The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kickstarted in the UAE with a thrilling MI vs CSK contest in Abu Dhabi. In the first week of the Dream11 IPL 2020, the league witnessed some of the most amazing moments. Be it the Super Over finish between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) or be it Sanju Samson's assault against CSK at Sharjah, the Week 1 of IPL 2020 has been a treat for the IPL fans. Before we head to the second week in the Dream11 IPL 2020, here's revisiting the fives best batting performances in the first week.
Here's a look at five best batting performances from Week 1 in Dream11 IPL 2020:
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1. KL Rahul – 132* vs RCB
In Match 6 of the IPL 2020, KXIP and RCB locked horns at the Dubai International Stadium. Leading from the front, KXIP skipper KL Rahul played a captain's knock to take his side to 206/3 in their 20 overs. Rahul smacked the RCB bowling to all parts of the ground to record the highest score by an Indian batsman in the IPL.
Rahul scored an unbeaten 69-ball 132 which included 14 fours and 7 sixes. However, he rode his luck after being dropped twice in the innings but made sure that RCB paid every bit of it. In the end, it was an easy win for KXIP, their first in IPL 2020, as KL Rahul was declared the Man of the Match. Potentially, Rahul's knock can rank among the top five IPL knocks of all-time.
2. Ambati Rayudu – 71 vs MI
In the season opener vs MI, Ambati Rayudu played a comforting knock to guide Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to victory. Batting at No.4, in the CSK middle-order, Rayudu had the onus to stitch a partnership to bring CSK back in the game after the loss of early wickets. Rayudu batted aggressively and took the attack to the experienced MI bowling attack to set up an easy win for CSC in the end.
He scored 71 runs at a time when his team needed a useful contribution from his bat. His innings of 48 balls included 6 fours and 3 sixes. In the 115-run stand with Faf du Plessis, Rayudu was the wrecker-in-chief as the MI attack had no answers to their former players' attacking play.
3. Mayank Agarwal – 89 vs DC
Match 2 of IPL 2020 between Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab ended in a nerve-wracking thriller as the Capitals won in a Super Over finish. However, it wasn't before a stupendous effort from Mayank Agarwal nearly saw a win for Kings XI Punjab. After being reduced to 55/5 and chasing 158, KXIP was completely out of the game.
However, Agarwal didn't lose hope and continued his play his normal game. He received support from Krishnappa Gowtham but it was the Indian Test opener who did the maximum damage. He ended with an 89-run knock including 4 sixes and 7 fours. It was a huge heartbreak for Mayank who couldn't take his team over the line and was dismissed on the penultimate delivery with a run to be scored.
4. Marcus Stoinis – 53 vs KXIP
Marcus Stoinis was the Player of the Match for his all-round efforts in Delhi's narrow win over Kings XI Punjab. The Australian player changed the course of the match with a brilliant inning of 53 runs. Batting at No. 6, Stoinis provided the much-needed impetus to an otherwise drowning innings for Delhi.
He came in at 84/4 and saw his team's score past the 15-run mark. In his 21-ball effort, Stoinis plundered 30 crucial runs off Chris Jordan's last over to propel Delhi to a fighting total. In the end, his efforts proved to be vital and were the eventual difference between the two teams. As a result, Stoinis' match-winning knock against KXIP is one of the best batting performances in Week 1 of the Dream11 IPL 2020.
5. Sanju Samson – 74 vs CSK
In the first IPL match at Sharjah this season, it was a proper run-feat as Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings crossed the 200-run mark. For Rajasthan, Sanju Samson took an attacking approach while batting at No.3. The RR-batsman scored a flawless inning to register 74 runs off just 32 balls. Samson's blinder included a single four and 9 sixes on a smaller ground in Sharjah.
His efforts with the bat propelled Royals to a score of 261 runs. It proved too many in the end for CSK as RR defeated CSK by a margin if 16 runs. Samson's super show vs CSK was easily one of the best batting display in Week 1 of the Dream11 IPL 2020.
