Another week has elapsed and we’re back with ‘The IPL Week in Six Numbers’ where we look at some of the key trends, performances, themes that have emerged and dive into the numbers that defined these moments. CricViz’s Srinivas Vijaykumar lists out the key numbers after another set of interesting games in the tournament.
20.7 – Chris Morris has been a brilliant addition to RCB’s bowling attack this season. The South African all-rounder was injured and missed the first five games, but since he’s been part of the playing XI the overall balance has been much more effective. In the first five games, they took 28 wickets at 9.13 rpo and average of 32.5; since Morris has been part of the attack in the last five games, they’ve taken 33 wickets conceding at a significantly lower rate of 6.82 rpo and average of 20.7. He’s been a game changer for the franchise, raising the level of the other bowlers in the attack, making them a much better unit overall.
333 – Shikhar Dhawan has hit a purple patch like none other in the IPL. He has scored 106* v KXIP, 101* v CSK, 57 v RR, 69* v MI – that’s 333 runs with one dismissal in four innings. Dhawan’s 333 runs in the last four innings is the second best 4-game run in IPL history behind Kohli’s 351 runs in 2016 (109 v GL, 75* v KKR, 113 v KXIP, 54* v DD). Dhawan has been underrated, but one of the most consistent players in the IPL, scoring 300+ runs in 11 out of the 13 IPL seasons. With 465 runs at 8.94 rpo and average of 44.5 in 2020 – he’s never averaged better and scored quicker before this year in his entire IPL career.
9.0 – Ravichandran Ashwin & Axar Patel have been a revelation for Delhi Capitals this season in the powerplay. Alongside Kagiso Rabada & Anrich Nortje, the Capitals spinners have made them the best bowling attack in the opening phase. Ashwin & Axar have bowled 15 overs in the powerplay in total and have taken 10 wickets at a strike rate of 9.0. In the history of the IPL, no spin attack to have bowled 6+ overs in the powerplay in a season have taken wickets at a quicker rate.
10.67 – Nicolas Pooran has been brilliant in the middle overs in his IPL career so far, striking at 10.67 runs per over. He’s scored 322 runs in 181 balls, a boundary once in every four deliveries. Of the 146 players to have faced 100+ balls in the middle phase in the history of the IPL – none have scored quicker than Pooran.
30.7% – The toss outcome has been one of the most interesting aspects of this season’s IPL. In the 39 matches so far this season, the teams winning the toss have won only 12 of these games (excluding ties) – that’s a win in 30.7% of the games in regulation time – the lowest proportion of matches won by the toss winning team in an IPL season.
A huge part of this toss trend has been the change in the chasing results as the season has progressed. In the first 30 matches, 21 were won by the team batting first. In the last 9 matches, 7 have been won by the team chasing. After winning the toss, teams initially chose to chase when a big bat first trend emerged. In recent times, they’ve elected to bat first when chasing teams have ended up becoming successful. With the wickets getting slower, the trend seems to have changed – but the teams have been a little late to the party.
82.7 – Kolkata Knight Riders have struggled to pick up early wickets in the powerplay this season – one of the least productive attacks in the opening phase. In the 10 games so far, they’ve managed to pick up only six wickets at an average of 82.7 runs conceded per dismissal. Across the history of the IPL, no team has managed a lower average runs per dismissal in the first six overs in a season. Lack of wickets upfront has been a perennial issue for the team averaging 41.4 in 2017, 68.4 in 2018, 41.8 in 2019 & 82.7 this year.
Srinivas Vijaykumar is an analyst at CricViz. Follow him on Twitter @srini_vk
