Indian Premier League: Decoding one-sided player rivalries
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has produced some exhilarating player rivalries over the years. With each passing season, the battles keep on getting intense. While some battles offer a fair balance between bat and ball, others make one of the players look invincible. Every game in each of the seasons comprises key player battles. Here are some of them.
MS Dhoni vs Sunil Narine
One of the most lopsided rivalries is between MS Dhoni and Sunil Narine. Dhoni, who has the propensity to hit huge sixes, tends to struggle against spinners. Narine, the mystery spinner, has perfectly exploited Dhoni's vulnerability in the IPL. Although Narine has dismissed Dhoni just once, the latter strikes at 52.70 in this battle (39 off 74 balls). The tally includes a solitary four.
Deepak Chahar vs Prithvi Shaw
Deepak Chahar has been the strike bowler for Chennai Super Kings since the 2018 IPL edition. He outfoxes the batters by swinging the ball both ways. Delhi Capitals' Prithvi Shaw has been one of Chahar's bunnies in the IPL. The former has fallen to Chahar as many as six times. Prithvi averages 15 and strikes at 123.28 in this battle.
Ajinkya Rahane vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Ajinkya Rahane's IPL career has received a new lease of life after he joined CSK from Rajasthan Royals. Rahane, who was once India's mainstay Test batter, plays some immaculate strokes around the ground. Sunrisers Hyderabad's Bhuvneshwar Kumar has made life difficult for him in the IPL. Bhuvi has dismissed Rahane six times while conceding 96 runs off 108 balls.
Rohit Sharma vs Trent Boult
Former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma is known to be troubled by in-swining deliveries against left-arm pacers. A fired-up Trent Boult dismissed him in the IPL 2024 encounter between MI and Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium. Notably, Boult has dismissed Rohit twice in just 18 balls in the IPL. Meanwhile, the latter has scored 17 runs in this battle.
Glenn Maxwell vs Ravindra Jadeja
Time and time again, Dhoni has used his deputy Ravindra Jadeja to defuse certain threats. Australia's Glenn Maxwell, who represents the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is one of them. However, Jadeja has been all over Maxwell, having dismissed him six times. Although Maxwell strikes at 137.25 in this battle, his average goes down to 11.66. The tally includes just two maximums.