IPL 2019: 5 strategic masterstrokes of the season

#2 Manish Pandey at number three

Manish Pandey found his form back when promoted to number three (Pic courtesy - BCCI/iplt20.com)

Manish Pandey looked like a pale shadow of himself after donning the SRH jersey in 2018. He was dropped towards the end of last season, but this year saw him getting dropped mid-way after a few poor performances at number four or below.

As the tournament progressed and Jonny Bairstow got ready to leave for national duties, the management wanted their experienced campaigner to step up to the occasion. They sent Pandey in at number three at Chepauk, and his counter-attacking 83* helped SRH put up a decent total.

There was no looking back for Pandey after that. He scored two half-centuries in the next three innings, including a last-ball six to take the game to a Super Over against MI. He found his mojo back as soon as he was promoted to three, displaying his stroke play and consistency.

Pandey should be the number three for SRH in the next season right from the start.

#1 Steven Smith as the skipper of Rajasthan Royals

Steven Smith was handed over the captaincy mid-way through the tournament (Pic courtesy - BCCI/iplt20.com)

Steven Smith being handed over the captaincy mid-way through the tournament brought the Rajasthan Royals back into contention for the playoffs.

After losing a number of close games and not being at his best with the bat, Ajinkya Rahane was released from captaincy duties. This move proved to be a masterstroke.

Rahane found form with the bat, scoring a hundred, and so did Smith. He gave Riyan Parag the much-needed opportunities, found a role for the experienced Stuart Binny, reincarnated the Jaydev Unadkat of the Rising Pune Supergiant and reinvented Varun Aaron as a new ball bowler.

All these things played a key role in putting Rajasthan back in contention for the playoffs, which they eventually missed out on by just one point.