To encompass the spirit of the Iconic Tom Hanks in "News of the World", good morning/ howdy to the denizens of today's modern fast-paced world. Let's see what's on the roster today. Soccer-Holders Senegal gets a comfortable draw for the Cup of Nations Qualifier. Prince Harry reflects on his and Meghan's first Invictus Games, and how special it is to return as a father. Meanwhile, in Glasgow, it is sunny. The rain gods have spared us our wrath and we are chilling on the funky sofa, watching Scooby Dooby Doo.
Suddenly, your mind recalls Dale Steyn's ripper of an inswinger (on his debut against England in 2004) to castle Michael Vaughan's stumps and you have this magnanimous smile on your face. You are an infinitesimal component of a pale blue dot like Carl Sagan postulated, perched on a self-elevated pedestal while trying to deduce the code behind unlocking life's biggest hits. You start viewing cricket as your lonely island as the 2015 World Cup-winning Australian Captain Michael Clarke postulated in his interview after his retirement. The Barmy Army singing from the Hollies stand "Warnie's [RIP LEGEND] dropped the Ashes. Grant Elliot's superman feat against South Africa in 2015. It was so difficult to digest the Proteas' with the most agonizing and tragic part seeing AB's expressions.
Applying an extension of this thought process to the limited-overs realm, I guess we could definitely count franchise cricket as a modern-day evolution of this pulsating game. Technologically, it makes sense, I guess. Thanks to companies like Dukes and Kookaburra, bats are getting stronger and more durable with flexible handles tailor-made to support the player in terms of maximizing his time while occupying the crease. Edges flying for six! Shorter boundaries in some parts of the world. The inception of the Duckworth-Louis system that plays a critical role in deciding the nearest-to impartial outcomes of these rain-marred matches (Indoor stadiums are the need of the hour folks) Fast outfields. Shorter playing time. Fewer efforts are needed per player in opposition to the test department. More relaxation time for them. The capitalist system operates at full throttle with auctions and paparazzi adding the icing on the cake.
It all seems like the perfect utopian world. However, the status quo does not always prevail like that. Injury toll! Psychological fatigue! Background Noise! Can get to even the best of us momentarily at times. You can never put down a great player. However, to quote West Indies Legend Michael Holding, the exponential increase in the frequency of matches played on all levels (county, franchise, domestic, international) can often lead to burnout every now and then. The subsequent section of the blog pinpoints 5 players who despite scoring heavily in the auction have not currently managed to get going in the 2022 IPL Edition.
1) Yashasvi Jaiswal
After a productive campaign in the last IPL, Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed up Jaiswal for INR 4 cr, who was one of the gems of the U19 World Cup. The 20-year-old is being hailed as a potential star, with the skill, ability, and disposition to succeed on the big stage, as evidenced by the flashes he gave last year. This season, though, he has been reluctant to get going, and his surprise poor start has already cost him his starting spot after only four games. Jaiswal has underachieved, scoring just 25 runs in three innings with a strike rate of well over 100, and will be eager to reclaim his spot at the top of the order.
2) Shivam Mavi
Shivam Mavi, another former India U19 standout, has always been a member of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). At the IPL 2022 mega auction earlier this year, he was bought back by his only franchise in an astonishing bargain. Mavi, regarded as one of India's future pace wonders, can contribute to any team and has experience on his side.
The 23-year-old fast bowler has only appeared in two of the Kolkata franchise's five games, picking up one wicket at a rate of 12.33 runs per over. So far in the 15th edition of the event, the highly-rated teenager has failed to justify his costly price tag.
On the other hand, he still has plenty of time to overcome his lean patch and repay his team's faith by making inroads in the wickets column once more.
3) Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan, one of the highest-paid uncapped players at the mega auction, was bought back by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 9 crore, up from a base price of INR 40 lakh. His steady domestic performances and big-hitting finishing ability were much sought after, but he has yet to light up the IPL. Punjab, on the other hand, is looking for a speedy turnaround. Aggregating 60 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate just north of 120. Punjab would need their finisher to show up to justify his lucrative contract after a few lean shows.
4) Keiron Pollard
How can anyone forget his extraordinary finish against CSK last season? 80 odd under pressure. Almost singlehandedly winning the game for MI. A fighting inning at its most audacious and visionary. Unfortunately, Keiron Pollard has failed to get going this edition. Aggregating 57 runs in five innings. That cataclysmic mix-up with Suryakumar Yadav. Scoring less than run a ball against RR and getting out in single figures against DC. MI is missing his rapid acceleration which is probably one of the pivotal reasons leading to them losing seven games on a trot. He could be cut some slack for batting out of his preferred position but the onus is certainly on him to deliver if MI intends to wind up their season on a dignified note this year.
5) Virat Kohli
3 years and 100 matches later, the wait for King Kohli's 71st international century continues (with the last one coming against Bangladesh in 2019). Form is temporary but class is permanent. Kohli is a class act. Not an iota of doubt on that front. Forget tonning up, his inability to register a single half-century this season is substantially preventing the batting department from firing on all cylinders and placing massive pressure on the opening lineup. That acrobatic outfield catch shows he still has it. Not to mention, the retirement of his close friend and fellow RCB batting stalwart AB de Villiers is a contributing factor in itself. Great players bounce back. Hopefully, it's just a matter of time before RCB's tour de force entertainer gets his prime mojo back and makes his franchise a force to be reckoned with once again.
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