IPL 2018: Top 5 batting performances of league stage matches.

In Cricket, as they say, shorter the format of the game, more favourable it is to batsmen. T20 Cricket-notwithstanding it’s metamorphosis over the years- largely remains a batsmen’s game to date.

Batsmen in Indian Premier League have lit up the evenings in cricket grounds and on TV screens for a month and a half season after season. Whether it’s a rampaging 158 by Brendon McCullum in the inaugural season or a scintillating 175 by Chris Gayle in 2013, IPL has produced some top-class batting performances over the years.

This year it was no different as the likes of KL Rahul and Jos Butler played some great knocks as the lone rangers for their sides, whereas someone like a Risabh Pant also came of age to make a strong case for a place in Indian team.

Here we take a look at the top five batting performances from the recently concluded league stage of the IPL 2018.

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#5 Jos Butler- 94* vs Mumbai Indians in Mumbai

Mumbai Indians were at the receiving end of quite a few special knocks and this one came from their former player as Jos Butler returned to torment his erstwhile side with a splendid 94 at Wankhede to guide the Royals home.

It was a boundary-laden innings from the Englishman as he hit 5 sixes and 9 fours as the Royals chased down the target quite comfortably. It proved to be crucial in the end as it also helped Rajasthan sneak through to the playoffs.

#4 KL Rahul- 94 vs Mumbai Indians in Mumbai

Rahul 's 94 was in vain as KXIP fell short of the target against MI

The Karnataka batsman had a real breakthrough season in the IPL as he scored 659 runs in 14 games which included 2 unbeaten knocks. Rahul averaged 54.91 and showed that you can play T20 with tight technique and proper cricketing shots.

One of his finest innings came against defending champions Mumbai Indians, where he played a lone hand, scoring 94 against a top attack. He almost guided the team to home, only to be dismissed in the end as Punjab fell agonisingly short.

#3 Ambati Rayudu- 100* vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Pune

Ton-up Rayudu guided CSK to an easy victory over SRH

Ambati Rayudu has been a vital cog in CSK’s batting department this IPL season. His best knock came against SRH in a game at their adopted home ground, Pune.

While chasing a score of 180, he took the charge to SRH bowlers as he smashed seven sixes and seven boundaries to complete a 62 ball unbeaten century which helped CSK win by 8 wickets. At the end of league stage games, he has 586 runs to his name from 14 matches.

#2 Chris Gayle -104* vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mohali

Gayle set the IPL on fire with a blistering 104*

The Universal boss went unsold in the auction before the KXIP franchise signed him up towards the end. The big-hitting batsman started the tournament in emphatic fashion as he silenced his critics with a century against the bowling might of SRH.

Gayle batted through the innings, wherein he played 63 balls, smashed 11 sixes on his way to an unbeaten 104 to take his team to 193 at the end of 20 overs. The century like most Gayle-storms eventually won his side the game.

#1 Rishabh Pant -128* vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in New Delhi

Risabh Pant's 128* took DD to 187 against SRH

Delhi Daredevils had a forgettable season and even a change of captaincy from the veteran Gautam Gambhir to the young Shreyas Iyer did not bring them good fortune. But one of the brightest sparks for the Delhi side was the young wicket-keeper batsman Risabh Pant who took his explosive batting to a notch higher this IPL season.

Playing against the formidable bowling attack of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pant came into bat when his team was reeling at 21/2 in four overs. The southpaw didn’t give in to pressure, played his natural game and went on to score a mammoth 128 including 15 fours and 7 sixes which saw DD post a total of 187 in the end. Pant, eventually finished the tournament with 684 runs and the record of the most runs by a wicket-keeper batsman in a season.