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The 2020 edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) has reached its knockout stages where the Indians of Mumbai, the capitals of Delhi, the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Royal Challengers Bangalore will now battle for one of the most treasured titles in world cricket.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s edition has been the most unique yet, played in a three-venue biobubble with no crowds to attend.
The quality of cricket on offer, however, has been world-class and has resulted in some impressive team and individual performances.
With the Proteas not playing international cricket since March, the IPL provided a timely platform for some of South Africa’s top players to test themselves against the best in the world.
The results were largely encouraging.
Perhaps the most enjoyable has been the form of sprinters Kagiso rabada Y Anrich Nortje, which both participate in the capitals of Delhi.
Rabada looks better than she has in a long time, and that is reflected in her body language. He’s clearly enjoying his cricket, and why wouldn’t he have given the numbers he has put in?
The 25-year-old at the start of the tournament reached 50 IPL career pitches faster than any other player in the competition’s history, and leads the land sales charts at the end of the group stage in 2020.
Rabada has had an amazing 25 windows on an average of 17.80 and an economy rate of 8.14 in 2020. Jasprit Bumrah (23) is next on that list and will also play in the knockout for the Mumbai Indians, setting up a tempting showdown between the two when the Indians face the capitals in the first tiebreaker on Thursday.
Nortje’s performances, meanwhile, are equally encouraging from Proteas’s perspective, as he is looking for an increasingly likely option to join Rabada in spearheading the South African attack across all formats.
Nortje, who earlier in the tournament threw the fastest ball in IPL history, has claimed 19 windows on an average of 21.10 and an economy rate of 7.96.
Together, Rabada and Nortje have been a great reason for the success of the Capitals so far in 2020.
In the Indians of Mumbai, Quinton de Kock has been pivotal at the top of the order with 443 runs (4 x 50 s) at an average of 36.91 and at a healthy attack rate of 138.00 while also boasting more layoffs (18) than any other wicketkeeper in the league.
Villiers AB Y Chris Morris of the Royal Challengers Bangalore are the other South Africans who will participate in the playoffs and have also enjoyed a successful tournament so far.
De Villiers has been dazzling at times and the prospect of having him back in a Proteas jersey is obviously exciting. its 398 runs (4x50s) have reached a strike rate of 163.78 and an average of 44.22 – figures that suggest that it still has a lot to offer South African cricket.
Morris, meanwhile, was a late starter in the tournament due to injury, but has been a standout ever since. His hitting opportunities have been limited, but he has hit his straps with the ball and collected eleven windows in 19.09 and, most impressive, it’s gone by just 6.63 run overhead.
Dale steyn, also at RCB, has had trouble making an impact and, as a result, has played only three games.
As for the South Africans who will not be in the playoffs, the former national captain Faf du Plessis stands out. With 449 races (4 x 50) in 40.81 Y 140.75, Du Plessis led the way for the Chennai Super Kings even though they finished last on the record.
Du Plessis seems to remain committed to playing cricket for his country, which is good news given what he handed out in India.
Du Plessis’s teammate in Chennai, Lungi Ngidi, it was erratic.
In his four matches, Ngidi provided numerous glimpses of his ability to take wicket and would finish with 9 in his name, but the fact that he went to 10.43 in the end it was concerning and made him the most expensive bowler in the franchise.
Also in Chennai, Imran Tahir | played only three matches, picking up a wicket, while David miller He played only once for the Rajasthan Royals.
– Compiled by Lloyd Burnard