This year’s IPL has been a stunning season with close finishes, huge sixes, close matches and great sportsmanship, which was only possible because of the players playing these matches. While some players performed well despite all odds, there are others who didn’t live up to the expectations of their fans and their team. Here is a list of the studs and duds of IPL 2018:-
Studs:
Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu was not considered by the IPL bidders to be very impressive as he was bought by Chennai Super Kings for only Rs. 2.2 cr. However, his performance at the 2018 IPL showed otherwise as he has scored 602 runs this IPL with an average of 43.00. His strike of just less than 150 is also impressive.
Mayank Markande
Mumbai Indians was struggling through the series, however, Mayank Markande was able to impress despite being bought for just 20 lakhs. He managed to take 15 wickets in the series and keep a decent average economy of 8.36. He also has a good average of 24.53.
Shane Watson
Shane Watson has always had calibre, but because his bad performance in the previous two IPLs, Watson was only bought for Rs. 4 Cr by CSK. However, this season he proved just why he is one of the best cricketers in Australia. With an astounding average of just less than 40 runs and a strike rate of 154, he took us all by surprise. He scored 555 runs this IPL and let us not forget, his Man-of-the-Match winning century in the final after having a sluggish start.
Siddarth Kaul
Siddarth Kaul may not have had an impressive final, but he was still one of the purple cap contenders in the season and picked up 21 wickets while keeping a decent average of 26-runs. His economy rate was also good, at just a little above 8.00.
Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant was an average player for Delhi before this season. However, in this season where Delhi continued to struggle, Pant delivered more than expected. With a top score of 128* and an average of above 50, Pant even took home the Emerging Player Award this IPL.
Lungi Ngidi
Lungi Ngidi was bought only for 50 lakhs by CSK. He played only seven matches in the season but was really successful has in conceded only 156 runs in the 156 balls he bowled. He had an amazing economy rate of just 6.00 and an average of just over 14.00. He was also one of the key players for CSK in the finals.
Duds:
Rohit Sharma
It would be harsh to say Rohit Sharma performed miserably this IPL, but he has evidently under-performed in comparison to his other seasons. He had a low average of just over 23.00 and was able to score only 286 runs in this season. Moreover, he was unable to be the key anchor for Mumbai Indians to get to playoffs. He was retained by Mumbai Indians for an astounding Rs. 15 Cr this season.
Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan was retained by RCB for this season and he was rather a disappointment. In the seven matches, he played he only scored 51 runs at an average of just over 10.00. His highest score was a disappointing 22*.
Jaydev Unadkat
Unadkat was bought by Rajasthan Royals for a whopping Rs. 11.5 Cr. However, Unadkat failed to perform. His average of 44.18 was miserable, and an economy rate of over 9.00 also failed to impress. In the fifteen matches he played, he was only able to pick up 11 wickets.
Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell was bought for Rs. 9.00 Cr by Delhi, but he underperformed massively in this season. With the bat, his average was just over 14 runs and he scored only 169 runs in the entire season. He did not impress with the ball either, as he only picked up five wickets and had a poor average of 26.40.
Kieron Pollard
Pollard was retained by Mumbai by using the right-to-match card against Delhi in the auctions. He was bought for Rs. 5.4 Cr. However, he had a sub-standard average of just 19.00 runs and scored only 133 runs in 9 matches. Pollard is known more for his cameos than his average but this time he wasn’t able to hit as big as one would have expected him to.
Ben Stokes
Rajasthan Royal’s decision to buying Ben Stokes for Rs. 12.5 Cr came as a huge flop for the Royals, with both bat and ball. Ben Stokes averaged at 16.33 and was able to score only 196 runs in the 13 matches he played. His highest score was only 45. His bowling wasn’t any better as he was only able to pick up 8 wickets and had a poor average of over 37.00.
