While big names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have always enjoyed the spotlight in the Indian Premier League, the biggest T20 league has often seen youngsters shining and using the platform to get into national reckoning.
In the lead up to IPL 2020, there was a lot more buzz around the young guns, considering the spots that are up for grabs in the national side in the lead up to next year’s T20 World Cup.
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However, at the half-way mark, next-gen India stars have struggled to find consistency even as some of their senior pros are setting the stage on fire.
Shubman Gill’s strike rate struggle
Shubman Gill was expected to provide consistency and firepower at the top of the order for Kolkata Knight Riders at IPL 2020. The youngster was struggling to make it big in IPL 2019 despite showing flashes of brilliance as he was shuffled a bit too much in the batting order.
However, despite all the other chopping and changing in the KKR batting unit in IPL 2020, Shubman Gill has had a consistent run at the top. Gill has managed 311 runs in 9 matches so far at an average of 38.87. All good, eh?
However, Gill’s strike rate has been a cause for concern for Kolkata Knight Riders. He has been striking at 113.91 so far and the rate at which he has struck at the powerplay — 113.8 has put the pressure on his partner and the middle-order as he has failed to convert starts more often than not.
Gill’s inability to change gears after the powerplay was evident on Sunday as he struggled to find boundaries after the first six overs. The youngster departed for 36 from 37 balls and it needed cameos from captain Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik to help the team post a 160-plus total.
Prithvi Shaw fails as wickets get slower in UAE
Prithvi Shaw made his comeback into the India side after his doping ban earlier this year. The aggressive batsman, who is facing stiff competition for the opener’s spot in the senior national team, hasn’t managed to be consistent for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2020.
In 9 matches, Prithvi Shaw has managed 202 runs at an average of 22.44. He began with a bang, hitting two fifties in his first four matches. He followed it up with a quickfire 42 in DC’s win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.
However, Shaw’s batting form has been withering off as the youngster has managed just 23 runs in his last 4 matches. Shaw has not troubled the scorers at all in his last 2 matches.
With the pitches slowing down in the UAE, Shaw, ho is known to like pace on the ball, needs to find a way to adapt to the conditions better and make sure Delhi Capitals don’t struggle at the top.
Familiar problems return to haunt Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson’s IPL 2020 story is taking a familiar route. The 25-year-old wicketkeeper began the tournament with a bang, hitting a 32-ball 74 and a 42-bal 85 in the two matches Rajasthan Royals played in Sharjah.
His clinical hitting form at the start of the tournament made sure fans and experts rave over him. He suddenly was on top of the pecking order when it came to replacement for MS Dhoni in the limited-overs format.
However, his form has nosedived ever since. With some rash shots that have led the Royals dugout and his admirers frustrated.
Samson has managed to go past single-digits only twice in the 7 matches that followed the Sharjah masterclass against Kings XI Punjab. His scores this season — 74, 85, 8, 4, 0, 5, 26, 25, 9.
There is no doubting Samson’s talent but Samson’s lack of application has let him down in yet another IPL season.