It has been nine days since the launch of the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the matches keep coming thick and fast.
There has been no shortage of entertainment as the high-octane competition had thrown up a series of nail-biters.
Here, we take a look at the standout performances after 12 matches.
BEST INNINGS
DWAYNE BRAVO v MUMBAI INDIANS
The IPL opened with a bang with Dwayne Bravo providing the fireworks as defending champions Mumbai Indians took on Chennai Super Kings. Chasing 166, the Super Kings looked down and out at 84/6 before a whirlwind of a T20 innings from Bravo.
The West Indies all-rounder launched into the Mumbai bowling attack as he smashed seven sixes and four boundaries in an unbeaten 68 off 30 balls to lead the visitors to an improbable win. His three sixes off Jasprit Bumrah in the penultimate over turned the match on its head.
Dwayne Bravo scored a scintillating 68 off 30 balls. Here we analyse the @ChennaiIPL‘s star performance https://t.co/AI882Uu7eN
— Sport360° (@Sport360) April 8, 2018
BEST BOWLING
UMESH YADAV v KINGS XI PUNJAB
Umesh Yadav’s spell of 3-23 in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s victory over Kings XI Punjab is our pick for its sheer brilliance. It was a spell that had it all, be it pace, swing or unerring accuracy and it destroyed the Kings XI top-order in no time.
After KL Rahul had hit Chris Woakes for 16 runs in the first over, Yadav seized the initiative for his side with a double-wicket over which included the scalps of Mayank Agarwal and Aaron Finch in consecutive balls.
His dismissal of Yuvraj Singh was the icing on the cake as the pacer sent the veteran batsman’s middle-stump for a stroll with a sharp and venomous in-swinger.
BEST CATCH
HARDIK PANDYA v DELHI DAREDEVILS
It is hard to keep Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya out of the spotlight for long, be it with the bat, ball or in the field. The 24-year-old completed a brilliant diving catch in the deep to dismiss the dangerous Glenn Maxwell. With the ball high in the air, Pandya made up plenty of ground before diving full-length to take the catch while being airborne.
The Pandya jodi!https://t.co/AYnXk7wljK
— Faizal Khan (@faizalkhanm9) April 14, 2018
BEST TEAM
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
With three wins out of three, it is tough to look beyond the Sunrisers as the best team so far. Despite losing their inspirational leader in David Warner, Kane Williamson has stepped in to fill his boots seamlessly. Their bowling unit of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shakib Al Hasan, Siddharth Kaul, Billy Stanlake and Rashid Khan looks head and shoulders above the rest of the pack and they seem firm favourites for the title already.
The most balanced and potent bowling attack in this IPL.. 3 out of 3 for Sunrisers Hyderabad !!! Break the Eden voodo.. Congrats ! @SunRisers #KKRvSRH #IPL2018
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) April 14, 2018
SURPRISE
MAYANK MARKANDE (MUMBAI INDIANS)
He might have been a little expensive against the Delhi Daredevils but take nothing away from Markande who has been a revelation so far. The 20-year-old leg-spinner picked up three wickets against Chennai Super Kings on his IPL debut before nearly leading his side to an improbable win against Sunrisers Hyderabad with a spell of 4-23.
