IPL 2018: Top 5 spells of week 1 (April 7-13) of IPL XI

Over the past decade, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has managed to unearth some great Indian talents who have been hiding somewhere in the unexplored mines. This year as well, a supremely talented spinner has been found who can do wonders for India in the past.

Besides the Bathinda-born spinner Mayank Markande, the other renowned spinners have also managed to recreate their magic, which is highlighted by 3 spinners in this list. Let us have a look at the top 5 spells of week 1 of IPL 11:

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#5 Mustafizur Rahman 3/24 v Sunrisers Hyderabad

"Mustafizur Rahman has lost his sheen," said many. But on the closely contested match against Sunrisers Hyderabad which went down to the wire, 'Fizz' showed that he still has got some tricks up his sleeve. Hyderabad needed just 12 runs from as many balls when Rahman got the ball in his hand. Prior to this over, Rahman had conceded 23 runs in 3 overs and the match was well in Hyderabad's pocket.

But the next 6 balls mesmerized every cricket lover and baffled Hyderabad fans. In the penultimate over the game, Rahman conceded just one run and took 2 wickets, to put MI in the driver's seat. But just like the final of Hero Nidahas Trophy 2018, he got unlucky as Ben Cutting conceded 14 runs in the last over. However, his spell of 24/3 is highly praiseworthy.

#4 Sunil Narine 1/17 v Chennai Super Kings

Sunil Narine

The Caribbean maestro is wrecking havoc for KKR, as he is doing wonders both with the bat and the ball. If it was a spectacular half-century in the first match against RCB, Narine spun webs around the batters' heads in the second match with his mystery spin. In a high scoring encounter where CSK successfully chased down a target of just 203 runs, Narine conceded just 17 runs in his 4 overs.

Besides that, he gave KKR a breakthrough in form of Suresh Raina just when they needed it. Unfortunately, if it was Ben Cutting for MI, it was R Vinay Kumar for KKR who became the culprit. Although doing Sunil Narine is doing exceptionally well with the ball in hand, KKR desperately needs someone who can support him.

#3 Umesh Yadav 3/23 v Kings XI Punjab

Umesh Yadav after picking up a wicket against KXIP

After two great spells bowled in a losing cause, we finally have a spell where the bowler was from the winning side. RCB has to give Umesh Yadav a major share of credit for the victory against Kings XI Punjab. Batting first, R Ashwin's side went off to a flyer and scored 32 runs in 3 overs. It was when Umesh Yadav bowled one of the most impactful overs in this year's IPL, in which he gave just 4 runs and took 3 wickets.

Mayank Agarwal, Aaron Finch, and Yuvraj Singh became his victims, with Singh being dismissed on a ball worth watching a hundred times. The former Kolkata Knight Riders' player conceded just 23 runs in a batting-friendly pitch of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which makes his spell even more impressive.

#2 Rashid Khan 1/13 v Mumbai Indians

Rashid Khan

Whenever anyone makes a list like this one, one name is going to be common and that is of the Afghan spinning sensation Rashid Khan. With all the technological advancements at any franchises' disposal and some of the best analysts working for them, Rashid Khan still remains a mystery. No batsman has managed to read him and even the dangerous MI batting lineup chose not to show their destructive side against this youngster.

Khan's spell against Mumbai Indians might lead you into believing that IPL is a Test tournament as he conceded just 13 runs in 4 overs, something extremely rare in T20 cricket. The 19-year-old conceded just 13 runs in that spell and took the wicket of Ben Cutting. His economy rate was just over 3 runs per over.

#1 Mayank Markande 4/23 v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Mayank Markande appealing for an lbw in the match against CSK

As mentioned previously, Markande has been the find of the season so far. His performance in the first match against CSK was also worthy of a mention in this list, but his spell of 3/24 against Hyderabad was something special. Chasing a small target of 148, Hyderabad was once looking pretty stabilized, scoring runs at their will.

However, the 20-year-old from Bathinda brought the defending champions back into the game single-handedly. He dismissed the dangerous Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey, and Shakib Al Hasan in quick succession to add spice to the game. Besides taking wickets, he kept a strict check on run-flow. Hands down, Mayank Markande has been the find of this year's IPL and provided he manages to keep his sublime form going, we can even see him donning the national side's blue colors one day.