Friday 19 / April / 2024
The second week of IPL which got over yesterday surprised one and all with the two big teams Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at the bottom of the table with four loses and no wins under their belt.
On the other hand, new team Gujarat Titans had three wins from three games showed that you don't need big names and if you click as a team results will go your way.
Mumbai Indians lost both their games this week comprehensively to Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore as they were first not able to put a big total and when bowling unable to pick wickets when defending the target. Their average score in this tournament has been 160 and in the four games they have lost they have picked 4 wickets per game which is hurting them. They are heavily depending on Jasprit Bumrah who barring the match against Rajasthan Royals have not been able to get them the desired breakthroughs. Morever they lack a quality spinner who can run through the side and will have to find a way to get their first win of the tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore has been very clinical by winning their last three games after the first loss to Punjab Kings. They beat Kolkata Knight Riders , Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals and are looking good as a te under Faf Du Plesis captaincy. Their bowling has been spearded by Harshal Patel who has gone at just 5.50 overs in the four games and picked 6 wickets and has been ably supported by Hasranga who has picked 8 wickets.
But the team which surprised one and all has been Gujarat Titans who won their first three games beating Lucknow Giants, Delhi Capital and Punjab Kings. Not many had given them any chances as barring Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan, they did not have any big names but every player has performed for them. Hardik Pandya has carried all the experience of playing under a champion Mumbai Indians side and has been a very proactive captain. In the game against Delhi Capitals which was running away from them,
He brought on Lockie Ferguson and broke the back of Delhi and won that game. Also he has been bowling his 4 overs very tightly and leading from front. So far everything seems to be going well and the momentum is with them and look the team to make it to the playoffs.
Out of the 20 games played in two weeks, 12 games have gone to the wire and the team which has held it's nerve has been able to cross the line . We need to see which would be that team next week.
