Page 44 - The Indian EYE 050523

SPORTS MAY 05, 2023 | The Indian Eye 44

him the most successful IPL player
ever. He has led Mumbai Indians to
five IPL titles as skipper (2013, 2015,
2017, 2019 and 2020), won one with
Deccan Chargers as a player (2009).
On top of that, he is the fourth high-
est run-getter in league’s history, with
a total of 6,060 runs in 234 matches,
229 innings at an average of 30.14,
with one century and 41 half-centu-
ries and best score of 109*.

How Rahane “reinvented”
his game for T20I format

ormer India captain Mithali
Raj said that Ajinkya Rahane
Fhas “reinvented” his game and
changed his approach to fit into the
T20 format.
Ajinkya Rahane, who was picked
up by CSK at a base price of Rs 50
lakh - has had breathtaking perfor-
mances this season. At the halfway
stage of IPL 2023, Rahane aggre-
gated 209 runs in five innings. The
Mumbaikar averaged 52.25 and
scored runs at a jaw-dropping strike
rate of 199.1. Former India cricket-
er Mithali Raj has hailed the former
India vice-captain, for the way he’s
batting in IPL 2023 and reinventing
his game.
Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket
Live Mithali Raj said, “Rahane has
reinvented his game. He wanted to
fit into the T20 format and that’s why
he changed his game. There has been
no change in his shots but there has
been a lot of change in his approach.
This Rahane is looking brand new.”
IPL 2023 has entered its second
phase of the league stage and in the
first half of the biggest T20 league,
we have seen some spectacular indi-
vidual performances. In the first 35
games in IPL 2023, the fans didn’t
just get to see nail-biting encounters
one after the other but also saw the Ajinkya Rahane plays a shot in a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore during Indian Premier League 2023,
players pulling off incredible feats at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru (ANI)
with their heroics.
Sam Curran of Punjab Kings and praise upon Curran and said, “Sam can be a horse of long race for MI. a chance but they silenced their crit-
Mumbai Indians’ Cameron Green Curran is a true all-rounder. He can After the departure of Hardik Pan- ics with their performances.
were the most expensive players in bat and ball with equal dexterity. He dya and Kieron Pollard, MI need an Mohit Sharma has picked up
the IPL 2023 Auction and the young is a pocket-size dynamite.” all-rounder and Green seems to be four wickets in three games and re-
all-rounders are reposing faith in Curran and Green have also filling the void.” turned with two player of the match
their franchises. proved their mettle with the ball as The term ‘Impact Player’ might awards for GT on two occasions al-
Curran - who was purchased for well and emerged as the most im- be the talk of IPL 2023 but the play- ready and has been a go-to bowler
Rs 18.5 crore by PBKS - has scored pactful overseas bowlers amongst ers who made the most impact are the for skipper Hardik Pandya in the
142 runs in 7 games at a strike rate expensive buys. Curran and Green ones bought at low prices and put up death overs.
of 138 in IPL 2023. Green - who was picked up 5 wickets each at an econ- high-end performance for their team. Similarly, senior spinner Piyush
bought for Rs 17.5 crore by MI - has omy of 8.9 and 10.5 respectively. Ajinkya Rahane (CSK), Mohit Chawla has picked up 9 wickets in six
amassed 199 runs by the mid of IPL Lauding the talented all-rounder Sharma (GT), Piyush Chawla (MI) matches he played for five-time cham-
2023. He has struck at an SR of 149. from Australia, former India cricket- and Mayank Markande (SRH) were pions Mumbai Indians as the league
Speaking on Star Sports Crick- er Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports’ all purchased at base prices at IPL stage reached the halfway mark.
et Live former England captain and Cricket Live, “Cameron Green has 2023 Auctions. Before the start of Chawla bowled at an economy of 6.9
coach Paul Collingwood lavished so far justified his price tag. Green the season, no one gave these players in his first six appearances for MI.

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