Page 39 - The Indian EYE 052623

SPORTS MAY 26, 2023 | The Indian Eye 39

Dhawan creates unwanted
batting record

unjab Kings skipper Shikhar
Dhawan registered an un-
Pwanted batting record to his
name during his side’s Indian Pre-
mier League (IPL) match against
Delhi Capitals on Wednesday as he
became the opening batter with the
second-highest number of ducks in
the history of the league.
In the match, Shikhar was dis-
missed for a golden duck by Ishant
Sharma. Opening batsmen are ex-
pected to give a solid start to their
team. On a few occasions, the bats-
men fail miserably and get out on a
duck as an opener. There is no sad
feeling than getting out without scor-
ing a single run as an opening bats-
man.
Here are a few opening
batsmen in IPL who have the most
ducks to their names:
• PARTHIV PATEL: The wick-
et-keeper batsmen have the most
ducks to his name. He has a total
of 11 ducks. In IPL, he has played
for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal
Challengers Bangalore and Mum-
bai Indians.
• GAUTAM GAMBHIR: the current
mentor of Lucknow Super Giants Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rinku Singh plays a shot in a match against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai (ANI)
had 10 ducks as an opener. Gam-
bhir played for Delhi Daredevils ers in the ilk of skipper Rohit Shar- I saw from him last year, which is attack is well set ahead of this year’s
and Kolata Knight Riders. He had ma, former captain Virat Kohli and a very, very positive sign. It shows World Cup, but thinks there are a
won the IPL twice with KKR.
the emerging Shubman Gill, Shastri that there is a young guy prepared group of young batters around the
• AJINKYA RAHANE: The current believes the next crop of young bat- to work on his game, sort out things, mark that could easily sneak into
Chennai Super Kings player who ters is ready to take the next step and get a more all-round game into play the final squad with continued good
gained some confidence in this IPL could replicate their form at the 50- and he has done that this season. Just form prior to the tournament.
had been out on duck as an opener over showcase should injuries arise the power with which he is re-taking “As far as batting goes, there’s
10 times. Before playing for CSK, to key players. Young left-hander shots. Just the pockets he is hitting Tilak (274 runs in nine matches at an
Rahane played for Mumbai Indi- Yashasvi Jaiswal has been a standout around the ground as opposed to last average of 45.66 with a fifty), there’s
ans, Rajasthan Royals, Pune Su- so far at the IPL with a total of 575 year are very good,” said Shastri as Jitesh Sharma (265 runs at an average
pergiant, Delhi Capitals and Kolk- runs for the Rajasthan Royals with quoted by ICC. of 22.08 and a strike rate of over 155)
ata Knight Riders. a century and four fifties, while fel- “The other bloke is Rinku Singh, from Punjab (Kings) too who is a wick-
low southpaw Rinku Singh (407 runs which is a great story. The more I et-keeper-batter who’s pretty danger-
• DAVID WARNER: The captain of in 13 matches, with three fifties and see of him, that guy has got a fabu- ous and has stood out,” Shastri noted.
Delhi Capitals, had been out on an average above 50) is another to lous temperament. He is tough as “There’s even Sai Sudarshan
duck nine times as an opener. The have caught Shastri’s eye following nails. Both of these guys have come (223 runs in six matches at an aver-
Australian had previously played his final over heroics for the Kolkata through very hard backgrounds. age of 44.60 with two fifties), a left-
for Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Knight Riders against Gujarat Titans They have worked very hard initially hander (who has also caught the
Hyderabad. (ANI)
early in the tournament. in their lives and nothing has come eye). But I would put Tilak Varma, I
Shastri believes both Jaiswal easy for them. So you can see that would put Jaiswal, I would put Rinku
Shastri reveals players he and Rinku are more than capable of hunger, that passion, that drive that Singh. (They) are the candidates
wants in World Cup making the transition to internation- is so needed to make it to the top,” who can really push through along
al cricket in the future and was quick added the former Indian all-rounder. with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been
avi Shastri has revealed the to nominate the pair as standout But it’s not just this pair that around for a while.”
young batters that have im- performers to host Sanjana Ganesan has stood out at the IPL for Shastri, “These are the guys who can
Rpressed him during the ongo- when speaking on the latest episode with the India legend and respected push for selection, depending on
ing IPL that could make a late run at of The ICC Review. commentator also liking the look of their form closer to the World Cup.
being part of this year’s ICC Men’s “One is (Yashasvi) Jaiswal, a host of other young players that are And depending on injuries. If there
Cricket World Cup. simply because of the way he has yet to earn an international cap for are injuries to any key players, then
While India already boasts a played this season. And for me, it is their country. these guys can come straight away
number of strong top-order perform- a marked improvement from what Shastri believes India’s bowling into the mix,” concluded Shastri.

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