As IPL 2024 reaches its business end, the race to the playoffs is heating up. Nine out of ten teams still have a chance to qualify, but no team has officially secured a playoff spot yet. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) are close, having earned 16 points each, likely enough to advance. Meanwhile, five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have been eliminated, despite a star-studded lineup featuring Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma.
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MI’s replacement signings, Kwena Maphaka and Luke Wood, failed to impress, leaving the team in 10th place on the points table. In contrast, some replacement signings have significantly impacted IPL 2024 after initially going unsold at the auction. Here are three players who made a stunning comeback:
1. Phil Salt’s Explosive Performances for Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders currently lead the points table with 19 points. A key factor in their success has been the explosive opening pair of Phil Salt and Sunil Narine. Surprisingly, Salt went unsold at the auction despite his impressive form for England against the West Indies. KKR picked him up as a replacement for Jason Roy, and Salt immediately delivered. He has scored 429 runs in 11 innings, maintaining an average of 42.90 and a strike rate of 183.33, making him one of the standout performers of the season.
2. Sandeep Warrier’s Impactful Performances for Gujarat Titans
Sandeep Warrier, a capped Indian T20I cricketer, received no bids at the auction but returned to the league as a replacement for Mohammed Shami in the Gujarat Titans (GT) squad. Warrier made an immediate impact, taking two wickets in his debut match against Delhi Capitals despite GT being bowled out for just 88. In the reverse fixture against DC, Warrier was even more impressive, scalping three wickets in the powerplay and finishing with figures of 3/15. He has maintained a stunning strike rate of less than 10 in IPL 2024.
3. Jake Fraser-McGurk: The Game-Changer for Delhi Capitals
Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk has played a crucial role in Delhi Capitals’ resurgence in IPL 2024. Joining as a replacement for fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, McGurk has been a revelation. In his first six matches, the right-handed batter has amassed 259 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 233.33. His 23 fours and 23 sixes have given opposition bowlers sleepless nights. McGurk’s performances have been instrumental in DC’s campaign, showcasing his potential as a game-changer.
These players’ remarkable comebacks highlight the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the IPL, where unsold players can turn into match-winners. As the tournament progresses, their contributions will be crucial in determining their teams’ fortunes.
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