IPL 2024: Rating teams’ performances after first week

CSK vs GT. (Source -IPL)

The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) completed its first week on March 28 and in these seven days, cricket fans witnessed some blockbuster cricketing action. The defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are currently on the top of the points table with two off two wins while the five-time trophy winners Mumbai Indians (MI) are sitting on the bottom of the tally with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), yet to open their account.

The week also saw some intriguing encounters that raised the excitement level of the competition. With the conclusion of the first week, it’s essential to analyse the performances of the 10 sides. Talking more, let’s rate the performances of all sides in the tournament, thus far.

Here are the ratings of all 10 sides after the first week

10. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)- 4/10

LSG kicked off their tournament with a 20-run defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Lucknow’s pace attack looked indisciplined in their first game, which helped RR to score 193 runs in 20 overs. Chasing a mammoth target, LSG’s top-order batters Quinton de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal went back to the pavilion early. KL Rahul played a steady knock of 58 and Nicholas Pooran also hit a half-century, but that wasn’t enough for the Super Giants to cross the line.

9. Mumbai Indians (MI)- 4/10

MI haven’t performed upto the expectations in their initial two games. Against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, they faced a six-run defeat while in their next game, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) crushed them by 31 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Following two defeats, MI captain Hardik Pandya has come under fierce criticism due to his leadership decisions that impacted the team’s performance negatively.

8. Delhi Capitals (DC)- 4/10

Delhi Capitals (DC) are struggling to rack up two points on the points tally as they lost their both games in the previous week. In their opening contest against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mohali, they fell 20 runs short while following 175. Similarly, against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur, they couldn’t achieve 186 runs. In both games, DC looked out of rhythm in all departments of the game.

7. Gujarat Titans- 6/10

GT won their maiden game against MI by six runs, but their batting woes came out in the open. Wriddhiman Saha, David Miller, and Vijay Shankar failed to play impactful knocks against Mumbai, but the bowlers’ decent work escaped Gujarat from a defeat. After beating MI, GT clashed with CSK at Chepauk and got a 63-run hammering. The Yellow Army outclassed Shubman Gill and his boys in all departments of the game. GT’s key players Rashid Khan, Gill, Miller, and Umesh Yadav failed to be at their best against the defending champions.

6. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)- 6/10

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) looked ordinary against CSK in the inaugural game of the competition at the MA Chidambaram Stadium and faced a six-wicket loss. The visitor’s solid batting got exposed as some of their eminent names went back to the pavilion cheaply. In the bowling department, only Mayank Dagar looked decent. Following the loss against CSK, the Challengers tasted a four-wicket victory against PBKS, but their upper middle order again put up a disappointing show with their lacklustre performances.

5. Punjab Kings (PBKS)- 7/10

PBKS began their tournament with a four-wicket win over DC, riding on Sam Curran’s spunky 63-run innings off 47 deliveries. Shikhar Dhawan and his men failed to carry the winning momentum ahead as they couldn’t defend a competitive total of 176 against RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Harpreet Brar bowled an impressive spell for his side, picking up 2/13 figures in four overs.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)- 8/10

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) didn’t have a great start against SRH at the iconic Eden Gardens, but Phil Salt held his nerves and notched up a fine fifty. After Salt’s departure, Andre Russell took the matter into his own hands and smashed an unbeaten 64 off 25. Russell’s batting effort helped KKR post 208 runs on the board. Saving the massive total, Kolkata got exceptional numbers from their veteran spinner Sunil Narine, who recorded 1/19 figures. Young pacer Harshit Rana also impressed with the ball, claiming three crucial wickets with an impressive last over.

3. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)- 8/10

SRH have played an aggressive brand of cricket in the first week. They fell four runs short while chasing 209 against Kolkata but against MI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, they looked extremely fabulous and won the game by 31 runs. Batting first, the Orange Army scored 277 runs in 20 overs and surpassed RCB’s highest team total of 263, among many other records that were tumbled. Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen displayed their batting brilliance, while Pat Cummins also shone with the ball.

2. Rajasthan Royals (RR)- 9/10

Rajasthan stood at the second spot on the points table after winning their both games in the first week. Against LSG in Jaipur, when their openers returned to the pavilion early, Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag played their roles exceptionally and helped the Men in Pink score 184 runs in 20 overs. RR bowlers restricted Lucknow to 173 and accumulated two points with a 20-run win. RR continued their sensational show on their home ground against DC, with a 12-run victory. Parag again stepped up with his bat and smashed an unbeaten 84 off just 45.

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)- 9.5/10

CSK kicked off the tournament with their four-wicket triumph against RCB at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Riding on Mustafizur Rahman’s 4/29, the defending champions restricted the Royal Challengers to 173. The Men in Yellow pulled off the chase in 18.4 overs with the sensational batting efforts of Rachin Ravindra (37 off 15) and Shivam Dube (34 off 28). Mustafizur received the Player of the Match award for his stunning bowling.

Chennai’s next victim was GT, who faced a 63-run defeat. Ravindra (46 off 20) and Dube (51 off 23) again shone with their bats again and helped their team amass 206 runs in 20 overs. With the ball, Tushar Deshpande grabbed 2/21 figures in his four overs to stop the visitors on 143.