IPL 2019: Top Four Performers Of The Week

The twelfth edition of the Indian Premier League has started on an exciting note. World class displays with both bat and ball, Mankad controversy, super-over – the first week saw it all. Each team has now played at least three games so far and there are some players who have managed to make a mark in this short duration. So through this article, we take a look at the top four performers from the first week of the league.

4. Sam Curran:

The 20-year old surprised everyone when he was bought by the Kings XI Punjab for a whopping 7.20 crores INR. It was doubted whether the English bowler, who had a great start to his international career, can deliver on slow tracks of Indian soil or not. But he justified his price in his very second match of IPL. He took the first Hattrick of this year’s IPL and demolished the Delhi Capitals lower order to pull the match from a losing position. In a few words, he gave vital two points to his team single-handedly. Curran’s first match was a forgettable one though when he was smoked for 52 runs in his four overs by the Royals, especially by his English Teammate Jos Buttler. He also opened the innings for KXIP in absence of Chris Gayle and gave a good quickfire start with his 10-ball 20.

3. Jonny Bairstow:

Jonny Bairstow made his debut in the IPL this year and was asked to partner David Warner in the Sunrisers Hyderabad camp. His role was to play as second fiddle to David Warner and anchor the innings. But Bairstow had other plans. He scored his first IPL ton against RCB in the third match itself. Bairstow’s hard-hitting innings of 114 blew away the RCB bowlers which included 7 sixes and 12 fours. He also gave valuable starts to SRH in the first couple of matches with scores of 39 and 45 against Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively.

2. David Warner:

Having already scored 254 runs in just 3 matches, Warner has marked his arrival with a bang. Warner’s comeback into IPL after a year was one of the most awaited things in the cricketing world. Having played few games before arriving at IPL, Warner needed some runs to make a statement for a place in the World Cup squad.

His first innings of the IPL fetched 85 runs against the KKR bowling line-up gave a warning that Warner is here for serious business. Another 69 runs innings followed against the Royals in Hyderabad helped him to claim the Orange Cap back. Warner went a step ahead in the third match when he notched up his first hundred of this IPL after making a record-breaking stand with Johnny Bairstow. The duo toyed the RCB bowlers with Warner ending up on 100 unbeaten.

1. Andre Russell:

Andre Russell’s whirlwind batting show makes him our best player in the list of the top performers. Russell was not only excellent with the bat but also featured in the Purple Cap holders list. Russell show was seen in the very first match when he overshadowed Warner’s 85 runs with an innings of 49 in just 19 balls which sealed the match for KKR out of nowhere. Russell has also also promising with his quick bowling, grabbing up 5 wickets in the 3 matches.

Russell followed with similar numbers in the second match against KXIP with a quickfire 48 at the end. The third match saw Russell at its best. This time Russell not only went berserk but also anchored the innings after KKR were reduced to 61/5 in 9.1 overs. He ended on 28-ball 62 but couldn’t repeat his heroics in the super over that followed later in the match.