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By Daniel Beswick
With the global tournament less than two months away, a look at how IPL form could translate in the USA and the Caribbean.
A man held to lofty standards, Virat Kohli's century against Rajasthan Royals was met with some for denunciation being too slow. Finishing with 113* (72) in a score of 183/3, Kohli was bettered by Jos Buttler’s 100* (58), as the Englishman’s side claimed bragging rights.
Kohli also made a 59-ball 83* against the Kolkata Knight Riders, though it was his 49-ball 77 in a successful chase against the Punjab Kings that underlined his uncanny ability to pace his team’s chase. He currently leads the competition run tally, with 319 runs at an average of 79.75.
Most runs in a single edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
Domestic players currently hold every spot in top five to this point, with former India U19 international Riyan Parag racing to 261 runs at a strike rate of 158.18 in his first five knocks, unbeaten in two. Shubman Gill has again shown his quality with 255 runs at a strike rate of 151.78 in five knocks, while Sai Sudharsan, who has three ODIs to his name, has 226 runs across six innings.
It hasn’t quite worked out for Sanju Samson so far in international cricket, but the Rajasthan Royals mainstay has again showed his quality, making three scores of over fifty to begin the campaign.
For the internationals at the tournament, it’s South African fans that will have some cautious optimism, with the likes of Heinrich Klaasen (186 runs at 193.75 strike rate) and Tristan Stubbs (174 runs at 193.33 strike rate) making early headlines.
Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram meanwhile both boast half-centuries at the tournament, while Faf du Plessis, after throwing his name up for a comeback, found his groove with a 40-ball 61.
West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran meanwhile has 178 runs to his name having only been dismissed once in the tournament, flying at a strike rate of 169.52. Australian pair Travis Head and David Warner have a fifty each to begin the campaign.
The South Africa opener was in fine form during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
As India look to find the right formula with the ball, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has proved his class once more, winning the race to 10 wickets in the 2024 edition, taking five matches to reach the mark. Not only has the 33-year-old conceded just 7.33 runs an over, but has claimed at least one victim in all five outings. Certain India selection Jasprit Bumrah joined him in double figures thanks to a five-wicket haul over Royal Challengers Bangalore, and now boasts a tournament bowling economy under a run a ball (5.95)
Jasprit Bumrah shined for India in the World Cup.
In good news for Bangladesh fans, the red and green flag has been flown high by Mustafizur Rahman at Chennai Super Kings, taking nine wickets at an economy of just eight across four outings. He leads fast bowlers at the tournament thus far, and should spearheard the Tigers' attack come June in the USA and the West Indies.
Having thundered onto the international scene at the last T20 World Cup in Australia, left-arm new ball specialist Arshdeep Singh is again peaking ahead of a global tournament, picking up a wicket every 14 deliveries for Punjab Kings.
Watch the best of Arshdeep Singh from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.
The competition is the time to showcase quality, and the opportunity has been taken by a number of domestic quicks gunning for India squad spots. After his name was thrown around last season, Mohit Sharma has again impressed, picking up eight wickets in his first six outings for Gujarat Titans. Youngster Mayank Yadav has left an impression with his 150+ kph rockets too much for a number of batters.
As their batters overall impress, Proteas fans too will be upbeat on the success of their fast bowlers, namely Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada. A nominee for the ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year after a strong 2023 Cricket World Cup showing, Coetzee has again enjoyed his time in India with eight wickets in five outings, while Rabada has seven scalps in five matches.
Every Gerald Coetzee wicket from the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup | CWC23
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan will no doubt make headlines at the T20 World Cup, though it was his death-over exploits with the bat that had the IPL talking, hitting the winning runs off the last ball of the match for Gujarat Titans over the Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday (April 10). Rashid's 24 (11) and 1/18 earned him Player of the Match honours.
West Indies' Andre Russell could make a case as the IPL's best all-rounder so far in 2024, making quickfire scores of 41 (19) and 64 (25) to go with five wickets in four outings. Russell returned for the West Indies late last year for their home white-ball series of England, and looks poised to enjoy a home T20 World Cup. Sam Curran, a member to perform on that England tour, has claimed six wickets at the IPL, as well as scores of 63, 23 and 29 for the Punjab Kings.
Ravindra Jadeja lurks as another player to play a key role at the T20 World Cup, only dismissed once in his late-over batting blitzes (84 runs at 140 strike rate) to go with his four wickets, at an economy of 7.05.
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