With most teams having played seven games each, we are slowly approaching the halfway point of the season in IPL 2022. Apart from the struggling Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, season 15 of the IPL has been one of the most closely contested editions in recent times, with very little separating the top eight teams in the table and no standout favourite to win the title.
Amongst the individual performances, there have been some outstanding displays from the likes of KL Rahul and Jos Buttler, and here are the top ten players of the season from the first half of IPL 2022.
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At number ten is Kolkata spinner Sunil Narine, who has continued to star in KKR colours in his 11th season in the IPL for the franchise. Despite bowling 28 overs in the competition, Narine has an incredible economy rate of 5.04 – the best in the tournament – and has been the only dependable bowler for Shreyas Iyer this season through all phases of the game.
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Harshal Patel has been unable to recreate his purple cap form from last season in the IPL – picking up eight wickets in six matches in 2022 – but the RCB bowler has been incredibly effective through the middle overs. Despite playing on batting-friendly pitches in Mumbai, Harshal has an excellent economy rate of 7.29 for the season, and the all-rounder has still managed to keep batters guessing and on their toes with his slower balls and other variations.
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KL Rahul’s love affair with the IPL has continued with his new franchise Lucknow Super Giants, and the run machine has once again delivered the goods at the top of the order. Rahul scored a classy century for Lucknow against Mumbai at Brabourne Stadium and has even improved his scoring rate so far this season, with a strike rate of 141 after seven games.
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Liam Livingstone has been one of the most destructive players in IPL 2022, perfecting the art of going hard from ball one for the most exciting batting team in the tournament – the Punjab Kings. Livingstone has smashed 224 runs at an incredible strike rate of 185 and has scored more half-centuries than any other player so far this season (3).
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Kuldeep Yadav has enjoyed a renaissance with the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022, with the left-armer finding his bowling rhythm after a couple of years on the sidelines at KKR. Although Yadav has been slightly expensive – conceding 8.24 runs an over – the southpaw has been incredibly threatening as a wicket-taker, picking up 11 scalps so far this season at an average of 14.
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Rahul Tripathi has been the most underrated Indian batter in T20 cricket over the past three seasons, and the former KKR opener has continued his stellar form from 2021 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Tripathi has scored 205 runs at an incredible strike rate of 173 so far this season and has adapted seamlessly to his role at number three by showing remarkable improvements in his ability to hit spin through the middle overs.
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Shimron Hetmyer has been one of the most vital cogs for the Rajasthan Royals this season in the IPL, with the West Indian’s explosive ability with the bat and dependability as a finisher allowing the team to play five specialist bowlers. Hetmyer averages 74 at an awe-inspiring strike rate of 179 in six matches so far this season, and his power-hitting ability at the death has been one of the primary reasons for Rajasthan’s excellent start to the season.
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The number one leg-spinner in India has reminded the world of his abilities to start IPL 2022, with Yuzvendra Chahal leading the way in the purple cap race. The leg-spinner has picked up 17 wickets in six matches at a strike rate of 8.47 and an economy of 7.3 and has thrived despite playing most of his games on batter friendly pitches at Wankhede or Brabourne.
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A close number two on our list is Dinesh Karthik, who is enjoying the best IPL season of his career at age 36. The best compliment that can be given to the wicket-keeper is that his performances for RCB have ensured that AB de Villier’s absence has not been felt at the death, with Karthik scoring 210 runs in seven innings at an incredible strike rate of 205 in 2022.
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The best player in the IPL throughout the opening half of the 2022 campaign has to be Jos Buttler, who is redefining expectations for opening batters in T20 cricket with his freakish consistency and ball-striking. Buttler has scored two centuries in the opening six games of the season for RR, and is averaging 75 at a strike rate of 156, while also leading the race for the orange cap by a volcanic 110-run margin.
Buttler has elevated himself into the conversation for the best T20 player in the world with his performances over the last 12 months and could be in line for a historic season in the IPL if he continues to score runs at the same rate.
[Featured Image Credit: KL Rahul]
Shivaan Shah