The Indian Premier League has once again delivered a fantastic renewal of the annual T20 competition, with the world’s leading players producing fireworks with the ball and bar.
We’ve taken a look back over the last few months at the players who have really shone this year in the league and should be amongst the favourites to win the Player of the Tournament Award.
Kagiso Rabada
Delhi Capitals’ Kagiso Rabada has had his third year in the IPL in 2020 and it has been his best campaign to date. The South African has picked up 25 wickets so far, more than any other player in the competition.
Rabada has been a big part of Delhi’s success in making the playoffs, where they are now +350 on Cricket Betting to lift the trophy. They were beaten by Mumbai in the first qualifier by 57 runs but still have another chance of reaching the final. Capitals were able to win eight of their 14 regular season matches, and many of those victories were thanks to some fantastic bowling in the latter stages of their opposition’s innings by the 25-year-old.
In Delhi’s crucial triumph over Royal Challengers Bangalore last month, Rabada finished his spell of bowling with figures of 4/24. He is one of just five bowlers in this year’s tournament to pick up a four-wicket haul.
KL Rahul
The most consistent performer with the bat during the IPL has been KL Rahul . The Kings XI Punjab batsman scored 670 runs across 14 matches for his side, averaging an impressive 55.83.
Rahul’s standout innings was his 132 not out in their victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore. That score came in 69 balls and it was enough to help his side crush RCB by 97 runs. It also ensured he entered the history books with the biggest score by an Indian in the IPL.
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The 28-year-old is an important player for India in all formats of the game and the Kings XI Punjab captain has showed his class in 2020. He has not only been able to get his side out of trouble at the crease, but he has been responsible for steering them to victory on more than one occasion.
Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer is another bowler who has had a career-best year in the IPL in 2020, taking 20 wickets across his 14 matches. The England international averaged 18.25 with the ball.
Archer was not only useful to Rajasthan Royals with the ball, but he was also dangerous with the bat as he recorded 113 runs this year, with 10 sixes and five fours coming from his time at the crease.
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Archer proved he is the man for the big occasion when he played a major role in England's World Cup win against New Zealand in the final. Limited overs cricket suits him very much, especially in the final overs of an innings. We have seen this in the 2020 IPL where he has excelled.
After what has been an exciting three months of cricket in the IPL, fans of the league will already be looking forward to the return of the competition in 2021 which is scheduled to begin
