World Cup 2019: 4 players who failed in IPL but are doing well in the World Cup

The life of a modern-day cricketer is extremely hectic. It is not just about representing your nation and doing occasional media shoots. With the advent of franchise-based T20-cricket, a cricketer of this era is busy throughout the year with games around the year.

It can be understood that maintaining the same form in every tournament becomes difficult. Hence, we often find players not doing well in one tournament, and then enjoying a purple patch in another tournament just a month or two later. When players perform well for their T20 franchises but not for their country, fans often complain about a lack of commitment.

This year, we had both the Indian Premier League and ICC Cricket World Cup taking place in a space of less than a month. Hence, as expected, some players who had a great IPL are failing to get their rhythm in the World Cup, and the vice versa is also prevalent.

There are some players who had a horrific run in the IPL but are topping the charts in the World Cup. Let us have a look at four such players.

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#4 Rohit Sharma – India

Rohit Sharma

The Indian vice-captain, Rohit Sharma is having a great World Cup. He has scored 440 runs in the tournament so far at an average of 88. The Mumbaikar has also maintained a healthy strike rate of 93. He is currently India’s most dependable batsman by a country mile, and also sixth in the leading run-scorers’ list.

But things were not so bright a few weeks back for Rohit. Though his side, Mumbai Indians, won the IPL, their skipper had a very ordinary campaign. He could only accumulate 405 runs in 15 games at an average of 28, which is something not expected from a player of his caliber.

In 15 games, he scored only two half-centuries and failed to produce a ton. He has already struck 53 boundaries in this World Cup, as compared to 62 in IPL 2019. Fortunately for the Indian fans, he has found his rhythm back at the right time.

#3 Mujeeb Ur Rahman – Afghanistan

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the find of the 2018 edition of IPL, where he picked up 14 wickets in 11 games. He also maintained an astonishing economy rate of under 7 runs per over. But things changed in IPL 2019, and the youngster could only pick up 3 wickets in the five games he featured in.

His 2018 bowling strike rate of 17 reached 38 just a year later. His economy rate crossed 10 runs per over and was subsequently dropped from the team on the back of his poor showing.

However, the youngster has looked in phenomenal form in the World Cup. Though his team is having a disastrous campaign, the 18-year-old has picked up 7 wickets from six games. He has also maintained an impressive economy rate of just over four runs per over.

Currently, he is Afghanistan’s third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, above renowned names like Rashid Khan and Hamid Hassan.

#2 Ben Stokes – England

Ben Stokes

Going into the World Cup, England were considered as the favourites by many pundits. Though the Three Lions have not quite lived up to the expectations yet, all-rounder Ben Stokes has certainly justified his reputation.

He had an IPL to forget, scoring just 123 runs at an average of 20. His numbers with the ball were even worse, taking just 6 wickets in nine games and conceding runs at an economy rate of over 11 runs per over.

However, in the ongoing World Cup, Ben Stokes has found his form. The New Zealand-born cricketer has scored 370 runs at an average of over 60, and a strike rate of nearly 100. He is currently England's second-highest and the tournament’s ninth-highest run-getter.

His bowling has improved too. He has picked up 6 wickets thus far and has conceded runs at an economy rate of under five runs per over. If England are to qualify for the semi-finals, Stokes must keep his good run of form going.

#1 Shakib Al Hasan – Bangladesh

Shakib Al Hasan

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan is a handy all-rounder and does his job diligently for whichever team he plays for. But this year’s IPL was an exception. In three games, the veteran only scored 9 runs. His bowling was not up to the mark either. The man from Jessore picked up only a couple of wickets.

What was more surprising was his economy rate of nearly nine runs per over, which is way higher than his IPL career economy rate of just above seven runs per over.

However, he has been of the most consistent performers of the World Cup. In six games, Al Hasan has scored 476 runs at an average of over 95 and nearly a run-a-ball strike rate. Not only is he Bangladesh’s highest run-scorer so far, but is also the fourth-highest run-getter in the tournament.

He has been equally good on the bowling front, picking up 10 wickets, which includes a brilliant fifer. He has also maintained a praiseworthy economy rate of under 6 runs per over.