IPL Match 3: KXIP vs RR: Gamechanger - James Faulkner

James Faulkner

Rajasthan Royals and Australian cricketer James Faulkner is our pick of the ‘Gamechanger of the match’ for his all-round performance in the Kings XI Punjab-Rajasthan Royals match in the IPL.

Faulkner scored was the top scorer for his team with 46 runs and the highest wicket-taker as well with 3 scalps to his name.

The left-arm pacer came in to bat with his team struggling at 75/5 and helped them post a mammoth 162 on a green wicket. He partnered Deepak Hooda and hit three lusty blows into the stands and hit two fours off the 33 balls he faced. He narrowly missed out on his half-century in the final over of the innings when David Miller took the catch when he tried to smash Anureet Singh for another maximum.

The 24-year-old had a major say in the second innings as well. He sent three of his Australian teammates packing in his four overs. Glenn Maxwell was his first victim before he made it 3 by taking the wickets of Mitchell Johnson and George Bailey late in the innings to seal the win for his team.

A steal for Rajasthan Royals

He is capable of swinging the ball both ways and his capability to disguise the slower delivery makes him a potent weapon in limited-overs cricket. His exploits with the bat are well-known as he has a staggering ODI average of 42.84 and coming in at No. 7, it is no wonder he has been nicknamed, ‘The Finisher’. It is interesting to note that despite bowling with the left, he bats right-handed.

Faulkner was bought by Rajasthan Royals during the 2013 IPL for a mere $400,000 and has already proved how wise the IPL franchise were in buying the young Australian for such a pittance. Having spent time on the fringes of the now-defunct, Pune Warriors, in 2011 and today’s opponents, Kings XI Punjab, in 2012 before finding his feet with the Royals.

In his first season with the Royals, Faulkner couldn’t find his touch with the bat, but with the bowl in his hand, he was exceptional, returning with 28 wickets at an average of 15.25 to help his side reach the play-offs, where they lost against eventual champions, Mumbai Indians.

2014 saw him show his talent with the bat, smashing the bowlers out of the park on a consistent basis playing at a strike rate of 192.55 in the 13 matches he played. He ended the season with 181 runs at an average of 45.25. Despite a relatively underwhelming season with the ball, he managed to take 11 wickets.

With Faulkner starting this season well with both the bat and ball, who knows where he can take Rajasthan Royals this season.