The Betway ambassador talks IPL run rates, reveals which Indian wicket-keeper has caught his eye, and pays tribute to Sachin Tendulkar on his 50th birthday.
IPL batters – young and old – are changing the game
The biggest thing that has stood out since I arrived at the IPL is that the game has gone to a new level in terms of the six-hitting and the use of powerplays.
The powerplay numbers this season have been remarkable.
It continues through the innings, too, with no batters thinking that there are middle overs to milk the bowling anymore. It’s just crash, bang, wallop.
It’s fantastic, in particular, to see the older guys going strong. There’s a lot to be said for experience, but they’re learning new tricks, too.
Faf du Plessis has been unbelievable so far. David Warner has been terrific and Ajinkya Rahane played a great innings for CSK on Sunday.
As Sachin Tendulkar said the other day, bowlers are in for such a hard time at the moment. Who would be a bowler these days? The batters are just smoking it around.
India have their Rishabh Pant replacement
Some of the homegrown talent going more under the radar is frightening, too.
There’s a lot of Yuvraj Singh about CSK’s Shivam Dube. He’s a proper, proper player.
Jitesh Sharma, the wicket-keeper from Punjab Kings, is also something special. I think he could be the guy who takes over from Rishabh Pant for India, if Pant is out for a while longer.
His 25 off seven balls, including four sixes, against Mumbai on Saturday was match-winning.
English contingent will be learning so much in India
It’s been a mixed campaign for the English contingent so far.
Jason Roy has started well for KKR, even though his team are nowhere near at it. I spoke to Jason the other day and he’s just happy to be playing.
Sam Curran played really nicely at the weekend, too. It’s a big responsibility to be captaining but he handled it well.
Moeen Ali hasn’t really got going yet, and injuries are affecting the participation of Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, who had started so well.
What I will say is that it’s so much better for these guys to be at the IPL, even if they’re not playing, than poking around at 75mph swing bowling in freezing conditions for their counties.
The game isn’t about hitting or bowling balls for these experienced guys, it’s about the mental side of the game. They will be learning far more in India than they would be in England right now.
Happy birthday, Sachin!
Even as he turns 50, Sachin Tendulkar remains such an icon in India.
Everywhere you go here, it’s clear what a legend he is and what a connection he has with the people.
I always remember the century he scored against us in 2008 in the fourth innings of a Test. He dedicated it to the Indian public after the terrorist attack a few weeks earlier. I remember thinking, even though it was a Test match we should have won, that it was such a brilliant moment and an example of his greatness as an India icon.
That connection lives on and it’s great to see the whole of India wishing him well on his 50th birthday.
Visit Betway’s IPL betting page.
