With Punjab Kings defeating Rajasthan Royals in a thriller at Wankhede, all teams have now played a match each. The opening week of IPL 2021 was marked by some phenomenal performances from the Indian players.
Here are 5 such remarkable performances from players who’ve shown great promise and will be crucial in their teams’ success.
Harshal Patel
The right-arm medium-fast bowler from Gujarat became the first-ever IPL bowler to pick a fifer against Mumbai Indians. He returned figures of 5 for 27 in the season opener against MI in Chennai. Among his scalps were Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, and Kieron Pollard.
Prithvi Shaw
The right-hand opening batsman made his mark with a brilliant 72 off 38 balls against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede. Prithvi Shaw has bounced back after being dropped from the Test squad in Australia. And with his newfound confidence, he will be a great asset for DC in IPL 2021.
Nitish Rana
Nitish Rana has been a consistent performer for KKR in recent years. He scored 80 off 56 balls on a slow surface in Chennai against a strong bowling attack of SRH. He is a crucial part of the KKR lineup along with Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi in the top 3.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson smashed a hundred on his captaincy debut as he led his team in yet another 200+ run-chase against the Punjab Kings. While he failed to get the side over the line, it was his finest IPL knocks ever. Samson doesn’t seem to be under pressure with the new responsibility and this is a great sign for RR.
Deepak Hooda
While his skipper, KL Rahul was the top run-scorer for the team, Deepak Hooda deserves a mention for his 64 off 28 balls knock. He was promoted to number 4, a position he is often seen batting at in the domestic circuit. Hooda’s presence at number 4 will certainly allow Rahul to play more freely at the top.