With the curtains coming down on the 2018 edition of the IPL, we take a look at the best all-round performances over the course of the tournament.
BEST ALL-ROUND DISPLAY
RASHID KHAN
34* & 3-19, Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders in Eliminator
Rashid Khan was brilliant with bat, ball and in the field. Image – BCCI.
Often match-winners star with either the bat or the ball but to excel with both is rare. The Afghan teen did just that by dashing Kolkata’s hopes of making it to the final.
He first smashed 34 runs off just 10 balls, including four sixers and two fours, to help Hyderabad raise a strong total of 174, which at one stage looked bleak as they were struggling at 124-5 after 17 overs. He then returned to haunt Kolkata by unleashing his leg-breaks and claimed the wickets of Robin Uthappa, Chris Lynn and Andre Russell to derail Kolkata’s chase.
He also took two catches in the final over and affected a run-out. The remarkable aspect of Rashid’s brilliance was that he stepped up every time it looked like the game was slipping away. Everyone knew how effective he was as a bowler but it was his batting that was a revelation as until that game he had scored just 25 runs from 15 matches.
WORTHY MENTIONS
Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) 75 and 1-44 vs Kings XI Punjab
Narine claimed the big wicket of KL Rahul. Image – BCCI.
The Trinadian’s 36-ball 75 laid the foundations for the season’s highest total (245) and he then claimed the prize scalp of KL Rahul as Kolkata eked out a 14-run win.
Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians) 3-28 and 50 runs vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Pandya had an outstanding game against RCB. Image – BCCI.
It was an excellent all-round display by Pandya but it went in vain as Mumbai lost by 14 runs.
