IPL 2018
IPL 2018: 5 surprise performers from week 2
By CricShots - Apr 20, 2018 11:29 pm
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Such has been the frenetic pace of the Indian Premier League, that week two has zipped past us without any glitches and without us even being aware.

Much like week one, there have been performances right through the week which were quite surprising to be honest, not because they were not expected, but because it came from players and it came in scenarios which were very refreshing.

Also read: IPL: Streak hints at KKR’s plans to get Gayle out early

We take a look at five such performances which made a mark this week.

#5 Shreyas Gopal, 2 wickets vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

It was the 11th match of the league and Rajasthan Royals travelled to Bengaluru to take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Batting first, Royals piled up 217 runs on the back of a magnificent 92-runs innings from Sanju Samson.

However, RCB with their power-packed batting order fancied themselves to chase down the total but they did not take into account the leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal. The Karnataka-boy bowled four overs, gave away just 22 and picked up the two big wickets in Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers and broke the back of the chase.

Rajasthan won the match by 19 runs.

#4 Nitish Rana, 2 wickets and 35 runs against Rajasthan Royals

Kolkata Knight Riders look a formidable outfit and their young Indian players are proving to be the difference in closely-fought contests.

Match 15 between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders saw one such inspired performance from Nitish Rana.

The young Delhi-player has been a surprise performer with the ball for Dinesh Karthik and in the two overs he bowled, he picked up two wickets and gave away just 11 runs.

He then came back with the bat and scored a 27-ball 35 which allowed KKR to chase down the target of 161 with ridiculous ease.

#3 Rahul Tewatia, 3 wickets vs Kolkata Knight Riders

This has been a season of wrist spinners and every team has one in their ranks which renders a match-winning balance to the side.

The 13th match of the league saw Delhi Daredevils take on Kolkata Knight Riders and it was the turn of Rahul Tewatia to stand up and be noticed.

Delhi were bowling first and although they conceded 200 runs, Tewatia did his reputation no harm with figures of 3 wickets for 18 runs in 3 runs.

#2 Suryakumar Yadav, 53 vs Delhi Daredevils

The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has always been a batting paradise and the 9th match between Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians gave the perfect advert for the pitch and the ground.

Mumbai Indians batted first and Suryakumar Yadav was handed a promotion to open the innings and this proved to be an inspired move as the local boy hit the ground running from the word go.

He climbed into the Delhi bowling attack and creamed them all over the park to notch up a brilliant 53.

Mumbai Indians peeled off 194 runs, but then Jason Roy smoked 91 runs to win Delhi the match.

#1 Deepak Chahar, 2 wickets against Rajasthan Royals

After coming under a lot of fire, young Deepak Chahar finally came to the party against the Rajasthan Royals in Pune.

Chennai Super Kings batted first in their adopted home ground and one the back of a superlative century by Shane Watson amassed 204 runs in their 20 overs.

Rajasthan Royals had to get the perfect start to stay in contention, but they came against Deepak Chahar who was bowling beautiful outswingers. He accounted for Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson and took out two key players in the chase.