It was 2017, Rising Pune Supergiant gained momentum in the middle of the season and went on to play the finals that year after a poor outing in their first season. International stars like Dhoni, Smith, and Stokes had a crucial role in the team’s success. But it was Rahul Tripathi who impressed everyone with his stroke-making and consistency. The son of an army Colonel showed discipline and determination to score 350 + runs and his IPL journey started from there.
In this piece, we look at his stats against the top bowlers of IPL, his batting record at various positions, and how he can be one of the uncapped Indian stars KKR is looking for.
IPL 2017 SEASON
Opening the batting for RPS, Tripathi averaged nearly 28 but had a very good strike rate of 146, he managed to give a start almost in every match and laid the platform for the international players to follow. He crossed the 30-run mark in six continuous innings followed by a brilliant 93 vs KKR later in the tournament. He ended the season with nearly 400 runs and would have wished to score some more and help RPS win the title which they missed out by just a single run. CSK and RR were going to return after this year and Tripathi was going in the auction with a good season behind him. A consistent Indian opener, every team would like such a player in their team.
In the 2018 auction, RR bought him for 3.4 cr and it seemed that it was one of the best possible moves for Tripathi given the history with RR and providing opportunities to rising talents. The player only played 6 innings as an opener in the 2 seasons for RR. He moved to KKR in the 2020 season and played 5 innings as an opener. In those innings, Tripathi has managed 306 runs at an average of nearly 130. He has performed well; the stats could have been better if given a longer chance at one position.
Brilliant vs the best bowlers
Players who are able to make the playing X1 of an IPL team surely have the skills needed, but to perform consistently you need the mindset and the courage to play your natural game against the best in the world. Tripathi has an aggregate of 144 runs in 88 balls against Bumrah, Narine, Rashid Khan, Rabadda, and B.Kumar. All the bowlers are world-class and have made their name in International Cricket. He has been dismissed only once and having such numbers is proof that Tripathi has tremendous confidence in himself and just plays the bowl and not the bowler.
Tripathi in different batting positions
Being a domestic uncapped player is not easy in IPL, as often your roles are adjusted according to the team dynamics. With the likes of Buttler Stokes Rahane & Samson, it was difficult for the RR management to find a permanent batting position for Tripathi. The same happened at KKR, the likes of Morgan, Karthik, and Russel who were themselves not sure of what batting position they are going to be playing. Tripathi’s determination and mindset have helped him in whatever role he has been given. He has been equally good at no.3 and helped the team to build a platform for the finishers. Some innings here, some innings there have had an impact on his average but he has strike well at no.4. He also played an innings at no.8 and got a quickfire 36 at a strike rate of 225.
Conclusion
The commentators are calling him a selfless player, someone who puts the team ahead of himself in every situation and game. Tripathi has performed well whenever given the opportunity and now needs a longer run at no.3 for KKR in order to bring the best out of him and will also help KKR along with it. Though the player has good stats at various batting positions, a fixed role in the team will allow him to prepare better and work on his other weakness. KKR has started the UAE leg in an ultra-attacking way and would want Tripathi to continue playing his natural game and thereby creating a platform for Morgan, Karthik, and Russel. If KKR manage to reach the next stage in this tournament, Rahul Tripathi would have had a great contribution.