Anurag Kumar
Tuesday marked the continuation of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all-rounder Deepak Hooda’s disappointing performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Jason Behrendorff dismissed Deepak for five runs off seven deliveries in his team’s IPL 2023 match against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Lucknow.
Deepak has scored 69 runs at an average of 6.90 in 11 IPL matches, which is the lowest average of any player who has played at least 10 innings in an IPL season. He has recorded scores of 17, 2, 7, 9, 6, 2, 2, 11*, 1, 11, and 5 in this tournament. His strike rate is just 89.61.
This is in stark contrast to his finest IPL season ever, which he had with the team in 2022. In 15 contests, he scored 451 runs at an average of 32.21 and a strike rate of 136.67. He scored four fifty-plus scores, with his highest score being 59.
Nicholas Pooran (85 runs in 11 innings, average 7.73 in IPL 2021), Deepak Hooda (144 runs in 15 innings, average 10.29 in IPL 2016), and Eoin Morgan (133 runs in 16 innings, average 11.08 in IPL 2021) also have astonishingly low averages in an IPL season.
MI elected to bowl first and LSG responded with a score of 177/3 after 20 overs. LSG was reduced to 35/3 after MI’s Jason Behrendorff and Piyush Chawla claimed three quick wickets, dismissing Deepak Hooda (5), Prerak Mankad (0), and Quinton de Kock (16).
Then captain Krunal Pandya (49 off 42 deliveries) formed a partnership with Marcus Stoinis but retired injured before reaching fifty. Nicholas Pooran (8*) joined Stoinis, who went on a rampage in the final overs, at the crease. Stoinis scored 89* off 47 balls, which included four fours and eight sixes.
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In four overs, Behrendorff collected 2/30. Additionally, Chawla took 1/26 in his three overs.
MI got off to a good start in their pursuit of 178 with a 90-run opening stand between Ishan Kishan (59 in 39 balls, eight fours and a six) and Rohit Sharma (37 in 25 deliveries, captain). Following the loss of two openers, MI attempted to keep up with the run rate but failed as wickets continued to fall. Tim David (32* in 19 balls with one four and three sixes) brought his team close to victory, but they fell short by only five runs. MI completed their 20 overs with 172/5.
Ravi Bishnoi (2/26) and Yash Thakur (2/40) were LSG’s two most effective bowlers. Mohsin took 26 wickets in three overs and defended 11 runs in the final over while conceding only five runs.
His stroke earned Stoinis the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
With seven victories and five defeats in 13 matches, LSG is now ranked third after this victory. One match resulted in a draw. They have 15 points in total. After 13 matches, MI has slipped to fourth place with seven wins, six losses, and 14 points. Both teams are still in contention for a playoff spot.
