RUTURAJ GAIKWAD (CSK)
M: 16| RUNS: 635 | HS: 101*| AVG: 45.35| SR: 136.26 |100s: 1| 50s: 4 | 6s: 23 | 4s: 64
If last year’s IPL 2020 was a trailer of just how talented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was, this year the batter from Maharashtra showcased his full talent in IPL 2021. Starting off with three single-digit scores in India, Ruturaj took off in grand fashion.
When the tournament shifted to UAE, the right-hander kicked into a new gear, hitting his maiden IPL century in a run feast against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi and ended up making 635 runs at an average of 45.35 and earned the Orange Cap for most runs, becoming the youngest batter to do so.
IPL 2021: CSK players react after beating KKR in the final to clinch IPL 14 title
Surprisingly, he also hit 23 sixes in the tournament with one of those hits going to 108 meters, the longest in IPL 2021.
VENKATESH IYER (KKR)
M: 10| RUNS: 370| HS: 67| AVG: 41.11| SR: 128.47|100s: 0| 50s: 4| 6s: 14 | 4s: 37
Venkatesh Iyer was a revelation in the UAE leg of the IPL 2021 when he was picked to open the innings for Kolkata Knight Riders under the new-look approach adopted by coach Brendon McCullum and captain Eoin Morgan.
KKR coming into the UAE leg had only 2 wins from 7 matches and needed to win at least 5 more matches to qualify for the playoffs and gave Venkatesh Iyer, who hails from Madhya Pradesh and was coming off a 198* in Vijay Hazare Trophy match, license to go after the bowlers in first six overs.
This approach paid rich dividends and KKR managed to move up the points table pretty swiftly and booked their playoffs place with ease thanks to Iyer, Gill, and others providing the firepower with the bat.
FAF DU PLESSIS (CSK)
M: 16| RUNS: 633 | HS: 95*| AVG: 45.21| SR: 138.20 |100s: 0| 50s: 6 | 6s: 23| 4s: 60
Faf du Plessis showed why experience always comes in handy as he complimented the young Ruturaj Gaikwad well for CSK and fell two runs short of the Orange Cap finishing on 633 runs with a best of 95* at a strike rate of 138.20.
Ruturaj got the confidence to play freely as he knew Faf was there at the other end and will compensate if he got out early. This was evident in the final, as Faf played an amazing knock of 86 against a potent KKR attack, helping CSK to a formidable total of 192 runs, which proved to be enough.
GLENN MAXWELL (RCB)
M: 15| RUNS: 513| HS: 78| AVG: 42.75| SR: 144.10 |100s: 0| 50s: 6| 6s: 21 | 4s: 48
Glenn Maxwell was called an overpriced buy for RCB when he was bought for Rs 14.25 crores in IPL 2021 auction. He was coming off a terrible IPL 2020 for Punjab Kings, where he had failed to hit a single six and managed just 108 runs.
However, RCB gave him the perfect position to bat with Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers providing him with enough cover and support that the burden of scoring runs didn’t fell on Maxwell’s shoulders squarely.
This led to Maxwell unleashing his true self and helped RCB make it into the playoffs for the second consecutive time. He also hit 21 sixes, hitting his 513 runs, the highest haul for him, at a strike rate of 144.10 which was more Maxwell-like. He hit 6 half-centuries as well.
