The Cricketer looks back on the fourth week of the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, picking out the eye-catching moments as the competition builds pace
After winning both of their week four matches, Rajasthan Royals have opened up a four-point gap at the top of the table. They have, however, played one game more than the sides sitting second to fifth.
Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad make up the rest of the top four, with the latter extending their unbeaten streak to three matches with a 25-run win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Delhi Capitals are the big climbers, with victories over Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans propelling them from tenth to sixth. LSG, however, are heading in the opposite direction (third to fifth) following consecutive defeats.
Punjab Kings and RCB occupy the bottom two places, with the former on a three-match losing run and the latter without a win since March 25. RCB have just two points from seven matches and have a six-point gulf between themselves and fourth-placed Sunrisers.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are rooted to the foot of the table [AFP/Getty Images]
Jos Buttler was the standout English player in week four, producing a match-winning knock against KKR (but more on that later).
It was a mixed week for Phil Salt. He finally got a big score under his belt with an unbeaten 89 (47) to lead KKR to an eight-wicket over Lucknow Super Giants but he couldn't replicate that performance against the Royals, departing for 10 (13).
Punjab Kings' English contingent are not having a great tournament. Against Mumbai Indians, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone fell for 6 and 1, respectively, as the top order collapsed to 14 for 4. Curran had earlier returned expensive figures of 2 for 41. In the previous match, the pair, plus Jonny Bairstow, scored just 42 runs combined (Bairstow's 15 came off 19 deliveries), although Curran (2 for 25) and Livingstone (1 for 21) did contribute with the ball.
And it was a tough week for RCB's Reece Topley, who conceded 68 runs from his four overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Teammate Will Jacks returned comparatively economical figures of 0 for 32 from his three overs but had another poor outing with the bat (7 off 4).
Luke Wood, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran and Tom Kohler-Cadmore didn't feature in week four.
Jos Buttler is very good at cricket 😍#IPL2024pic.twitter.com/4xjrPWjTfU
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) April 16, 2024
Buttler scored his second century of the 2024 IPL to steer Rajasthan Royals to a two-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.
A century from Sunil Narine (109 off 56) helped KKR set the Royals a sizeable target of 224 but despite his teammates falling around him – at one stage they collapsed from 97 for 2 to 121 for 6 – Buttler saw the Royals home off the final ball of the match.
He finished unbeaten on 107 off 60 balls, including nine fours and six sixes, and has now scored 250 runs in six innings.
Travis Head scored a century as Sunrisers Hyderabad broke the record for the highest team total in the IPL [AFP/Getty Images]
For the second time this season, Sunrisers Hyderabad broke the record for the highest team total in the IPL. Having previously piled on 277 for 3 against Mumbai Indians, they racked up 287 for 3 en route to a 25-run win over RCB, with Travis Head smacking 102 runs off just 41 balls. It is the second highest team total in T20 cricket, behind Nepal's 314 for 3 against Malaysia last September.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Gujarat Titans were bowled out for just 89 by Delhi Capitals – the lowest total in the franchise's history.
Virat Kohli remains in possession of the orange cap. The RCB batter, who scored 42 (20) in his only match this week, has 361 runs from seven appearances. Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals) and Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians), who are both striking above 160, sit second and third with 318 and 297 runs, respectively.
Likewise, Jasprit Bumrah still holds the purple cap, with 13 wickets from seven appearances. Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals) – who needs just one wicket to become the first player to take 200 in the IPL – and Gerald Coetzee (Mumbai Indians) have 12 apiece.
Glenn Maxwell has taken an indefinite break from the IPL to prioritise his mental and physical health. The Australian allrounder had been struggling for form for RCB, scoring just 32 runs (including three ducks in six innings) and taking four wickets.
Devon Conway, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury, with CSK signing England bowler Richard Gleeson as his replacement.
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