As the IPL 7 comes to a close, we probably witnessed the most predictable tournament of all.
At beginning in UAE one sensed how teams were going through the race, viz power hitting, dealing only in boundaries!!.
In the 3rd game we witnessed bludgeoning hitting by Glen Maxwell of Kings XI Punjab, and none predicted them to qualify for Champions League.
The first phase in UAE there were 12 fours & 5 sixes hit on average /match. Now in last stage of this tournament there are more runs scored taking this season’s 1st batting average score(161) to second best in all IPLs. The highest 1st bat avg score(164.78) was in 2010.
Here is table gfx of IPL history.
In the last phase of this year’s IPL (since 44th game) the average score in powerplay and in last 5 overs has increased considerably (both inn)it has climbed froms 40s to 50 & 51 runs respectively.
During this phase of tournament we saw maximum wins for teams that batted second(10/15), and most chose to chase after winning toss(13) and were successful in (9).
Preview of 2nd qualifier
In the 1st Qualifier game, Punjab were challenged by cricketing skills(batting against clever spin)under pressure. They lost when rain came along, and they were trying to catch up D/L score in every over, which was not required!.
I believe Punjab lost due to lack of execution skill. Their D M(decision making) skills were correct, knowing how much to get in D/L situation, but were not able to execute cricketing skills against clever spin.
Instead of settling down, understanding the situation, and identify weak bowler from whom they can peal lot of runs, they were trying to catch up with given RRR in every over!.
Here I believe experience plays a very important role, and current Punjab squad has less experience as a team, but they have lot of confidence, which should be good enough to take them to the finals.
Chennai on the other hand have grown in confidence with their batting, and exclusively love chasing(7 wins/8 games)targets. They would chase down anything in target range of 150-180 score with only few wickets down.
Nevertheless Chennai should be worried about their bowling, as their average score in 1st bowling is 166.
If they are put into bat, then they require to post huge total, something in range of 190+, so their spin/slow based bowling can defend.
Mohit Sharma leading wicket taker this season will be their key bowler, his back of the hand slower ball would be difficult to read under lights/worn ball. Although his run rate in last 5 overs is almost 10!.
Kolkata on the other hand have slowly improved their batting and maintained high bowling standards. Sunil Narine being the key bowler. He concedes less than 6 runs in last 5 overs of an inning.
Teams progress in each phase of this tournament.
In this tournament only two teams have manage to take their batting average over 30. Punjab(30.14)and Chennai(38.86). Lets us look at how teams have progressed in two months.
I have divided this year’s IPL into three phases and see how teams that have qualified for Champions League have progressed.
a)1st phase in UAE (20 games)
b)2nd phase in India(23 games, @ end of 43rd game)
c) last phase in India (15 games @ end of 58th game)
Batting
These tables below clearly shows how Kolkata, Chennai & Mumbai to certain extent have improved their batting performance. Chennai surely boasted their batting average by losing less wickets and scoring more runs in power play and last five overs. There is also higher percentage of boundary in last phase. Punjab has fallen down in batting average, although they start well in powerplay but are not able to maintain same run rate through out their innings. Their power hitting has also reduced substantially. Interestingly Kolkata in last phase have increased their power hitting, from 3 sixes/100 balls to to 6!.
There is also an increase in big overs(>10 runs/over).
Scoring more than 10 runs/over has climbed in last phase. For Kolkata its jumped from 32.43% to 40.17%. Mumbai has the highest leap in this scoring pattern, 46.39% of their batting overs were >10 runs. Punjab had fall, from 42% it has gone down to 34.45%.
| Kolkata | Mts | Avg | R/O | (4/6s) | 6s | (0-6) | (7-10) | (11-15) | (16-20) | >10/over |
| Phase(I) | 5 | 21.14 | 7.54 | 12.71 | 2.71 | 32.20 | 29.80 | 38.80 | 49.00 | 28.51 |
| Phase(II) | 6 | 34.92 | 7.86 | 15.07 | 3.28 | 45.17 | 30.33 | 35.67 | 38.33 | 32.43 |
| Phase(III) | 4 | 33.75 | 9.35 | 22.35 | 6.22 | 50.25 | 31.00 | 52.00 | 60.75 | 40.17 |
| Punjab | Mts | Avg | R/O | (4/6s) | 6s | pp | (7-10) | (11-15) | (16-20) | >10/over |
| Phase(I) | 5 | 31.52 | 8.92 | 18.85 | 5.58 | 46.00 | 29.60 | 54.80 | 44.20 | 37.74 |
| Phase(II) | 5 | 33.00 | 9.73 | 22.80 | 6.76 | 54.60 | 37.80 | 48.40 | 51.20 | 41.67 |
| Phase(III) | 5 | 26.00 | 8.12 | 15.51 | 5.70 | 52.20 | 30.60 | 30.20 | 47.80 | 34.45 |
| Chennai | mts | Avg | R/O | (4/6s) | 6s | pp | (7-10) | (11-15) | (16-20) | >10/over |
| Phase(I) | 5 | 32.40 | 8.24 | 15.23 | 5.58 | 50.60 | 27.20 | 39.80 | 45.00 | 38.66 |
| Phase(II) | 6 | 37.04 | 8.37 | 16.55 | 5.04 | 42.17 | 30.33 | 42.00 | 48.33 | 35.62 |
| Phase(III) | 4 | 56.25 | 8.91 | 18.56 | 7.42 | 54.75 | 24.25 | 37.50 | 55.75 | 32.98 |
| Mumbai | Mts | Avg | R/O | (4/6s) | 6s | pp | (7-10) | (11-15) | (16-20) | >10/over |
| Phase(I) | 5 | 18.33 | 6.60 | 11.00 | 2.50 | 36.20 | 20.40 | 37.40 | 36.20 | 20.00 |
| Phase(II) | 5 | 33.96 | 8.36 | 17.04 | 5.96 | 43.20 | 26.60 | 42.20 | 52.60 | 33.85 |
| Phase(III) | 5 | 30.28 | 9.47 | 20.93 | 6.44 | 58.60 | 36.20 | 50.40 | 48.40 | 46.39 |
Bowling
Interestingly Punjab bowling has progressed immensely!. There is a good fall in boundary rate, and maintained restricting teams last few overs.
Kolkata have maintained their bowling form throughout this tournament as they have the maximum no of less overs (> 5 runs/overs)in this tournament, 40% of their overs have gone for less than 5 runs!.
Chennai’s bowling has been very poor in last phase of this tournament, on average they conceded 50runs in powerplay, their run-rate has increased to almost 9, there is consistent rise in boundary rate. And L 5 has gone down to 27%.
In below tables have teams performance in each phase is displayed with primary indicators.
| Chennai | Mts | Avg | R/O | (4/6s) | 6s | pp | (7-10) | (11-15) | (16-20) | (<5 R/o) |
| 1st phase | 5 | 20.26 | 5.75 | 10.75 | 2.55 | 38.80 | 26.00 | 41.40 | 41.20 | 29.98% |
| 2nd phase | 6 | 26.22 | 8.33 | 17.88 | 7.01 | 37.33 | 28.67 | 44.83 | 53.67 | 36.91% |
| last phase | 4 | 33.60 | 8.68 | 18.24 | 5.36 | 50.75 | 30.75 | 42.25 | 48.75 | 27.13% |
| Mumbai | Mts | Avg | R/O | (4/6s) | 6s | pp | (7-10) | (11-15) | (16-20) | (<5 R/o) |
| Phase(I) | 5 | 35.95 | 7.58 | 13.29 | 3.50 | 37.40 | 25.60 | 42.80 | 45.40 | 31.65% |
| Phase(II) | 5 | 30.58 | 8.14 | 17.32 | 4.75 | 45.20 | 31.00 | 37.00 | 46.60 | 28.66% |
| Phase(III) | 5 | 30.81 | 8.46 | 17.23 | 6.42 | 47.40 | 26.40 | 41.00 | 54.40 | 33.54% |
| Punjab | Mts | Avg | R/O | (4/6s) | 6s | pp | (7-10) | (11-15) | (16-20) | (<5 R/o) |
| Phase(I) | 5 | 20.27 | 7.70 | 14.51 | 4.95 | 47.40 | 27.20 | 37.40 | 39.80 | 39.01% |
| Phase(II) | 5 | 33.77 | 9.04 | 19.55 | 6.00 | 47.80 | 25.80 | 45.60 | 56.40 | 30.90% |
| Phase(III) | 5 | 21.22 | 7.87 | 16.30 | 3.77 | 52.00 | 25.20 | 35.00 | 44.60 | 31.93% |
All stats are updated at end of game no. 59, IPL7. Her is a link to all indicators and explanation http://allthatcricket.com/?p=1489
