5 best bowling spells by Indian bowlers from IPL 2016

3) Axar Patel, 4-0-21-4, Kings XI Punjab v Gujarat Lions, Rajkot

Axar Patel picked up a hat-trick in the game against the Lions

Two important factors make this bowling performance by Axar Patel very special. Firstly, Gujarat Lions were in steamrolling form while the Kings XI Punjab had gotten off to a bad start. Beating the top side at that point needed a superlative performance.

Secondly, Rajkot’s flatter batting track rarely ever allows bowlers to get on top. Punjab were bowled out only for 154 thanks to a good bowling spell from another Indian find, Chinaman bowler Shivil Kaushik, who registered figures of 3-20 in 4 overs. However, Patel cleaned up the Lions’ middle order.

He got Lions opener Dwayne Smith and then got through the defences of Dinesh Karthik couple of balls later. But he wasn’t done for the over. The very next ball, Patel got Dwayne Bravo with a quicker skidding delivery that the latter dragged on to his stumps.

He then picked up Jadeja’s wicket on his home ground demolishing Lions, who were left in a precarious situation at 57-6. Lower order resistance didn’t help much as Kings XI pulled off the win by 23 runs. Patel, unsurprisingly, picked up the Man of the Match award.