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The eighth edition of cash-rich Indian Premier League is halfway over. Teams like Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have been performing well with both bat and bowl. Teams like Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab are still struggling to click as a unit and are at the bottom of the table. But the beauty of the IPL is that no team is out of the competition as of yet and each one has a chance to perform and qualify for the finals.Over the past few weeks, we have seen high octane cricket with some matches going down the wire. In the second half of the tournament, teams will be bringing their A-game to the table and the competition will get more heated and exciting which will prove to be a good news for the fans.So let’s take a look at some of the key battles to look forward in the upcoming week of the IPL:
#1 Mitchell Johnson (KXIP) vs David Warner (SRH)
The left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has been a consistent performer for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL. His slingy action can move the ball in both directions at a quick pace. He has been decently performing in this tournament so far picking up 6 wickets in 6 matches.
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner has been playing really well in this season giving solid starts for his team. He has scored 259 runs in 6 matches with three fifties in his name. He is just behind Ajinkya Rahane in race for the Orange Cap.
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Two Australian beasts Mitchell Johnson and David Warner, each one deadly and destructive in their own department will be facing each other for the first time in this tournament. Both will be looking to give their best and score a win for their team who are in the bottom half of the table.
#2 George Bailey (KXIP) vs Imran Tahir (DD)
George Bailey is the only batsman in the Kings XI Punjab side who has been consistently performing for them. The skipper has scored 165 runs in 5 matches at an impressive strike rate of 151 inspite of which his team is languishing at the bottom half of the table.
Imran Tahir has been South Africa's frontline spinner in the ODI format and his variations with the ball have proven useful for Delhi Daredevils as well. Even though DD have been inconsistent in this tournament, Tahir has been excellent with the ball picking up 13 wickets in 7 matches at an economy rate of 7.88.
It would be an interesting competition between Bailey who would be looking to get his side a win and Tahir who would want to continue taking wickets and keep the Purple Cap with him.
#3 Suresh Raina (CSK) vs Morne Morkel (KKR)
Raina is the only batsman in the IPL to have scored over 400 runs in each season. He is continuing his good run in this seaon also by scoring 156 runs in 6 matches with one fifty in his name. KKR’s spearhead Morne Morkel has been troubling the batsman in this tournament with his disconcerting pace and bounce. He has picked up 9 wickets in 5 matches at an economy rate of just 7.
Raina who is known to struggle with steep bounce and pace might find it difficult to face tall lanky pacer from South Africa and that’s precisely why this contest is a must watch!
#4 Brendon McCullum (CSK) vs Trent Boult (SRH)
Brendon McCullum is one of the most brilliant and destructive batsman in world cricket right now who can brazenly scoop a quick bowler for a six. Many people still remember his 158 not out performance in the opening edition of IPL. He is the only batsman in this edition of IPL to score a hundred so far. He has notched up 232 runs in 6 matches at an impressive strike rate of 171.
Trent Boult made a name for himself in the World Cup and was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2015 auctions. He was picked over Dale Steyn for the initial matches by SRH. He has lived upto the expectations of many by leading the attack and picking up 5 wickets in 4 matches.
These New Zealanders had a fantastic World Cup campaign and will be up against each other this week. An interesting battle will ensue between McCullum and Boult this week and we should all be looking forward to what happens this time after the Kiwi skipper smashed his counterpart in their previous meeting at Chennai.
#5 Steve Smith (RR) vs Mitchell Starc (RCB)
Steven Smith has captured the imagination of cricket-lovers everywhere with his ability to adapt to any format of the game. After scoring four fifties in the World Cup campaign, the hard-hitting batsman has been continuing his form in IPL 8 a crucial role coming first down and providing stability to Rajasthan Royals. He has scored 172 runs in 7 matches at a decent strike rate of 131.
And he will be up against Mitchell Starc, a tall fast bowler who was the architect of Australia’s successful campaign in the World Cup. He had missed the initial part of the tournament due to injury but came back strong picking up 7 wickets in 3 matches at an impressive economy rate of 5.50.
These two Australian team-mates must be knowing each others game inside out and will be looking to outfox each other.
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