IPL 2017: Week 2 in review
After the second week of the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians are neck and neck at the top of the table, level on points. In the opposite end of the table, the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore are struggling at the bottom of the table with just 1 win from 5 matches.
Here’s a quick review of the second week of the IPL.
Delhi Daredevils
Positive: Bowling attack
DD boast the lowest bowling average, strike rate and economy rate of all teams this season. That Chris Morris, Pat Cummins, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Mohammad Shami and Shahbaz Nadeem would be an excellent bowling attack is not really a surprise but it is certainly the major positive for DD.
If their top order batting can continue to perform as it has done they will be a tough team to beat with that attack. The form of Nadeem, whose economy rate of 4.90 is the best in the league, has added an extra dynamic to their otherwise pace-heavy set of bowlers.
Negative: Karun Nair’s form
Last season, Nair was DD’s top run-scorer with 445 runs. So far this season he has scored 4 (3), 0 (3) and 21 (27) extending a lean run of form since his Test match triple century against England that has not seen him scored more than 28 in thirteen innings across all formats.
Tactical Tip: Bat Rishabh Pant higher
Pant has been DD’s star batsman so far this season, scoring 141 runs at a run rate of 10.19 runs per over. His innings against KKR on Monday was just the latest demonstration of his ability. With Nair struggling for form at number three, DD lacking firepower at the top of the order and boasting plenty of it lower down, a promotion for India’s most exciting batting talent is overdue.
Gujarat Lions
Positive: Dinesh Karthik
Last season, GL had the lowest run rate among all teams in the death over phase. This season they have the third best and that is largely due to the form of Karthik who has scored 128 runs at a run rate of 8.70 runs per over – 70 of those runs, at 9.99 runs per over, have come in the final five overs. If Karthik can maintain such form and with Dwayne Bravo to return, GL could resolve a major problem area from last season very effectively.
Negative: Indian bowling
Last season GL’s bowling was led brilliantly by Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni and Ravindra Jadeja, who all conceded runs at less than 8 runs per over. This season, the only GL bowler going under seven is AJ Tye, while the remainder of the attack is conceding runs at 9.91 runs per over.
Tactical Tip: Maintain batting stability
GL have been changing their batting combinations and orders too often in their opening four matches. They need to decide on their preferred personnel and order and stick to it for a couple of matches at least to allow players to become familiar with their roles. Right now the instability in selections and order is making it hard for their batting power to cover for their weak bowling in the absence of Bravo.