IPL 2017: Top 5 big-hitting teams this year
Cricket has always been considered a batsman’s game, more so the T20 format. In a format that lends itself to free scoring, the teams that can rack up huge scores, chase any mammoth target and batsmen who can hit the ball hard and far, predominantly win games and entertain spectators the most.
T20 teams are built on specialist big-hitting batsmen whose strokeplay is best suited for the demands of the format. Therefore, scoring runs off boundaries becomes a must, and the more boundaries you hit, the more matches you win.
Here, we take a look at the top 5 big-hitting teams of this IPL 2017 in terms of the runs they score in boundaries.
#5 Rising Pune Supergiant
After an indifferent start, the Rising Pune Supergiant have slowly picked up momentum ahead of the business end of the tournament and have realistic hopes of a playoff spot. A major factor in their improved showing from last year has been their better striking this season. Therefore, the Pune franchise finds itself in the 5th position among the 8 teams for the runs scored in boundaries.
Their 908 runs in boundaries include 143 fours and 56 sixes. Skipper Steve Smith leads the list with 40 boundaries, including 32 fours and 8 sixes. Opener Rahul Tripathi, who has given Pune quick starts every time he has come out to bat, has struck 29 fours and 9 sixes.
In terms of sixes hit, hard-hitting England all-rounder Ben Stokes leads Pune with 10 sixes. 6 of them came during his monstrous 63-ball unbeaten 103 against Gujarat Lions couple of days ago.