With the 2018 edition of the IPL having drawn to its conclusion, we take a look at eye-catching performances over the course of the season.
Here, we pick our surprise performer of the tournament.
SURPRISE OF THE SEASON
RISHABH PANT – DELHI DAREDEVILS
Pant played some highly explosive innings. Image – BCCI.
The 20-year-old had been marked as a future India prospect ever since he hit the fastest fifty (off 18 balls) against Nepal in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. He has grown in stature blasting a triple hundred besides scoring four centuries in first-class cricket.
Yet, no one could have predicted the youngster to smash the most number of fours (68) and sixers (37) in the IPL, a tournament that assembles the best powerhitters from around the world.
Sadly, his firepower was not enough to lift Delhi Daredevils, who finished at the bottom of the league table with just five wins and nine losses.
No Indian player in recent history has dominated the IPL charts like he has, bagging the Emerging Player and the Most Stylish player awards apart from logging the highest individual score of the tournament (128 v Sunrisers Hyderabad) while topping the run table with 684 runs after the league stage.
WORTHY MENTIONS
MAYANK MARKANDE – MUMBAI INDIANS
Markande picked up 15 wickets in his debut season. Image – BCCI.
The 21-year-old leg-spinner, playing his first IPL, stole the show by claiming 15 wickets and even topped the bowling charts in the first half of the league.
PRASIDH KRISHNA – KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
Krishna impressed after being given a chance. Image – BCCI.
Barring the Eliminator against Hyderabad, the 22-year-old pacer turned in some sterling displays including a 4-30, to finish with 10 wickets from seven matches.
