In any format of cricket batting is a key skill to find the place in the playing XI. Any team can afford only 1 or 2 players who are weak in batting. In longer versions of the game, the technique is more important to negotiate both fast and spin bowling. Left-handed batsmen are considered to be at an advantage.
Very few batsmen are comfortable of facing both varieties of bowling and score runs. Especially in T20 format batting plays a key role, scoring runs becomes more important than technique. As a batsman, one has to play innovative strokes to keep accumulate runs and create pressure on the bowlers. It was an amazing IPL 2018 tournament with lots of top quality batsmen created an impact on the matches with their power hitting.
In international Cricket, many left-handed batsmen like Chris Gayle, Quinton de Kock, Kumar Sangakkara and Collin Munro have left their own impression.
In this year’s IPL, some of the left-handed batsmen showed their class with their innovative batting.
Here we look at the 6 left-handed batsmen who stole the show in IPL 2018
- Rishabh Pant
The stylish left-handed batsman who was retained by Delhi Daredevils had a dream run in the recently concluded VIVO IPL 2018. He played a total of 14 matches and scored 684 runs with an average of 52.61. His opportunities ended at the league stage but coming at number 4, Pant finished as the 2nd leading runs scorers behind ( short by just 51 runs) Kane Williamson who played 3 more matches than him.
His batting was outstanding as he played lots of innovative strokes of fast bowlers as well as spinners. He scored at an amazing strike rate of 173.60. Pant played one of the best innings this season scoring 128* off 63 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi.
The hard-hitting batsmen were one of the consistent player for Delhi Daredevils with 1 century and 5 half-centuries to his name. During the award ceremony, he was given two awards of emerging and stylish player of the tournament. He was the highest scorer by an Indian player in VIVO IPL 2018.
- Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine, who was considered as the most effective bowler, left a major impact as a batsman for Kolkata Knight Rider’s batting line-up mostly opening the innings in this year’s IPL. He scored 357 runs from 16 matches and gave the team flying starts most of the times. He had a brilliant strike rate of 189.89 through his average was just 22.31.
His best score came against Kings XI Punjab of 75 at Holkar Stadium, Indore. In this tournament, he scored only 2 half centuries but made sure that Kolkata Knight Riders got off to a superb start consistently. The left-handed batsman hit 40 fours and 23 sixes. KKR finished 3rd in the tournament. In the award ceremony, Sunil Narine was named as the most valuable player and as the best strike rate of the season.
- Suresh Raina
Like the previous 10 seasons in Indian Premier League history, Suresh Raina was retained by Chennai Super Kings in the auctions. He played a key role in helping Chennai Super Kings win the IPL title for the 3rd time. Coming at number 3, the left-handed southpaw scored 445 runs from 15 matches with an average of 37.08 and strike rate of 132.44.
Suresh Raina best score in the tournament was 75* against Mumbai Indians. He remained not out on 3 occasions and scored 3 half centuries and accounted for 46 fours and 12 sixes.
- Shikhar Dhawan
The opening batsman for the Indian Cricket team was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad using Right to match card at price money of INR 5.20 Crores. He played a total of 16 matches and scored 497 runs with an average of 38.23. He had missed 1 match due to an injury.
Shikhar Dhawan played some brilliant innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad and gave a solid foundation for big totals. His best score in the tournament was 92* against Delhi Daredevils at Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi. He remained not out on 3 times this season with a strike rate of 136.91. He finished as the 10th leading run-getter in IPL 11 with 59 fours and 14 sixes.
- Chris Gayle
The universal boss of T20 Cricket, Chris Gayle was bought by Kings XI Punjab at a base price of INR 2.00 Crores in the third attempt. A person who was considered to be his last leg of his career did not let down the franchise. He played 11 matches and scored 368 runs with an average of 40.88. His strike rate of 146.03 was outstanding but could not help KXIP to qualify for playoff stage.
Chris Gayle best score in this tournament was 104* against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He hit 1 century and 3 half-centuries. In the initial stages of the tournament, the hard-hitting left-handed batsman showed his class but was either dropped or did not contribute much in the latter half of the tournament.
- Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan the Under 19 World Cup 2016 sensation and the captain of the team made his domestic T20 debut for Jharkhand in 2014. Since then he has scored 1194 runs from 55 matches. He made his IPL debut in 2016 playing for Gujarat Lions. In the recently concluded IPL season, the young left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman was bought by Mumbai Indians for INR 6.20 Crores.
In the 2017 edition, the wicketkeeper-batsman had contributed just 277 runs from 11 matches with the best score of 61. In this year’s IPL, he converted his game with an aggressive attitude and created an impact with the bat. He played a total of 14 matches and got to bat in 12 innings in which he scored 275 runs.
His best score in the tournament was quick fire 62 against Kolkata Knight Riders with a strike rate of 149.45 with 2 half centuries. Ishan Kishan hit 22 fours and 17 sixes in the tournament. Ishan Kishan ability to hit big sixes with ease and dominate the bowlers makes him a dangerous batsman.