ROUND UP
Follow UsThe third edition of the Maharaja Trophy T20 has been an excellent one so far, with all six teams giving each other a tough fight. With 21 matches done, Bengaluru Blasters and Hubli Tigers look destined to qualify for the playoffs.
The third and fourth spots are up for grabs, with Gulbarga Mystics and Mysuru Warriors being the favourites to go through. Shivamogga Lions and Mangaluru Dragons are also not completely out of the race.
With the tournament approaching its business end, let's examine the hits and misses thus far.
*All stats till August 25
Points table
Top performers
Hits of the season so far
Abhinav Manohar (Shivamogga Lions)
The highest paid player is definitely making every penny count with his explosive batting. The right-handed middle-order batter has been the only saving grace for an underwhelming Lions' batting lineup. Manohar has smashed 372 runs at an outstanding strike rate of 186, with four 50+ scores in eight innings. Not just that, he has also smacked 36 sixes, the most for any batter, showing his power-hitting capabilities.
Karun Nair (Mysore Warriors)
Maharaja Trophy’s highest run scorer, Karun Nair, is having another outstanding season for the Mysore Warriors. The stylish right-hander became the first batter to complete 1000 runs in the competition. This season, he is currently the second-highest run-scorer with 346 runs in eight innings. He showcased an excellent batting display against Mangaluru Dragons, where he scored the highest individual score in the history of the Maharaja Trophy, smashing an unbeaten 124 in just 58 balls.
Manvanth Kumar (Hubli Tigers)
Manvanth Kumar is having another epic season. After picking 22 wickets in his debut season (2023), the right-arm pacer has continued to strike in 2024, picking up 14 wickets in six matches, being the highest wicket-taker in this tournament so far.
After a slow start in the first two games, where he managed just one wicket, Manvanth stepped up big time, picking up a 3+ wicket haul in the next four games.
Lavish Kaushal (Bengaluru Blasters)
It is hard to think about good performances from the last week without mentioning Lavish Kaushal, the left-arm pacer who scalped the best figures thus far in the tournament (5/17). The left-arm seamer followed it up with a 2/10 in the next game against Mysore Warriors, capping off an amazing week on a personal level.
Smaran R (Gulbarga Mystics)
Smaran R has had a breakout performance this season. He has scored 214 runs in six innings at a healthy average of 53.5. He scored his first-ever ton in the Maharaja trophy, scoring 104* against Mysore Warriors. He has managed to maintain his consistency, as he scored a 40* and 52 in the previous two innings.
Duds of the season so far
Mayank Agarwal (Bengaluru Blasters)
Karnataka stalwart Mayank Agarwal has not had a smooth season so far. The veteran right-hander has been excellent as captain, and his side, Bengaluru Blasters, is at the top of the point table. But as an opening batter, Agarwal's scores read 47*, 1, 42, 0, 0 and 54, showcasing inconsistency. He will be expected to perform at his best in the remaining games and play a major role in the playoffs.
Mohammed Taha (Hubli Tigers)
Hubli Tigers' destructive opener, Mohammed Taha, has had a bad season with the bat. The aggressive batter has a strike rate of 223. But, he has failed to capitalise on those starts and convert it into big scores resulting in him averaging 16.9 and scoring just 118 runs in seven innings.
Shreyas Gopal (Mangaluru Dragons)
Under Shreyas Gopal's leadership, the Dragons are at the bottom of the points table with just one win in seven games. With the ball, the legspinner has managed just five wickets in seven games, showcasing an inability to take wickets in the middle overs. Being one of the most expensive players, Shreyas has not lived up to the price.
Vasuki Koushik (Shivamogga Lions)
As the leader of the attack, he has been economical but has not picked up enough wickets. He has an economy of 6.4 but has only taken five wickets in eight innings. He needs to step up in the remaining two games and get early breakthroughs if the Lions see themselves in the playoffs.
If you’ve not downloaded Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
