The league stage of the 2022 IPL is done, with the Playoffs starting on the 24th of May. There were plenty of impactful knocks and bowling performances, not to forget, a few breathtaking fielding efforts as well. In this piece, we look at the top batters who have had the most impact with the bat for their teams in the league stages of this year’s IPL.
The criteria?
More than 200 runs in the season with an average in excess of 45 and a strike rate greater than 150. Only three batters qualify for these criteria – Dinesh Karthik (RCB), Shimron Hetmyer (RR) and David Warner (DC).
DK – Finisher Extraordinaire
Dinesh Karthik has had a sensational IPL so far. No one in the current season has scored more runs than Karthik’s 287 at a strike rate better than his 191.33. A whopping 75.56% of his runs have come in boundaries. A lot of credit for this success also goes to RCB, as they had a clear role defined for him – that of a finisher. Irrespective of the number of wickets that fell, RCB have had a set entry-point for ‘DK’, which has usually been around the last five overs of the innings.
Of his 287 runs, 213 have come in the death overs (overs 16-20). DK averages a mammoth 106.5 in this phase, striking at 215.2, which is a bit more than two runs per ball. Of these 213 runs, 76.99% runs have come in boundaries, with a dot ball percentage of only 26.3%. His magnificent form as the finisher has even propelled him into the Indian T20I squad to face South Africa in June.
Shimron Hetmyer – The pace smasher
Shimron Hetmyer has had a breakthrough IPL season in 2022, and his batting will still be the key factor in Rajasthan Royal’s results in the playoffs. Hetmyer’s average of 59.4 is the highest of any batter this year, and he has accumulated those runs at a rapid strike rate of 163.18. He’s hit more sixes (21) than fours (19).
Hetmyer might have struggled a bit against the spinners, as he strikes at less than a run-a-ball (SR:98), but one of the standout things about Hetmyer’s batting this season has been his attack on the pace bowlers. 245 of his 297 runs have come against pace bowlers, and they have come at a blistering pace, with his strike rate being 188.5.
Rajasthan Royals take on the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It is a venue that has assisted pace bowlers. But that could also work in favour of Hetmyer and Rajasthan, as very few batters have been able to hit pace like the Caribbean southpaw.
David Warner – The raging ‘Bull’
Many considered Warner to be past his prime, but in a new and happy environment of Delhi Capitals, the Australian opener again showed why he is one of the all-time IPL greats. Warner has the most fifties in the history of IPL (54), and he ended the 2022 season with the second-most 50+ scores (five). Warner was equally impressive in the Powerplay and the rest of the innings.
DC won seven games in this year’s IPL, and Warner was a part of their last six wins. In all those six wins, Warner had probably the biggest impact on the match. Four of his five 50+ scores came in these wins, and he averaged a massive 102.3 runs at a strike rate of 152.7. He also remained unbeaten in three games, ensuring that he saw the innings through.
After a rare blip in 2021, where the off-field drama took an ugly turn between Warner and his old franchise, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals will be happy to have the older version of Warner. The southpaw might not have taken his team to the playoffs, but he sure set the stage on fire, and he will look to stay at DC and end his career with the franchise that kick-started his IPL career.