Lucknow Super Giants recorded the second-highest IPL total of all time when they netted 257 points against the Punjab Kings at Mohali on Friday. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 263 against Pune Warriors India in 2013 still remains the highest tally, but the fact that it took a team 10 years to come close to RCB’s huge tally is testament to what Chris Gayle and Co. had succeeded at the Chinnasamy Stadium. in 2013.
However, LSG’s onslaught on Friday was also special and if you take a closer look at teams’ scores this season, a clear pattern emerges – of teams scoring more points this edition compared to previous years.
IPL 2023: Orange Cap Full list of hitters with the most runs, Check here
LSG kept the record holders at work until late and apart from the second highest team total, one of the records created by the current IPL season with the match at Mohali was the highest number ( 20) of more than 200 scores. IPL 2023 surpassed IPL 2022 in which more than 18 scores of 200 were recorded.
But even before the 38e match was played, Virat Kohli and Faf Du Plessis; Ajinkya Rahane and Devon Conway; Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler; and Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer – all these hitters had taken the already booming Indian Premier League to a new height.
The current season has seen the highest average scores for the first innings as well as the second innings. The average first set score after 34 games was 179, seven more than the second-best of 2018.
Likewise, the average second set score after 34 games was 165, six more than the second-best in, again, 2018.
The only aspect in which 2018 inches ahead of 2023 is successful pursuits. While 2018 saw 166 runs as the average goal successfully pursued, 2023 trails by one run at 165. However, with a few more games, the 2023 season has every chance of overtaking the 2018 tournament.
But what would you attribute such high scores to – a more aggressive batting style, predictable, below-average bowling, or batter-friendly pitches?
Although these factors cannot be quantified, the scoring trend throughout the 20 overs can be quantified. The average first-set power play score – 49 – is the second highest this season, one point behind the average score of 50 in 2018. The average second-set score of 48 is the fourth highest. It shows that the hitters have nailed their power play – more so in the early innings.
But the phase of the game, where hitters have been most dominant this season, is the middle phase. Teams averaged 72 runs in overs 7-15 across both innings and that tally is second only to other seasons. The average score for the first set is two points behind the 74 of 2018. The score for the second set is tied for the lead with the 72 of 2022.
Fatalities this season have not been up to snuff. The first innings average in overs 16-20 was 50, which ranks fifth across the seasons. But the stat that is completely against the current trend is the average score of deaths in the second round – 37. This is the lowest average of deaths among all seasons.
While a few odd games didn’t see the end of the game, several other chases were marred by a very inept approach to the chase. LSG’s batting against GT, which failed to chase 35 in the last six overs, is the best example of this.
While we’re talking about pitches and playing conditions, a few stadiums are major contributors to the aforementioned trend.
The average first leg score at Wankhede (185), Eden Gardens (222) and Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (179) is the highest on the site. Chinnaswamy Stadium (194) and Chepauk (175) follow with the second-best first-run average score at the venue. The only stadiums that are far behind on the list are Sawai Mansingh Stadium (154) with the sixth highest average score, and Arun Jaitley Stadium (154) being eleventh on the list from previous seasons.
Another reason for the high scores could be the absence of some of the deadly bowlers including Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. Injuries to Jofra Archer and Mark Wood only add to the list.
IPL Points Table 2023: Check Team Ranking, Team Points, Wins, Losses & Orange Cap, Purple Cap
While the current season has already broken the records of previous seasons midway through, we can only expect that by the end of the season, the crackers will be stronger and brighter, the stag- flywheel will soar higher and crowds will make it more colorful.
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