The IPL 2022 over the first week has given us some mega hits over the fence from the batsmen but there have been some magical spells from the bowlers along the way to help tilt the balance of a T20 game and today at Man’s Life, we take a look at 5 spells of bowling that will be remembered from Week 1 (until 2nd April, 2022).
5. Prasidh Krishna (RR) – 2/16 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
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The new pace duo of Prasidh Krishna and Trent Boult jolted the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Rajasthan’s first IPL game of 2022 by dismissing the top-three in the power play. The unassuming Karnataka pacer removed SRH’s captain Williamson for 2 and then got rid of Rahul Tripathi for a three ball duck in his next over. Prasidh’s fiery spell saw him concede just 2 runs from his first 3 overs inside the powerplay and proved why he is now a crucial element of Team India’s white ball plans for the foreseeable future. Alongside Trent Boult, the Rajasthan Royals might just have the best new ball pairing of IPL 2022.
4. Rahul Chahar (PBKS) – 2/13 vs Kolkata Knight Riders
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In a game that will be remembered for Andre Russell’s extraordinary 70* off 31 deliveries to dispatch of the Punjab Kings target of 138 in 14.3 overs, we’ve got to appreciate the spell of young leg-spinner, Rahul Chahar. While KKR were travelling at a run rate of close to 10 runs per over, Chahar went at just 3.25 per over and was the only man who kept Dre Russ quiet and raised early hopes for Punjab by picking up Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana in the seventh over within the space of three deliveries. He finished with astonishing figures of 2 for 13 in his full quota of four overs and reminded us all of why he is often touted as the future of leg spin in the country.
3. Kuldeep Yadav (DC) – 3/18 vs Mumbai Indians
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The last two years have been largely forgettable for India’s Kuldeep Yadav but under Rishabh Pant and Ricky Ponting at the Delhi Capitals, the left arm wrist spinner seems to have found his mojo again and delivered a super spell against the most successful side in the IPL, the Mumbai Indians at the batsmen friendly Brabourne Stadium. His spell of 3/18 included the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and debutant Anmolpreet Singh and helped DC open their campaign with a win.
2. Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB) – 4/20 vs Kolkata Knight Riders
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Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga who was largely underutilised by RCB in the last season was bought back at a pricey sum of Rs. 10.74Cr but he lived up to the price tag vs the Kolkata Knight Riders and outshone the opposition’s mystery spinners with a four-wicket haul to help RCB to a three-wicket win over KKR. Hasaranga’s four-wicket burst helped RCB dismiss KKR for a paltry 128. Skipper Shreyas Iyer was his first victim before he picked up two-in-two with Sunil Narine and Sheldon Jackson falling to his brilliance, and finally Tim Southee giving him his 4th.
1. Mohammed Shami (GT) – 3/25 vs Lucknow Super Giants
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Mohammed Shami was a man on fire for Gujarat Titans on their IPL debut with a memorable spell of new ball bowling that left the Lucknow Super Giants in tatters with 3 wickets in the powerplay. The seam position was impeccable and Shami destroyed the top order of KL Rahul, Quinton De Kock and Manish Pandey with 3 deliveries that most fast bowlers would only dream of bowling in an entire season of the IPL. There are not many bowlers in World Cricket that use the new ball better than Mohammed Shami and his opening spell of this IPL was further justification of that fact!
[Featured Image Credit: ANI]
Suhail Chandhok
Vertical Head - Sports