IPL 2021: 5 batters who had a memorable run in the UAE last season

#3 David Warner (SRH)

SRH’s David Warner has an amazing IPL record. (Pic: IPLT20.COM)

Prolific SRH opener and former franchise skipper, David Warner has crossed the 500-run mark in every IPL edition that he has featured in since 2014. Last season as well, he clobbered 548 runs in 16 games at a strike rate of 134.64 with four fifty-plus scores.

After a slow start, Warner hit back-to-back fifties against MI and PBKS. Warner also played a brutal knock of 66 from 34 balls against DC and featured in a whirlwind opening stand of 107 with Wriddhiman Saha (87). His best of 85 not out came off 58 balls in the 10-wicket hammering of MI when the sides met towards the end of the league stage.

Most 90s in IPL5 - David Warner4 - Shikhar Dhawan4 - Chris Gayle4 - Virat Kohli4 - KL Rahul3 - Shane Watson3 - Glenn Maxwell19 days to go for #IPL2021

— Only STATS (@Cricket58952626) August 31, 2021

Undoubtedly the most consistent overseas batter in the history of IPL, Warner struggled in the first half of the T20 league in India earlier this year. Although he managed a decent 193 runs in six games, his strike rate was quite low at 110.28 and he was even sacked as captain. The Aussie will be keen to prove a point in the UAE leg of IPL 2021.

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#2 Shikhar Dhawan (DC)

DC’s Shikhar Dhawan has been in impressive form in the last couple of seasons. (Pic: IPLT20.COM)

DC opener Shikhar Dhawan’s IPL 2020 journey was brilliant and bizarre in equal measure. His overall figures were quite impressive though as he amassed 618 runs in 17 games at a strike rate of 144.73. During the course of the edition, he became the first batter to register consecutive hundreds in the IPL.

Dhawan blasted an unbeaten 101 off 58 balls in a five-wicket win over CSK and then scored 106 not out off 61 against PBKS to create history. However, DC ended up losing the latter game as PBKS chased down a target of 165 with ease.

Never a dull moment when @SDhawan25 is on the field. 😂 @DineshKarthik 🤜🏽🤛🏽https://t.co/GDR4bTRtlQ #DCvKKR #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/lwohB8NNou

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 29, 2021

The veteran left-hander followed up his twin tons with scores of 6,0,0. In fact, he began IPL 2020 with a duck as well. Dhawan rediscovered form with a half-century against RCB as DC made the playoffs for the second year in a row. He again perished without scoring in Qualifier 1 against MI before putting DC in the final with a stupendous 78 in Qualifier 2 against SRH.

Although he managed only 15 in the IPL 2020 final, Dhawan ended as the second leading run-scorer in the season.

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#1 KL Rahul (PBKS)

PBKS captain KL Rahul won the Orange Cap last year. (Pic: IPLT20.COM)

PBKS captain KL Rahul was in sublime form during IPL 2020 even as the franchise struggled for consistency. Although PBKS failed to qualify for the playoffs, Rahul finished as the season’s leading run-scorer, scoring 670 runs from 14 games at a strike rate of 129.34.

The right-hander hit a scintillating 132 not out off 69 balls, a knock which featured seven sixes, against RCB. Amazingly, Rahul scored more than half of the runs, in a team total of 206/3, as PBKS breezed to victory by 97 runs. Carrying on his great form, Rahul blasted 69 off 54 against RR and featured in an opening stand of 183 with Mayank Agarwal (106). The knock was in vain though as Rahul Tewatia’s whirlwind knock, which included five sixers, lifted RR to an unlikely win.

9⃣1⃣* Runs5⃣7⃣ Balls7⃣ Fours5⃣ Sixes@klrahul11 led the @PunjabKingsIPL's charge with the bat and did that in some style. 👏👏 #VIVOIPL #PBKSvRCBWatch that fine knock 🎥👇https://t.co/PTwTPQ1PbY

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 30, 2021

Rahul continued to pile on the runs with half-centuries against CSK and KKR but with little support from the rest, he and his side could not get the right results. The opener did get some just rewards for his performances towards the second half of IPL 2020 as his knocks against RCB (61) and MI (77) led PBKS to wins.

It was an action replay of sorts in the first half of this year’s event. Rahul smashed 331 runs but PBKS managed to win only three of their eight matches.

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Other top performers with the bat in IPL 2020

Shreyas Iyer (DC) - 519 runs in 17 matches | SR - 123.27

Quinton de Kock (MI) - 503 runs in 16 matches | SR - 140.50

Suryakumar Yadav (MI) - 480 runs in 16 matches | SR - 145.01

Virat Kohli (RCB) - 446 runs in 15 matches | SR - 121.35

AB de Villiers (RCB)- 454 runs in 15 matches | SR - 158.74