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The recently concluded IPL 2024 saw some fantastic performances from players across franchises. Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting star Virat Kohli yet again proved why he is a great all-format cricketer. The 35-year-old won the Orange Cap for clobbering 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69, with one hundred and five fifties.
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had another excellent season with the willow. While CSK fell short of making the playoffs, Gaikwad finished as the second-leading run-getter, smashing 583 runs in 14 innings at an average of 53 and a strike rate of 141.16, with one hundred and four fifties.
Looking at the bowlers, Punjab Kings pacer Harshal Patel won the Purple Cap for the second time. He claimed 24 scalps in 14 innings at an average of 19.87. Kolkata Knight Riders leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy (21) and Mumbai Indians lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah (20) also excelled.
While most of the above players were expected to do well, IPL 2024 also saw impressive performances from some unexpected names. On that note, here's presenting five of the biggest surprise packages from IPL 2024.
#1 Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Abhishek Sharma made his IPL debut in the 2018 season and had shown glimpses of brilliance in the past few editions. The left-hander scored over 400 runs in the 2022 season at a strike rate of 133.13, with two half-centuries.
In IPL 2024, though, fans saw a totally different Abhishek. Along with Travis Head, he was the face of SRH's ultra-aggressive approach with the bat. He clobbered 484 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.26 and a sensational strike rate of 204.21, with three half-centuries.
If we look back at some of his performances in the league stage, he thumped 63 off 23 against Mumbai Indians, 37 off 12 against Chennai Super Kings, 46 off 12 against Delhi Capitals, 89* off 30 against Lucknow Super Giants and 66 off 28 against Punjab Kings.
#2 Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals)
Jake Fraser-McGurk is a highly rated talent in Australia, but not many would have bet on him delivering in the manner that he did not Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. While DC failed to make the playoffs, Fraser-McGurk gave fans plenty to cheer about with his exceptional hitting.
In nine innings, the 22-year-old smacked 330 runs at an average of 36.66 and an extraordinary strike rate of 234.04, with four half-centuries.
Fraser-McGurk made his IPL debut with a stunning 55 of 35 against LSG. He slammed 84 off only 27 against MI in a brutal display of big-hitting and smashed 50 off 20 in a match against Rajasthan Royals.
Thanks to his fantastic showing in IPL 2024, Fraser-McGurk was added to Australia's T20 World Cup 2024 squad as a travelling reserve.
#3 Harshit Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders)
While the likes of Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc Andre Russell and Varun Chakravarthy got plenty of credit for Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL 2024 triumph, Harshit Rana also played a key role in KKR's success. He ably supported Starc during the team's memorable campaign. In fact, Harshit was among the wickets even when Starc was struggling to find his rhythm.
In 11 innings, the right-arm fast bowler claimed 19 wickets at an average of 20.15 and an economy rate of 9.08. He was expensive at times but rarely failed to make an impact. The 22-year-old was among the wickets in most of the matches he played in IPL 2024.
Harshit picked up 2-28 against DC, 3-24 against LSG and 2-34 against MI. He also played a crucial role in the final against SRH, getting the major scalps of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen.
#4 Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals)
Tristan Stubbs made his IPL debut in the 2022 season. He played two matches each in the 2022 and 2023 editions but didn't get an opportunity to make much of an impact. Delhi Capitals gave their full backing to the South African for the IPL 2024 season and the youngster did not disappoint.
Highly rated by many former Proteas legends, the 23-year-old showed exactly what he's capable of with the bat in the recently concluded IPL season. He slammed 378 runs in 13 innings at an average of 54 and a strike rate of 190.90, with three half-centuries.
Stubbs smashed 44* off 23 & 41 off 20 against RR, 54 off 32 against KKR, 71* off 25 & 48* off 25 against MI and signed off with unbeaten 57 off 25 against LSG. Along with Fraser-McGurk, he carried the DC batting on his shoulders in what was a memorable IPL 2024 season for him.
#5 Yash Dayal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
If one has to pick out a redemption story of the season, it would be difficult to look beyond Yash Dayal.
Ridiculed after being clobbered for five consecutive sixes by KKR’s Rinku Singh, while representing Gujarat Titans during the 2023 season, the left-arm pacer was trolled when RCB purchased him for ₹5 crore at the IPL 2024 auction.
Dayal struggled in the initial few matches, but once he found his groove, the 26-year-old turned out to be RCB's most reliable bowler of the season. In 14 innings, he claimed 15 wickets at an average of 30.60 and an economy rate of 9.14.
While the left-armer came up with many impressive performances during IPL 2024, what stood out was, of course, his calmness under pressure, bowling against MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja in the must-win clash in Bengaluru.
