IPL 2020: Player Performance Report Card for the First Half

Kagiso Rabada, the stand-out player with a rating of 9.5 in our player performance report card for the first half of IPL 2020. 

28 matches are done and dusted, and we have reached the halfway through of the group stage of the tournament. In terms of Team performance, last year’s consistent teams, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians are at the top of the table along with notorious, RCB with 10 points each from 7 games. 

But, what about the performance of the players? Be it batting or bowling, barring 3-4 consistent players, we have generally seen new players coming up, and giving their best. So, how has it been this year? Let’s find out in our Player Performance Report card for the first half of IPL 2020.

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Methodology:

Batting: As always, we have analyzed the batting performances basis the batting rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as runs scored, strike rate bonus, consistency, number of fours and sixes, and the number of match-winning & good knocks. 

Bowling: We have analyzed the bowling performances basis the bowling rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as wickets taken, economy rate bonus, consistency, dot balls, maidens, and the number of match-winning and good spells. 

Right then, let’s look at how the top players have performed from the first of IPL 2020 in our player performance report card. 

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Batsmen: 

#5: Faf du Plessis (CSK)

Inns: 7 || Runs: 307 || Avg: 61.4 || SR: 147.6 || Rating: 7

Having played IPL for more than 8 years, it is 2020 where Faf looked the best so far. In only his 7^th match, he has scored over 300 runs, and he is just 91 runs away from his previous best of 396 runs, which he scored in 2019. While he would certainly like to beat that, he would be utterly disappointed if it doesn’t help CSK qualify the playoffs. Nevertheless, Faf du Plessis has a batting rating of 7 in the first half of IPL 2020. 

#4: AB de Villiers (RCB)

Inns: 7 || Runs: 228 || Avg: 57 || SR: 185.4 || Rating: 7.4

Having begun with a bang scoring two match-winning fifties, AB de Villiers followed with two failures before scoring a blazing fifty against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Sharjah. It was the knock against KKR on a slightly tricky batting wicket that he reminded the world why he is such a fearsome hitter in the world. He is not done yet, and he needs to keep performing to take RCB to the much-coveted title win. So, with a batting rating of 7.4, AB de Villiers is fourth on the list of the best batsman for the season for the first half. 

#3: Kieron Pollard (MI)

Inns: 6 || Runs: 174 || Avg: 174 || SR: 189.1 || Rating: 7.7

Having been dismissed only once in 6 knocks, Kieron Pollard has been the surprise package this season when it comes to batting performance. Two match-winning knocks, an average of 174, and a strike rate of 189, makes him the most dangerous lower-order player of this season. Pollard gets a batting rating of 7.7 for his performance. 

#2: Mayank Agarwal (KXIP)

Inns: 7 || Runs: 337 || Avg: 48.1 || SR: 158.9 || Rating: 7.8

What a season this has been so far for Mayank Agarwal. It has been a long time coming for him having played IPL for a few years, but it finally came in 2020 as a regular opener in the absence of Gayle. He has given consistent aggressive starts in all the matches so far, and has played two superb knocks including a century. Overall, Mayank has a batting rating of 7.8 for his performance so far, and hope it only improves from here on. 

#1: KL Rahul (KXIP)

Inns: 7 || Runs: 387 || Avg: 64.5 || SR: 134.8 || Rating: 8.4

Be it 2018, or 2019, or 2020, KL Rahul, the batsman has been excellent in the batting department with consistent performances as the opener. He is the orange cap holder currently, but he wouldn’t be proud of this record given two of his low strike-rate knocks were a key reason his team lost the match. Nevertheless, with a rating of 8.4, KL Rahul has been the best batsman so far in the IPL. 

Few other key batsmen with their batting rating include David Warner at 6.2, Rohit Sharma at 5.1, Surya K Yadav at 5.9, Devdutt Padikkal at 5.9, and Jonny Bairstow at 6. 

Bowlers: 

#5: Axar Patel (DC)

Inns: 6 || Wkts: 6 || Avg: 16 || ER: 5.1 || Rating: 6.5

Axar Patel has been the most underrated bowler of IPL 2020. His wicket column may not look too heavy, but the economy rate of 5.1 in the batsmen-dominated tournament speaks volume of his performance. He has kept things tight not only in the powerplay, but also in the middle-overs. Thanks to an injury to Amit Mishra, Axar Patel could feature as a regular member of the team. So, with a bowling rating of 6.5, Axar Patel is the fifth-best bowler of IPL 2020 in the first half.  

#4: Jofra Archer (RR)

Inns: 7 || Wkts: 9 || Avg: 21.2 || ER: 6.8 || Rating: 6.7

The destructive pace battery of Rajasthan Royals started slowly having had to bowl on batting-friendly wickets of Sharjah. But, barring those initial 2 games, Jofra has had a terrific IPL so far bowling with pace and dead-point accuracy. Archer has 9 wickets in 7 games at an economy rate of 6.8 having played 3 games in Sharjah with a bowling rating of 6.7. 

#3: Jasprit Bumrah (MI)

Inns: 7 || Wkts: 11 || Avg: 20.2 || ER: 7.9 || Rating: 6.8

Jasprit Bumrah looked tentative, and off-color in the initial few matches including the one against KKR where Pat Cummins deposited him for 4 sixes in an over. But, since then, Bumrah has come back strongly with some stunning bowling. He is the joint second-best wicket-taker so far with 11 wickets, and the way he is going, that record is only going to improve. Overall, Jasprit Bumrah has a bowling rating of 6.8 for his performance. 

#2: Rashid Khan (SRH)

Inns: 7 || Wkts: 10 || Avg: 14.1 || ER: 5.1 || Rating: 9.3

With a consistency of 100%, and an economy rate of 5.1, Rashid Khan has been terrific as the most feared spinner bowler of IPL 2020 in the first half.  Barring the first match where he went for 31 in his 4 overs, Rashid has only given 25 or less in his 4 overs having accounted for 10 wickets in those 6 matches. Rashid Khan has a bowling rating of 9.3 for his performance in IPL 2020 in the first half. 

#1: Kagiso Rabada (DC)

Inns: 7 || Wkts: 17 || Avg: 12.5 || ER: 7.7 || Rating: 9.5

The champion bowler, Kagiso Rabada has now taken 1 wicket or more in more than 20 matches in the IPL now. He has 17 wickets from 7 innings with a ‘wickets per match’ ratio of 2.43- the best in the tournament. Barring his spell of 1/51 in Sharjah, Rabada has been quite stunning. Overall, he has been the best pacer in the tournament so far, and it also shows from his bowling rating of 9.5. 

Apart from these 5, the other bowlers with their bowling rating include Trent Boult at 6.5, Anrich Nortje at 6, Mohammed Shami at 5.8, Sam Curran at 5, and Ravi Bishnoi at 5. 

Thanks for reading! After seeing the report card, who do you think performed the best in the first half of IPL 2020? Please, share your thoughts on business@cricalytics.com

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