2020 saw Cricket face unique situations.

2020 was supposed to be a year with a men’s and women’s T20 World Cup, some exciting tours, and the inauguration of the hundred.

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The first few months of 2020 went as expected, with a few good tours and a cracking Women’s World Cup.

2020 started with Australia completing a whitewash against New Zealand and then had South Africa take on England at home in a Test series.

The England Tests were the last for Vernon Philander, who retired from International Cricket.

Vernon Philander’s retirement saw another member of the golden generation of South Africa leave.

Faf Du Plessis is one of the few remnants of a talented group of players representing South Africa.

February saw another set of high-profile games.

Bangladesh won their first Under-19 World Cup, and Australia won the Women’s T20 World Cup.

New Zealand beat India at home, in the Test series and one-day format, but lost the T20s.

South Africa lost to Australia at home, while Sri Lanka won an ODI series against West Indies.

The calendar was going as scheduled until the pandemic changed the scenario.

Come March; Covid-19 was gaining attention.

New rules came in to keep Cricket alive.

Fist bumps, saliva bans, and empty stadiums were among the new rules.

One of the first few games played without crowds was an ODI between Australia and New Zealand.

Despite efforts to keep international Cricket moving forward, England and New Zealand called off their overseas tours.

South Africa did the same in India.

The IPL was postponed due to the rise in India’s cases, and for a brief period, the Pakistan Super League was the only source of entertainment for Cricket Lovers.

The Pakistan Super League employed closed-door games and managed to finish the league stage, but a sudden rise in cases saw the playoffs postpone.

The 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final, played in front of a full crowd at Melbourne, was one of the last to be played with a group, and the cricketing calendar came to a halt.

With many nations in lockdown, Cricket was scarce in April and May.

Attempts were made to bring back Cricket, and the use of bio-bubbles was trialed.

After a long gap, Cricket was finally back.

The West Indies tour of England came as a respite for Cricket fans worldwide, as they finally got to see some top-flight Cricket.

The love for the game was reignited, as Cricket returned in its best fashion, with the most extended format in play.

The Test series between England and West Indies went well.

The use of bio-bubbles turned successful.

The game also helped a social cause, with the Black Lives Matter initiative gaining momentum.

Each game saw the players take a knee out of respect, and as a movement, and Cricket was finally back.

With bio-bubbles successful, Pakistan followed West Indies on tour to England.

With another Test series in England, the joy towards the game came back.

Fans were reminded of how valuable sport is to spend a joyful life.

The English Cricket board led the way, initiating a Test series and taking the necessary precautions.

The West Indies and Pakistan Boards deserve equal credit, as they were among the first sides to travel during the pandemic.

After another fascinating Test series against Pakistan, Cricket again won in a limited-overs series between England and Australia.

There was also a limited-overs series against Ireland in the mix.

The English Cricket Board managed to complete a full summer of Cricket despite the pandemic.

They ensured the game goes on, and the Cricketing World has some form of entertainment in dark times.

The viewership of the games in England increased as people worldwide look forward to Cricket’s return.

Following a successful English Summer, The CPL took place after seeing how successful the bio-bubbles in England were.

The CPL continued to impress, as Kieron Pollard’s Trinbago Knight Riders marched to the title unbeaten.

Kieron Pollard led his side to 12 wins on the trot, as there were some exciting games throughout the tournament.

The tournament did miss names like Chris Gayle but still lived up to the expectations in the absence of crowds.

It was during the CPL, were the use of speakers for crowd noise was introduced.

Before the CPL, a new form of Cricket experimented on July 18th.

Three-team Cricket was tried to spread awareness on the Black Lives Matter and raise money for people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

It was a unique format, suiting Ab De Villiers, as he led the Eagles to victory.

The 2020 T20 World Cup was postponed, as the venues were modified as well, and August saw one of the biggest headlines of the year.

After a year away from the game, MS Dhoni announced his retirement with an emotional post on August 15th.

The retirement was in true Dhoni style, as he did so with hardly any hints or any farewell game.

Minutes after his retirement, Out-of-favour Indian Cricketer and a close friend of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, announced his retirement.

Both match-winners and long-time members of the side retired on the same day, and Raina’s retirement was announced as he thanked and congratulated MS Dhoni.

In particular, MS Dhoni’s retirement was among the biggest news of the year to both the Cricketing World and the nation.

MS Dhoni was seen in the IPL 2020, which was successfully scheduled for September.

With the success of bio-bubbles in international Cricket and fair use in a multi-team league as big as the CPL, the IPL’s scheduling came back to the discussion.

The tournament was held entirely in the UAE, as the game repurchased smiles to Cricket lovers.

The tournament was among the most-watched events, and many top Cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Jasprit Bumrah were back in action.

With a long gap, quite a few teams looked rusty, and there were some injuries throughout the tournament.

Barring a COVID-19 scare in the initial stages, the league went through well, and Mumbai Indians have crowned Champions for the fifth time.

They broke their streak of winning on odd years, and Rohit Sharma continued his unbeaten run-in finals, winning his sixth trophy.

The win was another feather in Kieron Pollard’s cap as he led his side to a CPL title a few months before.

The IPL 2020 went through well, and Mumbai showed dominance, as Cricket kept making comebacks in a pandemic year.

Following the IPL 2020 , a string of international tours was scheduled.

Pakistan took on Zimbabwe, West Indies took on New Zealand, South Africa faced England, and India went to Australia.

India’s tour of Australia was their first assignment during the pandemic, and a lot of efforts were taken to ensure the time took place.

With international Cricket returning at a brisk pace, the Cricketing world was hit by another surprising retirement.

Mohammad Amir joined MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, Ian Bell, and Vernon Philander, as he retired at 28.

With issues between him and the board, he decided to call it a day, as International Cricket said goodbye to another talent.

With the year coming to its final stages, the summers of South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia began.

After more limited-overs, Cricket, Test Cricket made a return, and the games we have been treated to prove why Test Cricket is still the best.

India started their Test series with Australia and dominated most of the first Test before collapsing to their lowest total of 36.

Australia’s bowling was top-quality, as they completed an easy win, despite being behind for most of the Test.

As Australia took on India, West Indies played some Test Cricket with New Zealand.

They played on some exciting surfaces in New Zealand, with so much grass making the pitch indistinguishable from the square.

After a promising performance in England, West Indies struggled in New Zealand and lost the Test series.

The last two weeks of 2020 saw a blockbuster week for Cricket.

There were three boxing day Tests, and each game was a cracker.

After collapsing to their lowest ever score in the first Test, India beat Australia in Melbourne to complete a famous overseas win.

South Africa completed a comfortable win against Sri Lanka, who lost a few players in the Test.

During the South African Boxing Day Test, Faf Du Plessis was dismissed on 199.

The third Boxing Day game is probably the best of the three and a contender for the year’s best game.

New Zealand faced Pakistan at Mount Maunganui, a game that is one of the Test format’s most excellent advertisements.

With Kane Williamson getting a century in the first innings and Neil Wagner bowling with two broken toes, New Zealand dominated the Test until the final day.

Defending 373, a New Zealand win was on the cards, but Pakistan showed some great fight.

Their resistance was led by Fawad Alam, who has been on the sidelines for nearly twelve years.

After countless domestic performances ignored by the selectors, Fawad Alam fought hard with a magnificent century.

He, along with Mohammad Rizwan, resisted, and Pakistan came agonizingly close to saving the Test.

New Zealand picked up the final wicket on day five’s dying moments to finish a great Test match.

Despite the defeat, Pakistan went against all odds and came close to saving a Test, which had all the perfect Test match elements.

Pakistan had been the most active nation during the pandemic, and it fitted that they closed the year with a classic Test to prove the most extended format still has a place in today’s world.

The Test concluded an interesting 2020, which saw a Cricketing drought and Cricket’s return to satisfy hungry fans.

The year faced many ups-and-downs, with multi-national tournaments upfront, a pandemic, the return of Cricket, some painful retirements, and Test Cricket proving itself as the best format of the game.

Mental stress was a big concern throughout the year, as bio-bubbles saw Cricketers in isolation away from their families for large parts of 2020.

While players couldn’t leave the hotel or spend too much time with family, many began to enjoy the company of their teammates.

With many years to come, 2020 will undoubtedly remain a particular year, as it reminded everyone of the love towards their favorite sports.

With sports worldwide in doubt, the return certainly entertained everyone in a year, which kept everyone restricted to their homes.

To sum up, the year,2020, has seen Cricket fans wait for Cricket in any form and savored each moment of the game as it was played.

The players gained respect towards the game, and sides began to enjoy the game and their opponents’ company, with many in isolation for long periods.

Glenn Maxwell:

The last time IPL was held in the UAE, Glenn Maxwell finished as one of the tournament’s best players.
A successful season made him a core member of the side, as he has also led the Kings XI Punjab in the past.

After a brief stint in Delhi, Glenn Maxwell returned to Punjab in the UAE.
He has grown to be a more mature player and, on his day, can be very devastating.

Glenn Maxwell has scored 108 runs in IPL 2020, facing 106 balls at an average of 15 and strike-rate of 101.

One of the most fearsome ball-strikers, Glenn Maxwell, finished the season without a single six.
He was bought to strengthen the middle-order but struggled to get going as the tournament went on.

Andre Russell:

After scoring 510 runs in IPL 2019 and helping his side win games from nowhere, Andre Russell raised the bar to finish games.

This season Andre Russell had some company in the end overs with Morgan.

In the last few seasons, he was left to do the finisher job on his own and delivered well but couldn’t replicate his success despite the burden being reduced.

He scored 117 runs in ten matches of IPL 2020 and was nowhere near his best with the bat.
His bowling, however, was good, with Russell taking up the job as a death bowler.

He picked up wickets in the death, but injuries shortened his tournament as he finished with a disappointing season.

MS Dhoni:

Recently retired, MS Dhoni endured his worst season both as a captain and batsman.

As a captain, he failed to lead the Chennai Super Kings into the playoffs for the first time.

The campaign was affected by loss of crucial players early in the tournament and injuries as the game went on.
With the loss of Suresh Raina, a lot of responsibility fell on MS Dhoni to step up with the bat.

He didn’t deliver as he made only 200 runs in fourteen games in IPL 2020.
It was his lowest in an IPL season and the first IPL season in which Dhoni failed to score a fifty.

IPL 2020 has undoubtedly been a terrible one for both Chennai and MS Dhoni.

MS Dhoni, in particular, would want to put IPL 2020 out of his mind as soon as possible as he gears up for IPL 2021 in the hope of making a strong comeback.

Aaron Finch:

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have been mainly a two-player team, with the batting entirely depending on Kohli and De Villiers.
The decision to bring in Aaron Finch seemed a smart one as it could help reduce the burden on the other two.

Aaron Finch did get off to a promising start and formed a good partnership with Devdutt Padikkal.
He couldn’t maintain his form as the tournament went on and also scored at a lower strike-rate, making it a little tougher on the others.

He made 268 runs in IPL 2020 at a strike-rate of 111.
He played in twelve games of IPL 2020, moving in and out of the side due to disappointing returns.

Dale Steyn:

Along with the batting, another issue Bangalore has faced over the years was their death bowling.

Dale Steyn was bought into the side for IPL 2020 after a brief stint in 2019.
His performance in 2019 was pretty good as he picked up four wickets in two matches.

With good performance, Dale Steyn was back in the side for IPL 2020.
He played in just three games and couldn’t make an impact in IPL 2020.

Once the greatest fast-bowler, Dale Steyn, struggled to find his rhythm as he was very expensive.
He took one wicket and conceded runs at 11.4 an over.

Jaydev Unadkat:

Jaydev Unadkat has been a regular buy for the Royals.

He has been released and repurchased by them over the last few years and this time for a lower price.
He is backed well by the Royals but has still not delivered as IPL 2020 comes to an end.

He’s picked up only four wickets in seven matches at an average of 57.

His lowest point in IPL 2020 came when he conceded 25 runs in the 19th over while bowling to Ab De Villiers.

Prithvi Shaw:

Prithvi Shaw is a talented batsman and is considered a player for the future.
He did well in the previous season, overshadowing his senior opening partner, Shikhar Dhawan.

He is an essential player for the Capitals as his free-flowing style helps the side get off to good starts.

He started well in IPL 2020, with two fifties early in the tournament.
After a promising start, he lost his way and went through a string of low scores.

He is now in and out of the Delhi line-up and has played thirteen games in IPL 2020.

Rishabh Pant:

Rishabh Pant has come under the scanner for his aggressive and reckless approach to batting earlier.

This season he’s been given the responsibility to come at number four or five with more overs to bat.

Despite getting more time out in the middle, Rishabh Pant has been unable to get his tournament going.

His form was hit with injury as he was forced to miss few games in IPL 2020.

He came back to the side but still struggled to impact as he has gone through the season without a single fifty.

His highest score is 38, and he’s batting with a strike-rate of 109.

His free-flowing style of batting has been missing in IPL 2020, and with just one game left in the tournament, the Capitals need him back in the form if they are to stand a chance against the Mumbai Indians.

Rohit Sharma:

Rohit Sharma has had a different IPL 2020 so far.
He got a hamstring injury, which kept him out of the side for a few games.

He was ruled out of Australian tour due to the injury but continued to play for the Mumbai Indians in the later tournament stages.
He hasn’t been at his best so far with just two fifties in eleven games.

Rohit Sharma has never been the most consistent batsman, but he always ensures some explosion in silent scores.
He is a big match player but hasn’t done as much as the Mumbai Indians would like.

His big shots have been missing as he has only managed 264 runs in eleven games.
With an average of just twenty-four, Rohit Sharma himself may not be too happy with how IPL 2020 has gone.

He has one game left in the tournament and will look at it as a chance to make an impact on IPL 2020

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has only gotten 169 runs in fourteen games of the IPL.
With Andre Russell failing, Dinesh Karthik could have been expecting to do more.

With both Russell and Karthik failing in IPL 2020, the middle-order for Kolkata was in shambles.
The responsibility fell solely on Eoin Morgan.

Dinesh Karthik was used as a floater in the batting line-up but never looked settled in any position.
He managed one half-century, which turned out to be a match-winning one.

The half-century, ironically, came when Dinesh Karthik batted in the later stages of the innings.

His performance in that innings may show how Karthik prefers to come later rather than in the middle-overs as he knows his role better at the end of the innings.

Where They Finished:

The Sunrisers finished the tournament third on the table and lost in the second qualifier.

Positives:

Lots of positives for the Sunrisers as they finished in a position where many wouldn’t have expected.
Despite many injuries to crucial bowlers for the Sunrisers, the back-up bowlers stepped up beautifully and kept the Sunrisers in the hunt.

Most of the side has shown their worth somehow or the other as the side struggled with injuries.
The entire bowling attack has been good for the Sunrisers, while T Natarajan has done well in the death.

Saha’s return to form and David Warner at the top has helped Sunrisers fight back later in the tournament while Williamson has also done well in the middle-order.

Kane Williamson’s presence ensured the game didn’t end with the top-order’s dismissals.
He has shown his ability to keep the Sunrisers in the game with the fifties in the playoffs and displayed his abilities as a world-class player.

Manish Pandey has also been a consistent performer, while Abdul Samad showcased his hitting abilities.
Jason Holder made a late entry into the tournament and had an immediate impact, winning games with bat and ball.

Rashid Khan had to take up more responsibility in Bhuvi’s absence, and he did so by taking crucial wickets in the middle overs.
The side also showed immense character to fight back from the bottom.

The table was fixed for most of the tournament, with the top four consisting of MI, DC, RCB, and KKR.
The Sunrisers struggled early on with their batting and suffered some agonizing defeats.

Despite some demoralizing defeats, Sunrisers managed to pull themselves up to beat the top three teams in three must-win games.
The three wins ensured KKR was knocked out while the Sunrisers went through to the playoffs.

They turned the table around and, in the span of three games, went on to become title contenders despite their low resources.

Negatives:

The Sunrisers didn’t have too many negatives when it came to players as they did their part when given the chance and situation.
The side, however, struggled on a few occasions to close out games.

They struggled to close out three games from the right positions against the Kings XI Punjab, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kolkata Knight Riders.

Despite being in control of the game, the inexperienced middle-order couldn’t steer the side out of trouble in the chase as the side lost three games that they could have won.

The side also suffered from lots of injuries throughout the tournament.
They lost their most experienced bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and an all-rounder in Mitchell Marsh early on.

Williamson was not available for the initial stages and got injured again in the middle of the tournament, while Vijay Shankar also was ruled out in the later stages.

Wrridhiman Saha found form as an opener and was crucial for the Sunrisers fight back, but a hamstring injury put him out of the playoffs.
In Kane Williamson’s absence, the Sunrisers had a weaker middle-order, which is a crucial reason as to why they lost some close games.

They missed a calm head in the middle overs, and a back-up player in the middle-order may have helped them close out games better in Williamson’s absence.

Star Performers:

The Sunrisers players have stepped up nicely this season, and it hasn’t been easy to pick out the star performers this season.

T Natarajan:

On the bench for most of last season, T Natarajan finally got an opportunity for the Sunrisers.
In Bhuvi’s absence, the other bowlers needed to step up significantly in death.

Natarajan showcased his death bowling skills and executed his Yorkers perfectly.
He has been a formidable bowler to get away in the death and is the leading yorker bowler in IPL 2020.

He picked up 16 wickets with an excellent economy in the death and has damaged many sides’ momentum in the end.

Jason Holder:

Jason Holder came in as a replacement for Bhuvneshwar Kumar as many expectations were placed on his all-around skills and experience.
He delivered immediately, taking 14 wickets in just seven matches.

He played a crucial role in the eliminator, sharing a partnership with Kane Williamson to help Sunrisers get to the qualifier.

Kane Williamson:

Kane Williamson started late in the tournament after an injury kept him out for the initial stages.
He suffered another injury later in the tournament but still managed to play twelve games.

He took up the role as a middle-order batsman, and his presence added stability to a side that struggled after the top-order was dismissed.
He played some crucial knocks with his twin fifties in the playoffs coming in high-pressure situations.

His calm attitude ensures the Sunrisers did not choke in the eliminator as he steered the side to the target and nearly did a repeat in the qualifier.

Rashid Khan:

Rashid Khan has been among the top leg-spinners this year.
He has been a vital member of the Sunrisers, and his role has become more important as the side suffered from injuries.

He picked up twenty wickets and has been a formidable bowler to get away even in Sharjah, where spinners struggled initially.

David Warner:

David Warner has been the best batsman for Sunrisers over the year, consistently scoring over five hundred runs for them each season since 2014.
He managed only four fifties this season, which is less for him but still provided the side with some strong starts.

Despite having a relatively silent tour, Warner finished pretty high on the run-scoring chart and scored runs in high-pressure games.
He chipped in with a lot of 40s and was consistent throughout the season.

Wrridhiman Saha also deserves a special mention as he was crucial in the fight back to the playoffs.

He came into the eleven and hit two fifties to go with two thirties in four games.

He supported Warner well and provided the side with good starts allowing them to beat the top three teams and qualify.

Things to look in the future:

With young bowlers like T Natarajan and Sandeep Sharma showing their worth, the Sunrisers have got a promising attack for the next season.

With Bhuvi likely to come back, and Rashid Khan, the bowling side could be tough to play in the coming seasons.
The bowling depth has been displayed this season, showing that they’ve got most parts of it covered.

Abdul Samad has been another find for the Sunrisers with his aggressive batting.
His ability to clear the ropes will give the Sunrisers some confidence in their middle-order while also having Williamson provide some stability.

However, the side may still look for some more middle-order options to go with Williamson, Samad, and Holder.
They have Vijay Shankar and Priyam Garg in the squad and already look a settled side but may still look for an experienced middle-order batsman.

The middle-order has to find a way to fire consistently as they have talent but struggle when the top-order misfires.
They don’t need to look too far beyond the squad and have the players develop a strong side.

With a settled unit, the Sunrisers may again be a little quiet in the auction and only need to work on their execution in games as the next season comes closer.

Sorting out their minor middle-order issues is all that’s needed and will surely make the Sunrisers a formidable side in IPL 2021.

Chris Lynn:

Chris Lynn has been a successful opener for the Knight Riders in the past seasons of IPL.
He was released ahead of the auction and was bought by the Mumbai Indians.

He is a famous player in T20 leagues around the world and is a direct entry into the eleven.
With the Mumbai Indians, however, Lynn has not yet gotten a game.

It is unlikely he will get a game considering the side only has he finals to play.
The specialty of the Mumbai Indians over the years has been consistent in selection.

With Quinton De Kock opening alongside Rohit Sharma, Chris Lynn hasn’t made an entry into the eleven.

Mitch McClenaghan:

Mitch McClenaghan has been apart of the Mumbai Indians since 2015.
He refused a national contract and became a freelance T20 cricketer and has been a regular part of T20 leagues worldwide.

He is a senior member of his IPL side but has been unlucky to not get a game so far.
With Malinga opting out of the IPL, it looked likely that McClenaghan would get more games.

It, however, wasn’t meant to be as they went with other pacers in a pace-heavy squad.

The success of Trent Boult, along with the presence of James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter Nile, has made it difficult for Mitch to get into the eleven this IPL.

See also: https://cricketwinner.com/playoffs/

David Miller:

David Miller was one of the only two players retained by Kings XI in 2013.
He was a part of the core side in Kings XI Punjab, but the loss of form has prompted the side to let him go.

The Rajasthan Royals have purchased him in IPL 2020.
The Rajasthan Royals have many overseas stars in their squad, which has made it difficult for Miller to break into the eleven.

He played one game for the Royals when Jos Butler wasn’t available.
Getting out for a duck didn’t help his case as he was replaced for the second game when Butler was available.

With Rajasthan’s core comprising of overseas players, David Miller has been a surplus to their requirements, which has made it more challenging for him to get into the team.

Mohammad Nabi:

Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi is a highly experienced player and has come to the IPL after a strong CPL performance.

His all-round performance and economical bowling is a crucial factor behind his CPL’s side’s performance as he finished the tournament with a great economy rate.

Nabi has been a good player in the IPL for Sunrisers.
He has gotten limited opportunities on the side but has always done well when given a chance.

Due to heavy competition among the overseas spots and the team’s balance, Mohammad Nabi is unlucky to miss out.
With Mitchel Marsh injured and a weak middle-order, there was a case of giving Nabi more opportunities in the side.

He got a chance to played but was replaced by Jason Holder to strengthen the death bowling and middle-order.
He’s been part of Sunrisers for a while now but is unlucky to get a long run in the playing eleven of an IPL side.

Moeen Ali:

Moeen Ali was a crucial member of the Bangalore side in IPL 2019.
With the team struggling with the ball in the past and heavily relying on two players in the IPL, Moeen Ali helped share the burden.

He provided RCB with momentum towards the ending while also bowling crucial overs with Chahal.
His off-spin is very handy, and he has been unlucky to get only two games this IPL.

The success of Sundar and Morris is a reason behind the lack of chances for Ali.
With the side looking to play an overseas opener, and a pace-bowling all-rounder, Moeen Ali has not been able to get too many games this IPL.

He has played in two games but couldn’t leave much of an impact.

A struggle and lots of pressure were what a pinch-hitter faced before a thirty run over made him one of the most talked-about finishers in the IPL.
Rahul Tewatia is a 27-year-old cricketer from Faridabad.

He started his domestic career in 2013 for Haryana.

His domestic career has been a silent one as an all-rounder as he is still unable to find a consistent place in the side.

He started with the Royals in 2014 and went onto represent two more teams as his career went on.
He played for Kings XI Punjab and later the Delhi Capitals, where Rahul Tewatia set a record for most catches in a match by a non-wicketkeeper.

His IPL career was as silent as his domestic one as he could do not have any performances to make an impact on his captain and coach.
Rahul Tewatia was relatively unknown, with many cricketing followers not having heard of him.

Rahul Tewatia is a leg-break bowler who bats left-handed and is a clean striker of the ball.
Tewatia gained some attention this season in Royal’s first game against the Super Kings.

He picked up three wickets on a fresh Sharjah pitch and his style of celebration in that match attracted some attention.
The famous game against Punjab is what bought Tewatia into the limelight.
He was sent in as a pinch-hitter to take on Punjab’s spinners in the middle overs.

Chasing 224, Tewatia was eight of 20 while Samson was going very well at the other end.
Tewatia’s struggle frustrated Samson to the extent of him rejecting doubles on offer so he stays on strike.

While the act may have hurt Tewatia’s confidence, it was necessary as the required rate was climbing.
The pressure was eventually too much for Samson as he was out for 85, diminishing Royal’s hopes.
The cameras were all on Tewatia, and by the 17th over Tewatia’s struggle would have been all over social media.

With many watching from their home, Tewatia would have been under a lot of pressure during his tough innings.
Rahul Tewatia however, didn’t give up. He showed amazing character to convert terrible innings into a match-winning one.

Rahul Tewatia hit five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell in an over that made him an instant hero.
He continued his assault and was out in the 19th over after taking the Royals very close.

The Royals eventually won with Tewatia making 53 and hitting seven sixes during his innings.
The innings made Rahul Tewatia one of the most discussed cricketers in the IPL.

He gained confidence due to his performance and ensured that his form remained the same throughout the tournament.
He chipped in with some crucial runs towards the end of the innings and took up the role of a finisher for the Rajasthan Royals.

He also played a few smart innings like the one against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Chasing 159, the Royals were in deep trouble at 5-78. Rahul Tewatia along with Riyan Parag combined to chase down the target and keep the Royals relevant in the table.

Tewatia played smartly throughout the innings, taking the game deep and picking the right bowlers.
He hit three boundaries off Rashid Khan which surprised many people as well.

His innings pushed him further up the ladder of finishers in the IPL after announcing himself as a finisher against Punjab.

While Rahul Tewatia has surprised with the bat, he has also done a good job with his leg-spin this season.
He is one of the few players to score 250+ runs and take ten wickets this season.

His consistency has also made him a contender for the MVP award which is surprising as nobody would have expected Rahul Tewatia to do so.

He has surely made his presence felt in IPL 2020 and will have a bigger impact not only in IPL 2021 but also in the domestic season that may take place over the next year.

His breakthrough season is likely to grab the gaze of many and hopefully, Rahul Tewatia can make use of his efforts this season.
Rahul Tewatia’s performance is also a perfect example of how IPL helps local talent be noticed.

He along with bowlers like T Natarajan and Varun Chakravarthy used the IPL well to showcase their talent on a massive platform, which is what the IPL is definitely about.

Though he has had a silent career, he will surely be remembered and remain in the minds of many cricket fans.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians have cemented the top spot in the league after a dominating win against the Delhi Capitals.
They have been the best team in the league stage by far and have also won with healthy margins to keep their net-run-rate very high.

Mumbai Indian’s are one of the most consistent sides in the history of the league and are known to back their players very well.
There are many players like Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga who have only been a part of Mumbai Indians, while the Pandya brothers and Rahul Chahar experienced growth after joining Mumbai.

See Also: https://cricketwinner.com/shane-watson-2/

The Mumbai Indians may have finished first in the league, but their journey was not free of obstacles.
Their leading wicket-taker, Lasith Malinga, opted out of the tournament due to personal issues.

Nathan Coulter Nile was injured and couldn’t play the first few games.

Mumbai’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya played as a batsman as he is now unable to sustain the bowling workload. The loss of Pandya the bowler is a big one as it affects the team composition badly.

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In Pandya, they lost a bowler who could give three to four overs at a good pace each game.
Mumbai then went on to lose the opening game and as the tournament went on they suffered a bigger loss.

Rohit Sharma injured his hamstring and his condition is still not known leaving Mumbai’s skipper in doubt this season.
Despite all the troubles, the Mumbai Indians have gone through this season, they managed to pull themselves up very nicely.

Despite injuries, the Mumbai Indians still look like they possess the most complete side in the league.

The openers, Rohit Sharma and Quinton De Kock have formed a good pair with Quinton De Kock consistently getting the side of too good starts.
Last season, Quinton De Kock did not convert his starts to big scores, which was a small issue for Mumbai.

Rohit Sharma has hit two fifties this season while also providing his side good starts.

His injury may have left a hole in the lineup but it was covered very nicely by Ishan Kishan.
Opening the batting, Ishan Kishan has done a formidable job with Quinton De Kock in getting the side off to good starts.

This leaves the side with three powerful opening options while there is still Chris Lynn on the bench.
At number three, the Mumbai Indians have Suryakumar Yadav who is a versatile player.

Yadav has shown his ability to both steady the innings and counter-attack when required.
He has all the shots in the book and is one of those rare players who can play unorthodox shots with ease.

Saurabh Tiwary and Hardik Pandya have come in the middle overs and end overs and played some good knocks as well.

Hardik Pandya’s 60 against Rajasthan Royals is a notable innings and a crucial one for Pandya as he no longer bowls and has more responsibilities with the bat.

Kieron Pollard has had a few quiet seasons in the past and his finishing skills have been overshadowed by the Pandya brothers off late.
This season, Pollard has shown his ability to finish games, batting with a strike rate of 200 and being dismissed only twice in the tournament.

With Pollard firing in the middle-order, the top-order can bat with more freedom while Hardik Pandya also has some more support during the end.
Kieron Pollard’s ball-striking is not the only thing that has fired this season.

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Having not bowled in the last two seasons, Pollard finally got his chance to bowl as well.

In Hardik Pandya’s absence, Kieron Pollard has done well to chip in with a few overs and has also picked up crucial wickets.
Kieron Pollard came into the IPL after leading his side to a victory in the CPL.

He did not lose a single game in the CPL and was handed the captaincy after Rohit was injured.
Along with Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya has done a decent job as an all-rounder.

He hasn’t been among the wickets but is doing his job by bowling some tight overs in the middle, putting pressure on the batsmen.
Though the batting is pretty strong, the Mumbai Indians’ success has largely been due to the bowling.

The side invests a lot in its bowlers and this time it was no different.
They purchased Trent Boult and James Pattinson in the auction while they already have Bumrah, Malinga, Coulter Nile, and Mitchell McClenaghan.

The extra pace options however turned out to be useful as Malinga opted out of the tournament and Mumbai needed a replacement for their most experienced bowler.

Trent Boult and James Pattinson got their chances and the two of them have done very well with the new ball.
They have picked up early wickets on regular occasions and are the root cause behind Mumbai’s success in the powerplay.

The success of the two bowlers has also allowed the captains to save Bumrah’s overs for the death, where he can be impossible to play.

At the start of the season, people may have felt Mumbai’s spin attack lacked options and experience.

Young Rahul Chahar however, has been very consistent with the ball this season, picking up 15 wickets.
His wickets in the middle-overs are crucial as he along with Krunal Pandya tie the batsmen down completely.

Rahul Chahar’s success has ensured Mumbai Indians do not feel like they are lacking with their spin attack.

To summarize, the Mumbai Indians bowling attack consists:

Trent Boult: Who bowls well in both ends of the innings.

James Pattinson: Who is also a good new-ball bowler and has a good pace.

Jasprit Bumrah: Who is used well in the death following the success of the new-ball bowlers.

Rahul Chahar: Who is regularly among the wickets in the middle-overs.

Krunal Pandya: Bowls tight spells and creates pressure.

With a strong balance in both departments, the Mumbai Indians have shown that they can maintain a strong team composition despite the loss of players.

The Mumbai Indians have played the least number of players in this edition and have been very consistent with their selection.

They have looked to retain the same group of players unless a player is injured or conditions demand changes.

They have shown a lot of character to not break despite the struggles they faced this season and are now strong competitors for their fifth title.
The Mumbai Indians still have powerful bench strength with players like Chris Lynn and Dhawal Kulkarni waiting for their chances.

They may look to test their bench in the last league game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, as they have already cemented the top spot.

With a good batting line-up and probably the best bowling line-up this season, the Mumbai Indians are probably the closest to a complete team in the IPL and the points table is enough to show how dominant the Mumbai Indians have been this season.

Shane Watson has told his Chennai Super Kings teammates about his decision to retire from all forms of the game.

Despite not having a great season, Shane Watson has been an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings and has won some games for Chennai single-handedly.

One of the best all-rounders the game has seen, Shane Watson has been crucial to Australia, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings over his career.

Shane Watson is a very experienced player in the IPL having enjoyed many good seasons and also winning the man of the tournament award twice.

He has been around for many years and his retirement is definitely the end of an era.

We will now look at his top five performances for the Chennai Super Kings

IPL 2018: CSK vs. RR 106(57)

After representing the Royals for so many years, Shane Watson walked out to bat against them.
He was purchased by the Super Kings in the auction and has been used as an opener by them.
He walked in to bat against his old side and played great innings.

He took apart the Royals bowlers, scoring 106 runs.
He hit six sixes and completely deflated the Royals bowling attack.

The innings also helped him find his feet in the Super Kings as he finally converted a start to big innings after failing to do so in the initial games.
He followed his innings with a wicket and some tight bowling to complete an easy win for his side.

IPL 2018: CSK vs. Delhi Daredevils 78(40)

By the time CSK played Delhi in IPL 2018, Watson announced himself as a Super King with some powerful knocks for his side.
He was in good form and continued to play well against Delhi.

He made 78 off 40 balls, batting the Capitals out of the game early with his aggressive shots.
He hit seven sixes in total and set up a great finish so CSK could finish with 211 on the board.

His efforts were almost in vain as the Daredevils came very close to the target, missing out on victory by thirteen runs.

IPL 2018 Finals: CSK vs. SRH 117(57)

The Chennai Super Kings faced the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 IPL finals. They were in search of their fourth title and needed to chase 178 runs to win the game.

A chase of 178 runs in a final is never an easy task and to do so against a bowling line-up comprising Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan makes things even more complicated.
The Super Kings started the chase poorly with Faf getting out in the fourth over.
Shane Watson struggled to 0 off 10 and struggled to find his timing.

He picked up his scoring rate and built a steady partnership with Suresh Raina.
The pair saw off Rashid well and Shane Watson attacked the other bowlers to take the chase closer.

Starting slowly, Shane Watson quickly shifted gears and finished the match in 18.3 overs.
He finished with 117 runs and eight sixes.

He made his second hundred in the season and helped Chennai clinch their third title.

IPL 2019: CSK vs. SRH 96(53)

Watson struggled through IPL 2019 and by the time CSK played Sunrisers many were questioning his place in the side.
The match followed a similar pattern to that of the 2018 finals with SRH batting first and putting up 175.

CSK came in for the second innings with Watson woefully out of form.

Their chase was hit harder by the dismissal of Faf Du Plessis in the third over after a slow start.

Following another slow start and steady partnership with Raina, Shane Watson managed to build an innings and went onto make his first half-century of the season.

He went after Rashid Khan this time and was dismissed in the 18th over for 96.
He missed out on a century but put Chennai in a commanding position.

His century consisted of six sixes as the side one the game with ease.

IPL 2019 Finals: CSK vs. MI 80(59)

Playing arch-rivals Mumbai Indians in the finals, both teams had a lot riding on the match.
Both teams were searching for their fourth title.

Mumbai won the toss and chose to bat first.
The Chennai Super Kings did well to restrict the Mumbai Indians to 149 in their 20 overs, though it is still a par score in a high-pressure final.

Faf Du Plessis got the super kings off to a good start, but crucial middle-order wickets including that of skipper MS Dhoni pushed the responsibility on Shane Watson.

Watson who was inconsistent throughout the series, saved his best for the finals as he scored 80 off 59.
He attacked Lasith Malinga and got his side within touching distance of the target despite a knee injury and loss of partners.

His innings wasn’t enough to bring his side the trophy as he was run-out in the final over with his side losing by one run.

Despite the result, Watson’s innings remains a memorable one and showcases his ability as a big match player. It is his second big performance in a final after the century in the first season.