although Jansen is a clean striker of the ball, there is an argument that he does not have the technique to act as the bridge between the top six and the tail and should be at No. 8 instead. South Africa’s problem is that they don’t have anyone who could slot in higher up. Andile Phehlukwayo is the other allrounder in the squad but, if he displaces Jansen, they take pace and the one of the meanest bouncers in the game out of their XI. It’s understood he is in the squad as a reserve. Including an extra batter – Reeza Hendricks – can only come at the expense of a frontline bowler and South Africa are unlikely to want to do that.As it is, they go into games with an attack of only five first-choice players and one part-timer, Aiden Markram, who was not used at all in Dharamsala. They cannot afford to leave one of the bowlers out to make up for shortfalls with the bat. In other words, they have put together a team template that relies on the top six doing their job and if they don’t, you end up with what they had today.It’s far too early in the tournament to be calling it anything like a crisis. But it is a cautionary tale that things can happen, even if you think they may not, and the spectre of past disappointments may not have completely disappeared.

Just eight points separating table-toppers Tasmania and fifth-placed South Australia, while bottom-of-the-ladder Queensland could still make a late push

Tristan Lavalette02-Feb-2024

Tasmania (29.77 points)

You’re forgiven if you’ve forgotten that Tasmania currently head the table narrowly ahead of two-time defending champions Western Australia.Tasmania finished fifth last season and haven’t won the Shield since 2012-13 when George Bailey was skipper and Ricky Ponting had a fitting farewell after his retirement from international cricket.But they were the surprise package in the first half of the season, highlighted by an incredible chase of 432 against Queensland at Bellerive Oval. After thrashing NSW by an innings, Tasmania were sitting clear on top until they lost the rematch when they were routed for just 68 chasing 143 on a treacherous SCG wicket.Tasmania will look to restart strongly against Queensland at the Gabba, but will be without injured quicks Nathan Ellis and Lawrence Neil-Smith, who has had a breakout season with 25 wickets at 23.72 including a ten-wicket haul against NSW at the SCG.Matthew Wade, who smashed a hundred in the chase against the Bulls, is being rested ahead of Australia’s T20I series against West Indies.Tasmania squad vs Queensland: Jordan Silk (capt), Gabe Bell, Iain Carlisle, Jake Doran, Jarrod Freeman, Bradley Hope, Caleb Jewell, Mitchell Owen, Samuel Rainbird, Billy Stanlake, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau WebsterAaron Hardie’s absence could hurt Western Australia•Getty Images

Western Australia (28.22)

A short-handed WA started their title defence with an innings thrashing of Victoria in a rematch of last season’s final. It was an ominous statement to the competition, but things have become tougher since with WA only winning two of their next five matches.Both were against South Australia, including escaping with a two-wicket win at the WACA. Much like Perth Scorchers in the BBL, WA have felt vulnerable in their quest for a hat-trick of Shield titles and there have been signs of slippage.WA will be without Australia ODI squad members Josh Inglis, Lance Morris and Aaron Hardie, who has enjoyed a superb Shield season with averages of 45.5 with the bat and 21.45 with the ball. Jhye Richardson also remains absent due to his side strain.WA will test their depth against NSW at the WACA as they look to exact revenge after copping a ten-wicket thrashing at the SCG in their only defeat this season. Cameron Green won’t play against NSW due to his Australia commitments, but after the ODI series, he is set to play in the Shield in preparation for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.Fergus O’Neill has had a breakout season•Getty ImagesWestern Australia squad vs New South Wales: Sam Whiteman (capt), Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Liam Haskett, Matthew Kelly, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Charlie Stobo, Teague Wyllie

Victoria (26.12)

After starting the season with two massive defeats, last season’s runners-up Victoria slowly found form and a tense 23-run away victory against South Australia kept them near the top of the table.The teams will renew their rivalry at the Junction Oval, but one-time Test opener Will Pucovski has been ruled out after experiencing delayed concussion symptoms after a blow to the head in a second XI game last week.In better news for Victoria, wicketkeeper Sam Harper has been cleared to play after suffering a horrific head injury at a Melbourne Stars’ training session in the later stages of the BBL.Captain Will Sutherland and batting allrounder Matt Short are unavailable after being included in Australia’s ODI squad. Nic Maddinson has been named to play his first Shield game of the season after missing the early part of the summer due to a knee injury, while veteran seamer Scott Boland also returns.There will be a lot of attention on rising quick Fergus O’Neill, who was a standout before the break with 21 wickets at 17.57.Victoria squad vs South Australia: Peter Handscomb (capt), Scott Boland, Xavier Crone, Sam Elliott, Marcus Harris, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Nic Maddinson, Jon Merlo, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Mitch Perry, Tom RogersNathan Lyon has been given a break•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

New South Wales (21.59)

After a winless bottom-placed finish last season, NSW appeared set for more misery but wins against WA and Tasmania have revived their campaign.The Blues reverted to youth and it paid off as they rose in the ladder to be within striking distance of an unexpected finals spot. NSW face a tough challenge first up in Perth, where they’ve struggled over the years to handle the WACA’s pace and bounce.Emerging batter Sam Konstas is unavailable due to the Under-19 World Cup, but NSW will be bolstered by experienced batter Daniel Hughes and allrounder Jack Edwards, who both starred for Sydney Sixers in the BBL. Nathan Lyon won’t line up against WA after a hectic Test summer.New South Wales squad vs Western Australia: Jackson Bird, Ollie Davies, Jack Edwards, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hackney, Liam Hatcher, Moises Henriques (capt), Daniel Hughes, Blake Macdonald, Blake Nikitaras, Jack Nisbet, Chris TremainNathan McSweeney continues to be one of the best batters in the Shield•Getty Images

South Australia (21.41)

If South Australia’s Shield drought extends to a 28th season, they might just rue agonising defeats to WA and Victoria. But the Redbacks did celebrate a remarkable three-run win against Queensland in a first half of the season that tested their nerves.After five consecutive wooden spoons, South Australia lifted off the bottom last season and they’ve continued to show signs of improvement with two outright victories so far this season.Head coach Jason Gillespie is seemingly getting the best out of his squad with the hierarchy’s decision to focus on luring fringe players from other states paying dividends.Nathan McSweeney continues to be one of the best batters in the Shield and sits behind only Cameron Bancroft on this season’s run-scorers’ list, while the Redbacks boast a formidable pace attack led by Nathan McAndrew, who has taken 30 wickets at an average of 19.20.But they will be without explosive young batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, who is set to make his international debut in the ODI series against West Indies. He made his first Shield century with a typically belligerent knock against Victoria before the break.South Australia squad vs Victoria: Jake Lehmann (capt), Nathan McSweeney, Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Jake Carder, Brendan Doggett, Henry Hunt, Thomas Kelly, Ben Manenti, Nathan McAndrew, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Liam ScottQueensland will miss Xavier Bartlett, who made his ODI debut on Friday•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Queensland (15.12)

Queensland need to make up ground quickly having fallen away since their innings victory against Victoria in round two. But the stunning BBL triumph of Brisbane Heat – a team built around a core of Bulls players – might just provide the spark needed for Queensland to turn things around in the longer format.Queensland have selected opener Angus Lovell to make his Shield debut against Tasmania, while veteran batter Ben McDermott returns with Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne absent.Seamer Xavier Bartlett is unavailable after making a spectacular international debut against West Indies in Friday’s ODI at the MCG.Queensland squad vs Tasmania: Jimmy Peirson (capt), Joe Burns, Jack Clayton, Liam Guthrie, Angus Lovell, Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

Some of the big names of the league upped their game and had standout seasons. Here’s a look at them

Hemant Brar27-May-2024

Narine the batter

Not many would have expected Sunil Narine to return as an opener in an IPL season where bowlers were allowed two bouncers in an over. Even fewer would have expected him to succeed, let alone have his best season with the bat. Narine ended the tournament with 488 runs – the most for champions Kolkata Knight Riders – at an average of 34.85 and a strike rate of 180.74. Before 2024, Narine had four 50-plus scores in the IPL. He doubled that tally this season, including smashing his maiden T20 hundred. Add his bowling exploits to it – 17 wickets at an economy of 6.69 – and it’s arguably the greatest season for any player in any league in the world.

Bumrah at his miserly best

In a season where the scoring rates went through the roof, Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler with an economy rate of 6.48. This was also Bumrah’s best economy rate in an IPL season, bettering 6.63 in 2019. That year, the overall economy rate in the tournament was 8.27; this year it was 9.41, which makes Bumrah’s performance even more remarkable. Bumrah was also the most economical bowler in the powerplay (6.00) and at the death (6.06) among those who bowled at least five overs in those phases. He went for less than six an over in seven out of the 13 games he played this season.Related

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• Slow and deadly Harshit Rana adds cutting edge to KKR attack

Kohli tames strike-rate demons

With the Impact Player rule giving teams an extra batter, the anchor has become an outdated concept in the IPL. That was also the reason Virat Kohli freed himself from the self-imposed restrictions and showed more intent this year. The result was his highest strike rate in an IPL season: 154.69 (previous best: 152.03 in 2016). What stood out was his approach in the powerplay and the use of the slog sweep against spinners. In the first six overs, he struck at 161.47. It was a significant jump from his previous best of 139.54 (in 2018) in that phase. His strike rate against spinners was 137.08, his best against them since 2017.

Abhishek’s six appeal

Abhishek Sharma made his IPL debut in 2018, but this was the season where he made everyone sit up and take notice. Opening the innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad, he and Travis Head rewrote the template of T20 batting. Abhishek hit 42 sixes in the tournament – the most in IPL 2024 and the most for an Indian batter in a single edition of the IPL. He was equally brutal against pace and spin, which helped him become the first batter to score 400 runs in a T20 league without lasting 30 balls in any of the innings. All told, he scored 484 runs at an average of 32.26 and a strike rate of 204.21.Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson were the backbone of the Rajasthan Royals middle order•AFP via Getty Images

Samson’s consistency

Over the years, a major criticism of Sanju Samson has been his lack of consistency. He would invariably start an IPL season with a bang but it would soon turn into a whimper. This time, taking that little bit extra time at the start of his innings helped him stay consistent and he crossed 500 runs in a season for the first time in his IPL career. His five 50-plus scores was also a personal best. In all, he amassed 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.46, for which he was rewarded with a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad.

Parag’s breakout season

Riyan Parag finally repaid Rajasthan Royals for years and years of backing. After topping the runs chart in the latest Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Parag finished IPL 2024 as the highest run-scorer for his team, and the third-highest overall. Before this season, Parag had 600 runs in 44 IPL innings, at an average of 16.21 and a strike rate of 123.96. In 14 innings this season, he almost doubled that tally, scoring 573 at 52.09 with a strike rate of 149.21. Along with Samson, he formed the engine room of RR’s batting line-up and struck four half-centuries.

Karthik takes on spinners

Playing his last season at the age of 38, Dinesh Karthik did not stop improving. For the last five IPL seasons, he was one of the best hitters against pace in the death overs. This year, he unlocked his potential against spin, too. He smashed 63 off 38 balls against spinners without getting out even once. That gave him a strike rate of 165.78 – his highest ever against spin in an IPL season. His previous best was 160 in 2008, but since then he had never crossed 140. His overall tally of 326 runs this season, at a strike rate of 187.35, briefly put him in contention for India’s T20 World Cup squad as well, but that was not to be.