We’re nine games into IPL 13, and we’ve already seen some breathtaking performances. None more so than Lokesh Rahul’s unbeaten 132 off just 69 deliveries against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
That knock earns him a spot at the top of the order, alongside his Kings XI Punjab opening partner Mayank Agarwal, who plundered an impressive 89 off 60 in a losing cause against Delhi.
Not in his accustomed opening position, the tournament’s fourth leading run-scorer Rohit Sharma gets the nod at three after an impressive 54 ball 80 against Kolkata.
The tournament’s leading run scorer, and only man to have notched two half centuries (although having played three games), is former South African captain Faf du Plessis, who’s been given captaincy honours and the number four spot.
Sanju Samson is taking the gloves with just one game under his belt, having smashed a 32 ball 74 versus Chennai.
All-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Sam Curran lock up positions six and seven in the batting order. Stoinis for his match-winning heroics with bat and ball against Punjab, whilst Curran is the tournament’s equal leading wicket-taker (from three games) and has provided valuable middle order cameos striking at 257.
Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal are the team’s spinners. Chahal’s leg-spin has taken four wickets @ 10.75, and Patel’s left-arm orthodox has a tournament best economy of four. Patel also possesses the ability to be promoted to all-rounder status once he shows something with the bat.
Kagiso Rabada and Mohammad Shami round out the bowling attack. Rabada’s taken five wickets at a sub-10 strike rate, Shami four wickets with an astounding 4.36 economy.
