From Deepak Chahar’s match-winning spell against Kolkata to Glenn Maxwell finding his form, SportsAdda’s brand ambassador Brett Lee addressed several talking points that surfaced during the second week of the 2021 Indian T20 League.
In a candid chat with Manish Batavia, the former Australian pacer first explained what makes Deepak Chahar a quality bowler in the Indian T20 League. Chahar was Chennai’s best bowler during their 18-run win over Kolkata, picking four wickets while conceding just 29 runs.
“It was an absolutely brilliant piece of fast bowling,” said Lee.
“When we talk about Deepak Chahar it is not the express pace over that 145 kmph bracket, but it doesn’t have to be because he has got that shape, he has got that swing, he has got that length and he had the ball on a string. It came off the hand beautifully and his seam position was impeccable. He got the ball nibble a little bit. So when the ball nibbles of the seam, you are destined to take wickets.”
The curious case of Glenn Maxwell
For someone who failed to hit a six during the entirety of the Indian T20 League last year, the rejuvenation in Glenn Maxwell’s form has been a sheer treat, to say the least. The Australian all-rounder has already bettered his last year’s tally in just three innings and judging by the form he is in, it is safe to say that there’s more to come.
“I’ll try to work out why Maxwell has been so successful with this franchise. Nothing changed with his technique. He might be a little bit more closed off than he was last year in terms of front foot. His hips position now is in alignment in terms of facing towards the umpire,” explains Brett Lee.
“Apart from that, I think Maxwell is thriving in an environment where he is not the ‘big show’. He is still an important player but now he is playing in a squad that has got Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. So I think all the pressure is off Maxwell now.
“Normally in the other teams, he has been the main man, he has to score runs, he has got to step up. But when you throw Kohli and de Villiers, they are the guys with all the spotlight. So Maxwell can come under the radar and play his natural game. He is relishing the fact that he is in an environment that allows him to express himself.”
Age-defying Devdutt Padikkal
Bangalore opener Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden Indian T20 League century on Thursday, April 22 against Rajasthan. The funny thing that is floating around the internet is the fact that on the same date exactly 10 years back, Chris Gayle scored his maiden Indian T20 League century, with the West Indian remaining not out along with Virat Kohli.
22nd April 2011:
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 22, 2021
Chris Gayle scored his maiden IPL hundred.
RCB won the game.
Gayle and Virat Kohli remained Not Out in the chase.
22nd April 2021:
Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden IPL hundred.
RCB won the game.
Padikkal and Virat Kohli remained not out in the chase.
Lee, for one, is impressed by the 20-year-old’s style and has said that he hasn’t seen a guy that well at the age of 20.
“You see he is a different player from Gayle. Yes, they are both left-handers, but play a different style. Gayle is more aggressive, hits sixes while Padikkal has got beautiful timing.
“Up until his century, he had 36 runs in two innings, but that was a good 36. He looked like he was in good form. You go back to last season where he scored 400-plus runs so you know his track record is good. I haven’t seen a guy that well at the age of 20 ever.”
KL Rahul’s class is permanent
KL Rahul has been amongst runs in the Indian T20 League but has been criticised for playing at a rather substandard strike rate. In his four innings so far this season, only once has he managed to strike at a rate of over 180, but Lee says Rahul is a much better player than what the stats show.
The outcome of those three knocks by KL Rahul:
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 18, 2021
61 (51) @ 119.60 - DC chased down 196 with 10 balls to spare
63 (52) @ 121.15 - CSK chased down 179 without losing a wicket
69 (54) @ 127.77 - RR recorded the highest IPL chase (224)
“We all know KL Rahul can score runs quickly. I think back maybe three or four years ago he got a fifty in 14 balls so there is no reason why he can’t score runs quickly. He has got the technique to do it, he has got the mindset, but I think this slower strike rate is because he is trying to bat through the entire innings. He is probably thinking I need to bat deep, I need to go through the 14-15 overs to set the platform for the team.
“But you know you can’t soak up too many balls. He is a much better player than what the stats show so I’m not concerned about KL Rahul because his class is permanent.”
