Quinton de Kock (Lucknow Super Giants)
De Kock is doing what he does best – opening the innings, putting the opposition attack under pressure and giving his team solid starts. Given that captain KL Rahul is struggling to get going, his innings becomes even more important.
Matches: 2, Runs: 143, Highest: 81, Average: 71.50, Strike Rate: 152.13
Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans, Captain)
(AFP photo)
The burden of captaincy is not affecting his game. His unbeaten 89-run innings against Punjab Kings and his ever-improving strike rate are enough proof of his evolution into a powerful T20 player.
Matches: 2, Runs: 125, Highest: 89*, Average: 125, Strike Rate: 164.00
Sunil Narayan (Kolkata Knight Riders)
He has been given ‘licence to thrill’ and unlike his last seven innings as an opening batsman – from 2020 to 2023 – when he reached double figures only once, this year he is on the money. His innings of 85 runs in 39 balls against DC is also his highest score in T20.
Matches: 1, Runs: 85, Highest: 85, Average: 85, Strike Rate: 217.94; Wickets: 1, Best Bowling: 1-29, Average: 29, Economy Rate: 7.25, Strike Rate: 24
Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)
(ANI photo)
Returning to the field after a long break, Pant showed that he has completely recovered from the fatal accident. With two consecutive half-centuries, he showed that his aggressive game is intact.
Matches: 2, Runs: 106, Highest: 55, Average: 53, Strike Rate: 185.96
Also read: How to watch IPL in USA
Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals)
The 22-year-old is finally fulfilling the promise he showed as a teenager. Against MI, they withstood early pressure before guiding Rajasthan Royals to an easy win. During the innings, he also displayed his range of shots on both sides of the wicket.
Matches: 1, Runs: 54, Highest: 54*, Average: -, Strike Rate: 138.46
Nicholas Pooran (Lucknow Super Giants)
(IANS photo)
The West Indies player has always had an explosive game and now he has added consistency to it. Coming in at No. 5, the left-handed batsman’s quick innings are putting LSG in a position to score the total or chase the target.
Matches: 2, Runs: 82, Highest: 40*, Average: 82, Strike Rate: 195.24
Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)
After a below-average performance in 2023, he has found his mojo and looks to be in the mood to demolish opposition attacks. The all-rounder’s bowling has also gone up a notch and this has added flexibility to the Kolkata Knight Riders bowling unit.
Matches: 1, Runs: 41, Highest: 41, Average: 41, SR: 215.79; Wickets: 1, Best Bowling: 1-14, Average: 14, Economy Rate: 11.67, Strike Rate: 8
Shashank Singh (Punjab Kings)
(ANI photo)
There was some confusion over whether the Kings had bought the right ‘Shashank Singh’ during the auction. With his match-winning innings against GT, he
Has rejected all doubts.
Matches: 2, Runs: 70, Highest: 61*, Average: -, Strike Rate: 194.44
Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals)
He may be low on the pecking order when it comes to the spinners’ place in the Indian white-ball set-up, but from time to time he puts in performances that are hard to ignore – such as his against Mumbai Indians. Spell of 3/11. ,
Matches: 1, Wickets: 3, Best Bowling: 3/11, Average: 3.66, Economy Rate: 2.75, Strike Rate: 8
Khaleel Ahmed (Delhi Capitals)
(AP photo)
When he gets it right, he is the best left-arm fast bowler in the country. His opening spell against Chennai Super Kings showed that he can perform at the highest level if prepared properly.
Matches: 2, Wickets: 3, Best Bowling: 2/21, Average: 21.33, Economy Rate: 8, Strike Rate: 8
Impressive Player: Vaibhav Arora (Kolkata Knight Riders)
The fast bowler was a notch above the rest of the fast bowlers in his performance during the KKR vs DC match. He got the ball moving and troubled the DC batsmen the whole time.
Matches: 1, Wickets: 3, Best Bowling: 3/27, Average: 9, Economy Rate: 6.75, Strike Rate: 8
Mayank Yadav (Lucknow Super Giants)
(AFP photo)
Only time will tell how consistent the right-arm pacer will be from here on out and how he will handle all the accolades coming his way. The one thing going his way is his lethal combination of pace and precise line and length.
Matches: 2: Wickets: 6, Best Bowling: 3/14, Average: 6.83, Economy Rate: 5.13, Strike Rate: 8
Justin Langer (LSG, coach)
The Australian player took charge of the team this year and has made an immediate impact with Lucknow Supergiants putting in some impressive performances in the initial IPL matches.
Those who remain in XI: Andre Russell, Riyan Parag, Yuzvendra Chahal
those who are outside Last week’s XI, Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dubey, Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen, Mustafizur Rahman, Nandre Berger, Virat Kohli, Harpreet Brar, Jasprit Bumrah
(Stats updated before SRH vs CSK on April 5)
