DEVDUTT PADIKKAL (RCB)
M: 15| RUNS: 473| HS: 74| AVG: 31.53| SR: 129.80 |100s: 0| 50s: 5 | 6s: 8 | 4s: 51
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pouched on Karnataka’s young opener Devdutt Padikkal who has an impressive record in domestic cricket and came off a good domestic cricket season, especially with the white-ball. The gamble proved to be correct as RCB was looking to bolster their batting at the top.
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Padikkal also grabbed the opportunity with both hands and smashed 473 runs, the most by an uncapped batsman in his debut season. He looked at ease both against pace and spin and was unflustered while facing the best in the business like Bumrah, Boult, Archer, and others.
The 20-year-old won the Emerging Player Award for IPL 2020 and is a bright prospect for the future of the Indian team in the coming years.
RUTURAJ GAIKWAD (CSK)
M: 6| RUNS: 204| HS: 72| AVG: 51.00| SR: 120.71 |100s: 0| 50s: 3 | 6s: 16 | 4s: 6
Ruturaj Gaikwad had a tough initiation into the world of Indian Premier League as he was struck with the Coronavirus on arrival in UAE and then didn’t get to do anything in the first three matches he played for the Chennai Super Kings.
However, once the CSK franchise was eliminated from the playoffs race, the management gave Gaikwad another chance, this time as an opener, and he smacked three consecutive half-centuries, helping the yellow army end their campaign on a high with victories. Gaikwad looked compact in his technique and has all the shots to take advantage of the powerplay.
CSK will in all possibility put him on the list of players to retain for next year’s IPL, which will be played in India.
NITISH RANA (KKR)
M: 14| RUNS: 352| HS: 87| AVG: 25.14| SR: 138.58 |100s: 0| 50s: 3 | 6s: 12 | 4s: 43
Nitish Rana has done amazingly well in the IPL over the years, for two of the best teams in the competition. He was the first part of the Mumbai Indians and now plays for Kolkata Knight Riders. He has done well for both the teams and is one of the brightest talents in the Indian domestic scene as well.
Rana made 325 runs in 14 games for KKR with three fifties and a highest score of 87. He played the tournament despite suffering a personal loss as well, showing his grit and character and proving why KKR is right in putting their faith in his talents.
