IPL 2019: Dhoni, Russell, and more - top five innings from the league stage
IPL 2019, the closest fought season till date with just 1 point separating the 4th and 8th placed teams. There were last over finishes and nail-biting moments galore. Every single team had their moment in the sun. And there were also tons of special performances from the batsmen. It is often difficult to choose the best innings from a tournament like the IPL, as the quality of batsmanship on display is of the highest standards.
But, based on the match situation, conditions, and opposition, or at times the sheer class of the innings, here’s a look at the five best innings from the group stage of the IPL. To keep it fair, only an innings per batsman has been chosen. So, just the one entry for Andre Russell here!
#1 Rishabh Pant – 78 off 27 Balls vs MI
The second highest run-getter from the previous season is the enigma that is Rishabh Pant. A new look Delhi Capitals were hoping for him to recreate some of that magic in this season. And boy, didn’t he start with some belligerent brilliance. It was Delhi’s first match of the season against the Mumbai Indians.
Walking in at 112-3 at the end of 13 overs, the stage was set for Pant to go berserk from Ball 1. He started in uncharacteristically circumspect fashion, getting his first run off the 6th ball. And then it started. He swatted the ball with utter disdain, unleashing a fusillade of unorthodox shots in the most unorthodox areas.
He spared no bowler, even Jasprit Bumrah was dispatched for 18 runs off the 8 balls he faced. The Delhi Capitals got off to an enterprising start, which set the tone for their IPL run. Though Pant couldn’t quite replicate his form from the previous season and gave up his wicket easily more often than not, he ended up with 401 runs. 78 of the best came in his very first match.
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