IPL 2016 – 501 runs, IPL 2017 – 479 runs, IPL 2018 – 497 runs, IPL 2019 – 521 runs. Have a look at these batting stats and you’ll realise that we’re talking about one of the most consistent players in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was one of the few batsmen to have 5,000+ IPL career runs at the time, joining an elite group including Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and David Warner!
We’re talking about the one and only ‘Gabbar’ Shikhar Dhawan. Having begun his IPL career for Delhi, the southpaw moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad for a few years before returning to Delhi Capitals in IPL 2019. In IPL 2020, he started slow but picked up soon and left everyone else behind. After a few poor scores, Dhawan scored two consecutive fifties followed by two consecutive hundreds.
The first of these hundreds came just a few days back on 17 Oct against Chennai Super Kings, bringing up his maiden IPL century even though he’s been one of the highest scorers in this competition. There was form, there was momentum, there was hunger as he moved into Match 38 of IPL 2020, against Kings XI Punjab in Dubai on 20 October.
Winning the toss and batting first, Dhawan lost his opening partner Prithvi Shaw early but nothing could stop him as he paced his inning perfectly, ending with 106(61)* and creating history as he became the first player in the IPL to score consecutive centuries and in both cases, he carried his bat through the innings. He scored a huge percentage of the team’s runs as DC ended with 164/5 in their quota of 20 overs.
SEE ALSO: List of bookmakers accepting bets from India
Wickets kept tumbling at the other end as the next best score in the team was 14, scored by captain Shreyas Iyer as well as wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. Dhawan was full of confidence and he went on to hit 12 fours and 3 sixes in this innings, also crossing 400 runs for the season as he did so. From there, it was the turn of the bowlers to defend this total and help Delhi get yet another victory in this already successful IPL 2020 campaign.
Having got Punjab to 56/3 early on in the chase, Delhi would’ve fancied their chances but Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell paired for 69 runs for the 4th wicket and from there, it was seeming to be an easy chase for KXIP. It did seem to be a tight finish but eventually, James Neesham smashed the winning shot off the last ball of the 19th over to record a 5-wicket win for Punjab.
It was a brilliant effort from Gabbar but sadly, his bowlers weren’t the best on the day as Delhi lost and his century went in vain. However, those on the judging panel realised what a fabulous contribution it was from Dhawan for Delhi that evening and he was adjudged the Man of the Match, for the second consecutive game! This was his second entry into the list of all-time IPL centuries.
SEE ALSO: List of fantasy sports websites in India
“The boys have been playing well in other games. Today I had to take the responsibility on myself. I really enjoyed it today. It is good that I am scoring consistently so you carry it into the next games. We are going to have a discussion and see where we can improve. Of course it is going to be a learning. This is not going to put us down. Just take our lessons, and come back stronger,” he said at the presentation ceremony.
Delhi was already having a brilliant season in IPL 2020 and with Dhawan striking form towards the business end of the season, they’re looking like the team to beat right now. For more updates on the top cricketing stories from across the world, make sure you stay tuned to ReadScoops.com…
Register on 10Cric and get a whopping INR 10,000 first deposit bonus
