The pressure of the INR 15.25 crore price tag seems to now be getting to Ishan Kishan, who has now registered three single-digit scores in his last four innings. Kishan had started off the season in blazing fashion, smashing 81* and 53 in the first two innings. However, that form has now tapered off.
Since the third game, Ishan Kishan has scores: 14, 26, 3, 13, 0, 8. What’s been more shocking, and concerning has been his strike rate of 68! That’s very low from a batter who’s known for his attacking instincts and aggressive style of play; that’s certainly low from what MI would have expected from him.
And while Ishan Kishan, the most expensive buy of the IPL 2022 mega-auction, has struggled for timing and runs – managing 199 runs at a strike rate of 108 – some other not-so-prominent batters have surprised with their form, scoring more runs than the MI opener.
Here are 5 such unexpected batters who have scored more runs the Ishan Kishan:
Abhishek Sharma
The young Sunrisers Hyderabad opener is having a breakthrough season. Promoted to open the batting alongside Kane Williamson, Abhishek Sharma started off with a couple of low scores before hammering 75 vs CSK and he has built on that knock. The southpaw has scored 220 runs in 7 innings at 31, with two of his knock coming at strike rate of over 150.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya struggled to score a boundary last season with MI. Now, as Gujarat Titans’ skipper, Pandya promoted himself to number 4, and recently to number 4, and is now in race for the Orange Cap.
He’s surprised everyone with his batting this season. Instead of playing the finisher’s role, Hardik is now looking to play through the innings. He’s scored 295 runs in 6 matches, at a brilliant average of 73 while striking at 136. While Mumbai Indians’ Ishan Kishan has flopped, their former all-rounder Hardik Pandya is shinning in IPL 2022.
Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube has been one of the bright spots for CSK in a campaign that hasn’t been ideal for the defending champions. With Ruturaj Gaikwad out of form, the middle-order had to take more onus, and Dube stood up.
The left-hander has scored 239 runs in 7 innings at 39, a strike rate of 161. He recorded his best of 95* which gave CSK their first win of the season.
Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma has been the best young talented debutant so far in the tournament. With Kishan and Rohit both failing to give a platform, Tilak has often had to build his own.
The left-hander has aggregated 234 runs in 7 innings at an average of 46 and strike rate of 140. He has scored couple of handsome half-centuries and there have been couple of crucial 20s and 30s as well, however, lack of support from other MI batters have meant Varma’s runs have gone in vain.
Dinesh Karthik
Not many would have really imagined Dinesh Karthik to be the second-highest run-scorer of the RCB, at the point of writing, only behind Faf du Plessis, in a team that also includes Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell; add it to the fact that Karthik bats much lower down the order compared to those who have got the best opportunity to ransack some runs.
DK has smashed 210 runs at a strike rate of 200, his average of 105 is the second-best in the tournament so far for batters who have batted in a minimum of 5 innings, only behind Aiden Markram who has scored 190 runs and has been dismissed only once.
