IPL talking points: Red-hot Kohli, Pandya being heckled, and Demolition Man Head

This season’s IPL 2024 is almost halfway done, and teams are battling it out to finish in the top four of the T20 competition. In the first half of the wealthiest cricket tournament in the world, Mid-Day examines five talking topics.

Leading edges and high scores

Travis Head, the opener for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has been the club’s demolition man. Thanks to two incredible starts this season, the team has set two IPL records, scoring 277 and 287. The left-hander from Australia has scored 324 runs so far this season, including 150 and a half tons. In six games, Head has a strikeout percentage of 216. He claimed it felt nice to be “on a roll” after smashing a 32-ball 89 to lead Hyderabad to a 266-7 victory against the Delhi Capitals over the weekend.

The impact player rule has an effect.

The skyscraper totals are a result of the impact player rule, which the teams are learning to employ more effectively. The rule, which was implemented the previous year, permits a player listed in the starting lineup to be substituted at any time after the toss. But other gamers don’t seem to like it. Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, said, “I am not a big fan of the impact sub rule.” “It is going to hold all-rounders back, eventually, cricket is played by 11 players, not 12 players.” At the conclusion of this season, the board will examine the regulation, according to IPL chairman Arun Dhumal.

Bengaluru stumbles, Kohli shines

For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli has been the lone fighter. With 379 runs, including a century and two half-centuries, he is the IPL’s top batter so far. However, because to his prodigious run-scoring, the former captain of India—fondly referred to as “King Kohli”—is not able to do it all. At the bottom of the standings, his side has only won once in eight games. Even though Kohli scored the first century of this season, his undefeated 113 was insufficient against a Rajasthan Royals team led by Jos Buttler, who struck an undefeated 100. Bengaluru and Kohli have never won the IPL, and it seems like they will have to wait another year.

Pandya’s tragic story

Before this season, Hardik Pandya signed with the five-time champion Mumbai Indians, taking over as captain from the seasoned Rohit. After the IPL heavyweights lost their first three games, the happiness was fleeting. Commentator Sanjay Manjrekar told the fans at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium to “behave” after the famous all-rounder was heckled repeatedly. Though Pandya’s performance with the bat (141 runs) and ball (four wickets) raises concerns, Mumbai has won three of their last seven games. The lowest moment came when M.S. Dhoni of Chennai hit Pandya three times in a row for sixes in the penultimate over, which lasted 26 runs.

Starc under financial strain

In the IPL, Mitchell Starc of Australia hasn’t lived up to the hype; the Kolkata Knight Riders have to pay a heavy price for his six wickets and 12.94 economy rate. After nine years, the left-arm quick made his IPL comeback, becoming the most expensive purchase in the league’s history with a $2.98 million acquisition. Starc has had his moments. In a victory against the Lucknow Super Giants, he bowled 3-28. However, he has been guilty of handing up runs late in the game; on Sunday, his last 19-ball over almost cost Bengaluru the victory. Despite Starc’s inability to shoot correctly, two-time champions Kolkata are now second in the rankings.