IPL 2020: Top 5 Presently Active Cricketers In IPL Who Impressed During The UAE Phase In IPL 2014
by SANDIPAN GHOSHIPL 2020 is ready to begin very soon. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the entire 13th edition of the IPL from 19th September to 10th November 2020.
However, it will be not the first time when the UAE will host the IPL tournament. Earlier, during the IPL 2014, the UAE hosted the first 20 matches of that tournament due to 2014 Indian general election. During that UAE phase, some cricketers played massive roles for their respective teams.
Here we are talking about the top five presently active cricketers in IPL who impressed during the UAE phase of the IPL 2014
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 8 wickets in five matches
Serving for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the Indian right-arm pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar got eight wickets in five matches during the UAE tour of the IPL 2014. In that phase, his bowling average was 15.00 and economy rate was 6.15, while his best bowling figures were 3/19.
SRH finished in the sixth position in the IPL 2014 while Kumar finished as the third most wicket-taker in that tournament by picking up 20 wickets in 14 matches (average 17.70; economy rate 6.65).
Mohit Sharma – 8 wickets in five matches
Indian pacer Mohit Sharma, who was playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), managed to pick up eight wickets in five matches during the UAE tour of the IPL 2014. During that entire phase, his bowling average was 13.25 and economy rate was 6.69. His best bowling figures in that phase were 4/14.
Though CSK finished as the third-best team in the IPL 2014, Mohit won the Purple Cap after claiming 23 wickets in 16 matches of that tournament (average 19.65; economy rate 8.39).
Varun Aaron – 8 wickets in four matches
Another Indian pacer Varun Aaron also enjoyed the UAE tour of that IPL edition while he was serving for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In four matches of that tour, Aaron got eight wickets with an average of 10.50 and an economy rate of 5.66. His best bowling figures in that phase were 3/16.
While his team RCB finished that season in the seventh position in the points table, Aaron bagged a total of 16 wickets in 10 matches of that tournament (average 18.68; economy rate 8.15).
Sunil Narine – 9 wickets in five matches
The Caribbean off-spinner Sunil Narine finished the UAE phase of the IPL 2014 as the most wicket-taker. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner bagged nine wickets in five matches with an average of 11.89 and economy rate of 5.35. His best bowling figures in that phase were 4/20.
While Gautam Gambhir-led KKR won that trophy, Narine finished as the second most wicket-taker in that tournament as he got 21 wickets in 16 matches (average 19.38; economy rate 6.35).
Ajinkya Rahane – 182 runs in five matches
Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane was playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2014. During the UAE part of the IPL 2014, Rahane finished as the fourth most run-scorer as the right-handed batsman scored 182 runs in five matches with an average of 36.40 and strike-rate of 120.53. He hit two half-centuries in that overseas part, including his best knock of 72 runs.
In overall, Rahane scored 339 runs in 13 matches with an average of 28.25 and strike-rate of 116.49, including three fifties. Rahane finished that tournament as the joint 20th most run-scorer. However, Rajasthan Royals just missed out the Playoff rounds as they finished in the fifth position in the points table.
Glenn Maxwell – 300 runs in five matches
Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell, who was serving for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), dominated in the UAE part of the IPL 2014. The right-handed batsman was unstoppable in that part as he scored 300 runs in five matches with an average of 60.00 and strike-rate of 201.34. He hit three half-centuries, including his best knock 95 runs which he scored twice. While KXIP won their all five matches in that tour, Maxwell won Player of the Match awards in their first three matches.
Maxwell ultimately finished that IPL 2014 as the third most run-scorer in that tournament as he scored 552 runs in 16 matches with an average of 34.50 and strike-rate of 187.75, including four fifties. KXIP finished that tournament as the runners-up.