Devon Conway (CSK): In our best XI for the second week running, Conway shows no signs of slowing down at the top of the order, with a couple of cracking knocks for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) over the past week. First, Conway played his part in a stiff run chase against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with a breezy half-century, even though CSK’s finishers could not complete the job. Then, in arguably his finest T20 knock, he took the Delhi Capitals (DC) bowling apart with 87 runs off just 49 balls, showing supreme confidence in stepping out of his crease to attack DC’s spinners
David Warner (DC): In one of the great comeuppance stories in the IPL, Warner systematically annihilated the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bowling on Thursday, stroking his way to a swashbuckling 92 off 58 balls. After being given the cold shoulder by SRH in spite of numerous seasons of prolific batsmanship, Warner had no shortage of motivation against his former team. Playing sheet anchor for the first half of his innings, Warner cut out some of the big hitting in favour of manipulating the field. But in the second half of his knock, Warner began to cut loose alongside Rovman Powell, taking DC past the 200 mark and into winning territory against a hapless SRH
Ishan Kishan (MI): It has been a habit for the Mumbai Indians (MI) to stick to their young guns through tough times and help them ride out a bad patch. The latest example of this is Kishan, who has recovered from a terrible run of low scores in the IPL with back-to-back displays that reveal his true potential. Against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on Friday, Kishan and Rohit Sharma got going in unison for the first time this campaign, with Kishan’s 45 giving MI the perfect platform to launch in the first innings. Against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday, Kishan was the sole shining light in an otherwise dismal batting performance, with his 51 off 43 constituting a little less than half of MI’s total on the night
Rahul Tripathi (SRH): Tripathi could not convert a promising start against DC into a big score on Thursday. But in an otherwise forgettable encounter for SRH against RCB on Sunday, Tripathi brought out his elegant shotmaking to great effect, notching up a half-century that may have been inconsequential to the result but was beautiful to watch. With wickets tumbling at the other end, Tripathi not only held up one end for the best part of 16 overs, but also found a way to punish the RCB bowlers at every opportunity, something nobody else from the SRH lineup could replicate
Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR): Chasing at the Wankhede Stadium has been difficult this season, especially in the afternoon matches. This meant that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) had their task cut out after being set a stiff target of 190 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Saturday. But not only did RR track down the runs with two balls and six wickets to spare, they did so with an effortlessness that was best captured in Jaiswal’s composed batting. With Jos Buttler starting quickly at the other end, Jaiswal took his time to get in, before unleashing his own arsenal of shots. His wonderfully crafted 68 off 41 featured nine fours and two sixes, and was both stylish and decisive enough to hand him the man of the match award
Rovman Powell (DC): We wonder what exactly Powell said to his bats after failing to get among the runs in the first half of the tournament. But whatever motivational message the West Indian sent out to his weapon of choice, it has proved immensely effective since. Against SRH, Powell played the finisher’s role to a tee, combining with Warner to devastating effect. With half a dozen maximums to his name, Powell ended the night unbeaten on 67 off just 35 balls. His act of carnage during DC’s last over, when he plundered 19 runs after receiving the greenlight to “go for it” from Warner, pummelled the SRH attack, puncturing their will and chances of winning in the process
Murugan Ashwin (MI): He may not be the most recognisable name on the MI team sheet, but he is fast becoming one of the most indispensable ones. In a match that seemed all but lost against GT, with both Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha looking in fine fettle, Ashwin produced a game-turning spell to hand the initiative back to Rohit Sharma and Co. Getting rid of Gill and Saha in the same over, Ashwin transferred the pressure to the GT batters, who suddenly found the pitch at Brabourne tricky to score on. After the double breakthrough, Ashwin held his line and length to keep things tight and force GT to make mistakes at the other end, which is exactly what led them to botch up a chase that seemed done and dusted at the halfway point
Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB): After a mediocre outing against CSK, the onus was on Hasaranga to do something special for RCB and stifle SRH on Sunday. What followed was a career-defining exhibition of attacking leg-spin bowling that did not let batters settle and produced wickets every few balls. Spurred on by Virat Kohli and skipper Faf du Plessis, Hasaranga ran through the SRH batting like a toddler running through their set of toys. Among the five wickets he picked for just 18 runs were the pivotal ones of Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, both of whom could have brought SRH back into the game but had to submit to Hasaranga’s magical spell on the night
Avesh Khan (LSG): Recruited as the presumptive spearhead for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Avesh had been overshadowed in recent weeks by Mohsin Khan. But against KKR on Saturday, the 25-year-old was the main man for those in turquoise as he broke the back of KKR’s middle order with three wickets for just 19 runs to help ensure a comfortable two points for LSG. Avesh’s delivery that bamboozled and bowled Nitish Rana for both pace and accuracy was one of the outstanding balls of the week. Three days later, Avesh was on the money once more, this time against GT, picking up Matthew Wade and Hardik Pandya at the expense of just 26 runs in his four overs
Yuzvendra Chahal (RR): He may no longer be the runaway leader on the Purple Cap standings, but the wily Chahal keeps adding to his kitty to retain pole position for now. Against PBKS, Chahal made a mark once more, eliminating Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Mayank Agarwal, before putting the brakes on the PBKS onslaught by trapping Jonny Bairstow leg before wicket. With at least three more games left for RR to play this season, Chahal will have one eye on the all-time record of 32 wickets in a single season, currently held by Dwayne Bravo and Harshal Patel, a figure that will not be beyond his reach should he continue to chip away at key moments for the remainder of the season
Jasprit Bumrah (MI): Form is temporary, but class is permanent. A sporting cliche with more than a grain of truth. Even though MI were comprehensively outplayed by KKR on Monday, Bumrah stole the show with his barely believable figures of five for 10 in four overs. Discharged of bowling with the new ball, Bumrah relished the challenge of coming in mid-innings to disrupt KKR’s flow. Having removed the dangerous duo of Andre Russell and Nitish Rana in the 15th over, Bumrah turned even more lethal in the 18th, knocking over Sheldon Jackson, Pat Cummins and Sunil Narine in the space of four balls to remind one and all that on his day he still remains the best in the business
