It has only been two weeks of action. Still, the Indian Premier League has already seen some mind-blowing performances, with the Royal Challengers’ AB de Villiers and the Delhi Capitals’ Shikhar Dhawan being marked as the two outstanding players so far. The Capitals and Challengers are arguably the league’s best two teams so far and will be going up against each other next Tuesday, with both teams in great form. This one is sure to make some rumble with bet365 online sports betting keeping a close eye on the stats and performances of both teams because picking a favorite will be a challenge.
“The tournament is a great stage to showcase professionalism and the relentless pursuit of excellence,” says former Indian player Laxman in his serenade to the two batsmen. “Shikhar Dhawan and AB de Villiers have been outstanding for their franchise so far.” At the moment, the opening of Delhi Capitals, Dhawan tops the list of top run-scoring players this season, with a strike rate of 163.15 and the highest number of 186 runs of 92. Laxman believes this is the best he has seen Dhawan perform on the T20 stage, reminiscent of Dhawan from a few years back on the Indian Under 20 team, a fearless and aggressive bowler who took on bowlers from the word go. But don’t take only Laxman’s word for it; Dhawan himself has said that he returned to the drawing board a few years ago to reinvent himself as a T20 shooter. Per Laxman, “Dhawan is making a joint effort to increase its strike rate this season to increase the chances of the T20 World Cup in India this season.”
Dhawan has shown the great work ethic and humility to show improvement at age 35, constantly remodeling and upping his game to meet the modern flow. Laxman believes it should be a significant lesson for young cricketers to follow because that is the only way to stay relevant and ahead of the pack. The willingness to improve year in and out is a skill everybody can have, and all it takes is the work and determination, tools we all possess. The Delhi Capitals have been the big benefactors of Dhawan’s reinvigorated play. They are flying high in the league, only shadowed by the Royal Challengers. The latter are led by another outstanding batsman and Laxman’s other highlight performer of the season, Ab de Villiers.
About de Villiers, Laxman writes, “AB, of course, is just phenomenal. You think you have seen it all, and yet, year after year, he takes your breath away with his innovativeness and creativity. He doesn’t play international cricket any longer, so it’s a little short of amazing that he continues to retain his passion, zest, fitness and appetite”. De Villiers is fifth on the list of the league’s run-in scorers with 125 runs and has a strike rate of 189.39. He is one of the reasons, if not the main one, why the Challengers are unbeaten and top of the table so far.
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