How time flies? It feels like yesterday when we were talking about Rajasthan’s young core. But we are past the halfway mark and the IPL table has slowly taken shape as well. Some teams are running clear of the rest, some in the opposite direction but there is no dearth in entertainment. Along the same lines, here are some of the key takeaways from IPL 2024 so far

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Rajasthan Well Clear of the IPL Pack

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The IPL is renowned to be one of the most competitive leagues in the world. But at the time of writing, Rajasthan is four points clear of Kolkata at the top of the IPL points table. While their bowlers have chipped in at times, it has been their batting unit that has stepped up more often than not. Leading the pack is surprisingly Riyan Parag with 318 runs and a price increase of over 30% in the Sixer Market. They have been rampant at home and although they dont play anymore games at the SMS Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan has set the tone for the rest of the IPL.

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The SRH Juggernaut is HERE!

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Talking about setting the tone, the Sunrisers of Hyderabad arent far off as well. They are arguably the most exciting team in the league right now with three 250+ scores this season. Led by Pat Cummins, Sunrisers have outbatted opponents with their aggressive batting approach. Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen have been sensational with the bat while Nitish Reddy and Abhishek Sharma are having career-years in the IPL. With Pat Cummins silencing the crowd with his bowling and captaincy, the signs are ominous for the rest of the IPL.

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New Year, Same Story for Bangalore and Punjab?

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Bangalore and Punjab have been on the receiving end of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s assaults. However, there is more to both RCB and PBKS’s woes. While Punjab has struggled to get going as a unit with the bat, RCB’s lack of bowling resources have let them down on almost every occasion. They are all but out of the running for a top-four finish and might as well build towards the next IPL cycle.

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The Reverse Impact of the Impact Player

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One of the biggest talking points of late is the impact player rule. The rule, for one, has allowed for teams to be more aggressive with the bat and leaving too little for bowlers. While this rule may have a say in the obnoxiously high scores we are seeing in the IPL, it isnt helping Team India’s case. The Impact Player rule has forced utility players to sit on the bench and has thrown more emphasis on outright bowlers and batters, leaving no need for a part-time bowling allrounder for example. Food for thought for the IPL next year, eh?

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That’s about the main takeaways from the IPL so far. The best part about it is that the IPL is just entering the meaty phase and its going to get even spicer in the Sixer Market. With pitches likely to slow down due to fatigue, will bowlers have a bigger say? Will Rajasthan continue its merry way? A lot of questions still to be answered in the next few weeks!

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