Top 5 unsung heroes at this year's IPL
The annual cricketing extraveganza called the Indian Premier League has had its fair share of moments of magic and rags to riches stories over the years and this season is no different.
There has been no shortage of incredibly eye-catching performances this year – Chris Gayle hit 12 sixes in an innings to do the ‘Cristiano Ronaldo style’ celebration, while AB de Villiers showed his famous 360 degree class to register the highest individual score (133*) of this edition. The age-defying performances of Ashish Nehra and Brad Hogg have also taken the center-stage on numerous ocassions, and the likes of Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis and David Warner have proved that fielding can also win matches.
But there have been a few players who have been contributing to the team’s cause without earning much plaudits for their show. Let’s have a look at the top 5 such dark knights of this year’s IPL:
5. Nathan Coulter-Nile
The Aussie pacer has been a consistent performer in a rather shaky campaign for the Delhi Daredevils. He has taken 15 wickets in the 11 games he has played at an incredible average of 21.40, strike rate of 17.00 and a more than decent economy of 7.55. He also has the 3rd highest dot balls this season with 117 to his credit.
Only Sandeep Sharma and Ashish Nehra (120) have bowled more. While DD have relied majorly on their leg spin duo of Tahir & Amit Mishra for wickets, this man has provided them with crucial breakthroughs both upfront and in the middle overs. His performance of 4/20 against against KXIP is a proof for that.?
4. Moises Henriques
The Portugal born Australian all-rounder started a bit late this season and hence played only 7 games so far. But he has scored 219 runs with an impressive average of 43.8 and a strike rate of 128.82. He is more than handy as a bowler having taken 9 wickets with an astonishing economy rate of 6.57, average of 15.33 and strike rate of 14.00.
While the likes of Boult, Steyn and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have earned plaudits for their bowling, Warner, Dhawan and Morgan have come all guns blazing with the bat. In such a lineup, Henriques has made his own mark and has kept his place at the expense of in-form Kane Williamson and the experienced Ravi Bopara. He bowled a match winning spell of 4-0-16-3 against the Kings XI which was overshadowed by the brilliance of Warner with bat.