Indian Premier League (IPL)

[prasen9]

Here are the numbers for Dhawan. Not as bad as Chahal's but pretty bad. Kohli, Rahul, and Rohit are towards the bottom of the list, which is good. Dhawan is near the top. Kane Williamson is towards the top too because he is slow but he has a substantially higher batting average. Pakistan have moved on from Hafeez. The modern game requires batsmen to play at 135 or higher for proper bats and at last 130 if you are a sheet anchor but then you need to have an average over 30-32 so that at least you are not getting out and are actually someone around whom people can build an innings. Rizwan was slow but he stayed at the wicket. Ditto Babar Azam. But, neither are as slow as Dhawan and much much higher wrt average.

Dhawan has not been as much as a disaster as Chahal but pretty slow and makes it hard for the lower order to put up a big total. They have to take undue risks to recover from the hole Dhawan digs for us. Good riddance.

Span Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SRAscending 100 50 0 4s 6s
Tamim Iqbal (BAN/ICC/World) 2012-2020 63 63 5 1554 103* 26.79 1283 121.12 1 7 6 157 45 investigate this query
Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) 2012-2022 80 79 10 1694 84 24.55 1393 121.60 0 9 4 176 34 investigate this query
Mahmudullah (BAN) 2012-2022 103 95 23 1921 64* 26.68 1564 122.82 0 6 3 151 60 investigate this query
KS Williamson (NZ) 2012-2021 68 67 8 1895 95 32.11 1537 123.29 0 14 4 190 43 investigate this query
Mohammad Hafeez (PAK) 2012-2021 90 81 13 1962 99* 28.85 1582 124.02 0 12 5 185 64 investigate this query
S Dhawan (INDIA) 2013-2021 67 65 3 1754 92 28.29 1381 127.00 0 11 2 191 50 investigate this query
Mohammad Rizwan (PAK) 2015-2022 56 45 12 1662 104* 50.36 1290 128.83 1 13 3 151 48 investigate this query
RD Berrington (SCOT) 2012-2021 62 57 13 1538 100 34.95 1190 129.24 1 7 6 129 53 investigate this query
Babar Azam (PAK) 2016-2022 74 69 10 2686 122 45.52 2075 129.44 1 26 3 278 42 investigate this query
MDKJ Perera (SL) 2013-2021 60 59 1 1539 84 26.53 1172 131.31 0 12 1 144 51 investigate this query
Shoaib Malik (ICC/PAK) 2012-2021 85 74 26 1726 75 35.95 1312 131.55 0 7 2 137 55 investigate this query
F du Plessis (SA/World) 2012-2020 50 50 7 1528 119 35.53 1137 134.38 1 10 0 140 50 investigate this query
Q de Kock (SA) 2012-2021 61 61 7 1827 79* 33.83 1353 135.03 0 11 3 189 65 investigate this query
KJ O'Brien (IRE) 2012-2021 85 82 5 1755 124 22.79 1299 135.10 1 5 9 150 74 investigate this query
PR Stirling (IRE) 2012-2022 88 87 5 2434 115* 29.68 1785 136.35 1 17 5 277 89 investigate this query
EJG Morgan (ENG) 2012-2022 94 86 15 1857 91 26.15 1361 136.44 0 11 3 125 102 investigate this query
Mohammad Shahzad (AFG) 2012-2021 59 59 2 1703 118* 29.87 1230 138.45 1 9 4 197 71 investigate this query
V Kohli (INDIA) 2012-2022 88 82 24 3156 94* 54.41 2276 138.66 0 30 3 282 90 investigate this query
AD Hales (ENG) 2012-2019 56 56 6 1569 116* 31.38 1125 139.46 1 7 3 167 54 investigate this query
MJ Guptill (NZ) 2012-2021 83 81 2 2511 105 31.78 1790 140.27 2 16 1 220 131 investigate this query
DA Warner (AUS) 2012-2021 55 55 10 1688 100* 37.51 1201 140.54 1 15 1 165 61 investigate this query
RG Sharma (INDIA) 2012-2022 100 97 9 2898 118 32.93 2046 141.64 4 22 6 260 137 investigate this query
KL Rahul (INDIA) 2016-2021 56 52 7 1831 110* 40.68 1285 142.49 2 16 4 164 73 investigate this query
DA Miller (SA/World) 2012-2021 87 75 24 1633 101* 32.01 1146 142.49 1 4 0 106 74 investigate this query
JC Buttler (ENG) 2012-2021 81 76 18 2110 101* 36.37 1480 142.56 1 15 4 182 90 investigate this query
AJ Finch (AUS) 2013-2022 86 86 8 2637 172 33.80 1822 144.73 2 15 7 262 111 investigate this query
GJ Maxwell (AUS) 2012-2022 84 77 13 1982 145* 30.96 1287 154.00 3 9 1 164 97 investigate this query
C Munro (NZ) 2012-2020 65 62 7 1724 109* 31.34 1102 156.44 3 11 5 132 107 investigate this query

[prasen9]

There is a pattern here. Dhawan is almost always over 140 in the IPL, a lion when he faces cupcakes and a mouse when he goes to international cricket. Ditto for Chahal. Both domestic dadas and international khajas (flakes). I have been burned many times hoping that they will smash the opposition as they do in the IPL but then they go out and lay a big egg in the international matches. Completely different is Dhawan, the ODI player. His game is suited for that format and not for the T20I format. Let him play that and let the youngsters like Kishan or whoever put their hand up and play the T20Is.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Same goes with SKY & Ishan. Many thought they will carry their IPL form and smash Pak & NZ, only two best teams in that group. In return they appeared to be a big dabba when captain provided them stage to shine and giving excuse as new commer by failing in World Event against top teams.World Cups are those events where excuses are not considered, it is valid only in billateral series where new commers are given time for being groomed. Rahul Chahar bowling doesn't have any impact or doesn't looks like he has the capability of taking wickets. In ongoing IPL, he has been taken into the cleaners. It was selectors poor decision to drop an experience like Chahal in all important World Event

[prasen9]

No, it is not the same. There is a difference in being the world's most smashed spinner in the decade over a career of what over 60 matches? and failing in a few matches. The difference is between a proven failure and someone who is inconsistent. Everyone fails over a few matches but only the worst players fail over a decade.

The selectors did the right thing in dropping Chahal because he is a proven match-loser in T20I games. What they did not do is plan for it before that well and groom his replacement/backup. And, they brought back Chahal again. Chahal and Dhawan are great ODI players. They are very poor T20I players, unfortunately as the data shows.

I do not know if Chahar is the answer or Bishnoi or Ganguly's uncle. I know that Chahal is not the answer because he is smashed easily and often in the international game. If Chahar becomes the world's most smashed spinner in the last decade, I will call for him to go.

Give others the chance. Grow the next gen.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Leg spin is considered as wicket taking option in T20s and so far none of the leggies have impressed except the experienced Chahal , who is among wickets. Bhisnoi is looking completely out of sorts after debut. Murgan, Chahar, Markhande all have been average. So, Chahal is still the best.

[prasen9]

Chahal is the best in the domestics IPL but given that we know he is a proven failure, actually more than a failure, the worst spinner in a decade wrt getting hit in T20Is, we should rather take the risk and get someone who is a better bowler. May not be proven yet, but at least there is a chance that they can be successful. With Chahal, you know what you get. Massive hitting by the opposition and some wickets but not really that threatening especially in big matches. That said, if Chahar or Bishnoi do not have good performances even in the domestics, then they should not be chosen. Leg spin is indeed a wicket-taking option but when we do not have any leg-spinner who is good, then we should look for a different way to get value of this position instead of choosing a bad player. Get Ashwin or some other offie. Maybe Sundar? Axar? Or whoever. Or else, use that position to get an okay spinner but who can bat. That way, we stack our batting lineup and our batters can go hammer and tongs earlier and with confidence that we have people to bail them to make up for our bowling deficiency.

[prasen9]

Back to the IPL, among bowlers who have taken 8 wickets at least, here are the top ones sorted by average:

Chahal 10.35@7.33, KK Ahmed 14.3@7.15, Kuldeep 14.3@7.85, Nata 17.33@8.66, Chahar 19.44@7.32, Avesh 20.08@8.28, Umesh 20.3@7.39, Harshal 21.87@7.29

If Chahar is getting smashed, Chahal is getting smashed slightly worse. Or about the same. Only the extremely biased or extremely foolish would say that Chahar is getting smashed while Chahal is not when their numbers are identical wrt getting smashed in this year's IPL. The difference is Chahal is getting way more wickets than Chahar. Of course, we know he is domestic king. Chahar's performance has not been good too, and he should be nurtured, coached and developed.

Interesting to see two left-handers among the leaders, both ex-India players Khaleel and Natarajan. Nata however is the one who has really been totally smashed. Khaleel has bowled very well. Harshal and Umesh have been good: taking wickets and economical. Kuldeep has been great but he has been smashed more than Chahar or Chahal. Great to see him getting some semblance of a form back.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Chahal is at the top with purple cap. Taking wickets and wining games for his franchise. Its wickets and wins thats matter in performance. He is looking more threatening then his RCB days.

Comming back to MIs poor performance, Rohit is going for 5 specialist bowlers which seems a bad idea. There is no harm in taking out 4 overs from part timers. They have Bumrah,
Unadkat/ Thampi & Riley Meredith. There was no need to include Mills or Sams as 5th bowler, they should have played Tim David some more games . 3 pacers, 1 spinner and 5th bowling option should have been shared by Verma, Pollard, Bravis or David, this combination could have increased their batting depth and also some hard hitters at the lower order

Mukesh Choudhary another exciting talent. Has pace & swing could end India's long time find of lethal left arm pacers

[prasen9]

Yep, that is Chahal all right. IPL dada, international dud.

Anyway, on another controversial note, I actually like Pant throwing a fit. Indian umpires are among the worst in the world and the BCCI has not done anything to improve that. Pakistan produces better umpires than us. And, Sri Lanka. Etc. Also, I like people who play the game with passion. Was it bad behavior? Yes. Should he be fined? Yes. But, he should ask what the BCCI is doing to fine these umpires who did the first wrong?

When your batting is not clicking, going with five bowlers is not the right strategy. See KKR. Russell cannot even bowl four overs every 3-4 days?

If you take performance for a few games, there will be many such Mukesh Chowdhurys. I hope he becomes a great bowler but I am not going to be excited until I see him perform consistently. I'd rather wish Khaleel and Nata get their form back.

Looking at individual qualities such as pace, swing, etc. is useless. We should look at the overall package. Can someone put it all together? That is the most important thing. Many times we have stupid selection because we go for pace, bounce, etc. Useless. If the player cannot bowl and do every little thing (line, length, etc.) right, then pace or swing is useless. So, we should look for bowlers. Not merely pacers or swingers. That said, for different conditions, we should choose different bowlers based on their past performance in similar pitches.

[Kumar]

I don’t think that no ball is as clear cut.

On the decision itself, there are two key facets of the IPL playing conditions. ‘Waist height’ is defined as “the point at which the top of the batter’s trousers would conventionally be when he is standing upright at the popping crease”. That Powell was crouching slightly as he played the shot and hit the ball in front of his body both make the decision a complicated one.

The ball was dipping and he fetched it at front and he was crouching. Could they have referred it upstairs, maybe. But Pant killed Powell’s momentum by being childish.

https://wisden.com/stories/global-t20-l ... ipl-finish

[prasen9]

So the mega cities are ensconced tightly right at the bottom. From the bottom: Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi. Lots of people miserable. Fifth from the bottom? Our #5 metro area by population. You guessed it: Bengaluru. The IPL gods are really frowning at people.

So, now about 8 games over for most people, the stats should stabilize a bit? Let's see the batting leaders (225 runs qual, by SR):

SV Samson 33@165, Prithvi 36@165, Dube 35@160, SAY 48@151, Rahul 61@148, Shreyas 35@143, Uthappa 29@142.

All India or ex-India players. Interesting. The new face is Tilak Varma just after these. The oldies are too slow (okay minus Uthappa). Time to dump some?

Let's try the lineup: Rahul, Prithvi, Samson, Shreyas, SAY, Uthappa, Dube

Make Dube bowl. Choose the better keeper among Rahul and Samson. Rahul captains for now but can move the captaincy to someone else. Not really a bad team ...

Pant, Gill, Tripathi, Karthik are also batting fast but have not made that many total runs, although they are close to the 225 qual.

[prasen9]

Ok, the bowling leaders (by avg., cutoff 10 wickets):

Chahal 12.6@7.09, Nata 15.93@8.24, Umran 15.93@7.96, KK Ahmed 17.27@7.91, Kuldeep 17.38@8.47, Shami 18.53@7.53, Avesh 20.09@8.28.

Interesting that we have two spinners. Chahal is bowling great. Kuldeep is taking wickets but also being tonked.

Umran has been quite a revelation. Khaleel is doing great. As is Shami. These three have been the top pacers, i.e., got wickets and kept things tight. Nata is expensive and Avesh the most expensive. Pacers bowl the first and last overs. So, they should have a higher runs/over but still, around 8 should be good work and over that expensive.

If Umran can continue this form, he should be tried for the RSA T20Is. I would not mind bringing Khaleel back either.

[indiansportsfan]

Umran is making waves, and should really be the frontrunner for a starting spot in the national side. However the selectors are known to make strange decisions (just like they preferred R. Chahar to Chahal for the T20 WC), and it would not be a surprise to see them select Bhuvi, who hasn't done anything of note recently either at the international or IPL level. IMO, the starting pace lineup should have Bumrah and Umran, and the 3rd seamer should be one of Khaleel/Shami/Nata. Out of these 3, I would have the most confidence in Nata to keep things tight. Also btw I don't think we can look at the stats in isolation, we need to look at the context too. For example, Shami was not entrusted to bowl in the slog overs today, while Natarajan was, so this might be skewing up the stats if this is a pattern. Most runs are being scored at the death, hence we need bowlers who can be entrusted to bowl in these overs.

For the spinners slots, Chahal seems to be the clear frontrunner, while Kuldeep/Chahar seem to be tied for the 2nd spot. For the allrounder spot, K Pandya seems to be the clear frontrunner, while H Pandya is not far behind too.

For the batting positions, Kohli clearly should not be there. That will free up 1 slot for Shreyas/SKY. Karthik should be definitely in, if he can keep his earlier form. Pant will also be there, which means that there is only 1 spot open for Rahul or Shaw to partner Rohit at the top. I am assuming Rohit is there because he is the captain, otherwise he doesn't deserve to be there based on current form.

1 thing I realized later is that while the above lineup is strong in bowling terms, but the batting is weak because none of the bowlers can bat much. This might mean we have to take Harshal Patel as the 3rd pacer (and maybe prefer Chahar over Kuldeep for the 2nd spinner too).

[prasen9]

It was not a bad decision to move on from Chahal since he has been the most expensive spinner in the last decade in T20Is. The failure was not to groom a successor and not give Chahar or anyone else enough games and sticking to Chahal. For all we know, Chahal may get injured. It is always a good idea to build bench strength and we have not done so in T20Is. Chahal has gotten most of the games. We should play Chahar or Bishnoi in the S. Africa games even though we may go back to Chahal if they do not perform. Or even if we know we will go back to Chahal, we should prepare for injuries, etc. We may not need two spinners in Australia at the same time, but we will certainly need some more than Chahal in the 15. Chahal always does well in the domestics and then fails in the international game in T20Is. He does very well in ODIs. We will possibly see a repeat of that this year too but I sincerely hope he turns a corner finally and proves me wrong.

Yes, who bowls the death overs matters. Nata has bowled in the death. And, Umran has almost never. Yet Umran's runs/over is not that low. But, anyway, let us see what happens in the rest of the games and then we will see.

[Rajkumar Sharma]

Selector tried alot to groom a successor of Chahal, but find none to keep him out of the team. Markhande, Rahul Chahar & Ravi Bishnoi. Markhande at present is out of the race. Management has no confidence in Rahul Chahar thatswhy they brought in Bishnoi and moreover he was performing for PBKS in previous IPLs.Bishnoi is also going for plenty, only 6 wickets in 9 games. He always delivered for PBKS in previous IPLs, for LSG he is not looking lethal.This year Chahal has outclassed all his competitor and shining at the top. Past performances gets washed away if a player performs in present time.