IPL 2023: Second week review

A failed ‘mankad’ and last-over drama

IPL 2019 started with a long-standing debate of cricket world, mankad. Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Jos Buttler at the non-striker’s end (first Mankad of IPL) that made a section of cricket fans, experts, and Buttler furious as it was according to them ‘unfair’ and against the ‘spirit of game’. Interestingly the next auction saw the two getting purchased by same franchise and the new revised cricket rule also acknowledged it as a fair dismissal. Still the controversy doesn’t seem to stop. When Harshal Patel from Royal Challengers Bangalore attempted the same this year, he couldn’t succeed but yet again started the controversy. Patel fumbled against Lucknow Super Giants batter Ravi Bishnoi and proved that ‘mankad’ does need talent along with instinctiveness. The common argument against ‘mankad’ has been that it requires no skill. Seeing Bishnoi out of the crease while Patel was still in his runup, the bowler tried to run the batter out, but Bishnoi survived. In the following delivery, the batters stole a bye and won the match dramatically for LSG.

Redemption of Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma was erased from the memory of cricket fans after being out of Indian cricket team for over seven years. He was the IPL Purple Cap holder in 2014, he played the 2015 World Cup for India, and then he was gone. During IPL 2020, he could feature in just one game for Delhi Capitals before flying back to home following his father’s demise. He didn’t give up. He was not featured in IPL 2021 and then went unsold in next season. He didn’t have the match fitness but he still has the passion. Last year when former India wicketkeeper Vijay Yadav asked him whether coaching would be his next step, Sharma reportedly denied saying, “Nahi sir, ek saal aur try karunga (will try for one more year).” The fact that Sharma knew of his shortcomings and decided to work on his fitness following IPL 2020 speak of his undying enthusiasm and eagerness to work hard. Cut to IPL 2023, he has already won a Player of the Match award. Sharma shared what happened in between and how a call from the legend, Ashish Nehra gave new meaning to his life. “I got a call from Ashu pa to stay with the team (Gujarat Titans, as a net bowler), and if someone gets injured I’d get a chance,” Sharma would share after the game on Thursday. “I felt, what am I going to do sitting at home? I was here and doing competitive practice instead.” And that’s how he made a comeback on his debut for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023.

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