The likes of Chris Gayle, David Miller, Mike Hussey, Shane Watson, Kieron Pollard, Brad Hodge, Dwayne Smith redefined the art of batting in 2013 Indian Premier League T-20 championship to stand out as perfect examples of game-changers.
David Miller: This South African southpaw played what is arguably the finest innings of controlled aggression more dotted for his flamboyance in the ‘V’, generally the hallmark of those who bat with a straight bat. His 38-ball century (101 not out, 8 x 4, 7 x 6) saw Kings XI Punjab through what many who were watching the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore thought was a lost cause. KXIP was 64 for four in 9.5 overs, chasing 191. Then Miller unleashed his mind-boggling assault which saw 99 runs scored off the last five overs to signal the arrival of another star on the cricket horizon.
Chris Gayle: There is an element of predictability when Chris Gayle is on song. When he hit the highest-ever individual score of 175 against Pune Warriors, it was, in all fairness, not a real surprise. Gayle’s stunning innings is one of those efforts wherein no bowler could bowl with a plan. All they could hope for was a stroke of luck, which eventually didn’t come their way. His was the fastest century off just 30 balls, maximum sixes in an innings (17) by any batsman and in the process the highest total in T-20 game (263).
Shane Watson: Aussie Shane Watson is class personified as was amply evident during his magnificent 34-ball 70 for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings on home turf in Jaipur. The royal elegance and the way he picks up gaps is a lesson for any youngster as he doesn’t throw his bat at everything. Royals required 93 off the last 10 overs with a tense Rahul Dravid in the dug-out. With the younger Stuart Binny setting the tempo with a huge six off R. Ashwin, Watson changed gears to swing away the premier spinner’s challenge, literally, hitting three huge sixes. Eighty one runs were scored between the 11th and 15th overs by Watson and Binny in what was another memorable piece of batting in this IPL.
Kieron Pollard: This big-hitting star from Trinidad & Tobago rarely lived up to his awesome reputation built on that one sensational 18-ball, 54 effort against New South Wales attack which had Brett Lee amongst others in the 2009 CL T-20 championship in Hyderabad. But, Pollard put all this behind when a typical batting special when Mumbai Indians needed 62 off the last four overs, chasing 179 set by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Surviving some close calls from speedster Dale Steyn, Pollard came into his own soon. One bowler he picked for special treatment was the hapless Sri Lankan Thisara Perera. The scoring sequence against him - 6, 4, 1, 6, 6, 6, 6, 0, 6 – summed it all as Pollard score a blazing 60 not out (27 balls, 2 x4, 8 x 6) and pulled off an improbable win to spur wild celebrations in the MI dug-out. Then, that match-winning unbeaten 60 (32ball, 7 x 4, 3 x 6) in the low-scoring IPL final contest against CSK was another reminder of his big-hitting prowess.
Michael Hussey: A terrific performer. At the age of 37, he scored 733 runs from this season for CSK. Definitely, when Hussey walked to the crease there was no discernible aura or any roaring welcome to this spirited batsman from Down Under. But, again, Hussey belongs to the old world charm where batsmen play to their potential rather than to the galleries. But, once settled and into his groove, Hussey made the scorers work overtime as he was busy in picking the gaps either for boundaries or quick singles and twos. There is a method and meaning in everything he does without being extravagant.
Brad Hodge: For someone who was almost unobtrusive, this 40-year-old Aussie played his best IPL innings against the best attack comprising Dale Steyn, Ishant Sharma, leggies Amit Sharma and Karan Sharma. It was a game-changer. He came when Rajasthan Royals was 57 for five, needing 133 to win in Delhi. Sweeping aside the cloud of match-fixing over his team and the not-so-batsman friendly pitch, Hodge (54 not out, 29 balls, 5 x 6) helped Royals enter the semi-final with that sensational innings.
