This is the eleventh in a series of features where we will be taking a detailed dive into the various factors that stood out during the course of the Indian T20 League 2020 season.
An exhilarating season of the Indian T20 League came to an expected end as Mumbai lifted the title. In what was an odd season, quite a few sensational records were broken including a world record number of Super Overs in a day.
“They say anything can and usually does happen in the Indian T20 League," said Lee.
"This season, however, I saw some records unfold that I wouldn't have thought possible! Shikhar Dhawan, who had never even scored a century in the league before this season, scored not one but two consecutive tons, which for me was absolutely unexpected. Then there was Mohammed Siraj's stunning display of swing bowling that earned him a record first double wicket-maiden in league history. No less impressive also was Varun Chakravarthy's 5-fer that absolutely shattered Delhi's middle order to bits.”
Here we take a glance at some unexpected records that tumbled in during the season.
Shikhar Dhawan's back-to-back tons
It's been 13 seasons since the Indian T20 League began, but not once had a batsman hit back-to-back centuries in the tournament. Oddly enough, it was Shikhar Dhawan, who never had hit a century in his Indian T20 League career before this season, who broke the record. He hit a 101* vs Chennai after hitting back-to-back half-centuries before that game and followed it up with a 106* vs Punjab. The Delhi opener had a stellar season and finished as the second-highest run-scorer.
Siraj's sensational spell
Often seen as a third-wheel in bowling attacks, Mohammed Siraj turned up with a dream spell against Kolkata. Siraj began his spell with a stunning double-wicket maiden. But he wasn't done there. He went on to take another wicket-maiden and ended the game with figures of three for 8 in his four overs. As many as 16 of his 24 deliveries were dot balls. Kolkata went on to record just 84 for 8 in their 20 overs, the lowest total in the season.
Varun Chakravarthy and a rare five-for
Varun Chakravarthy had a roller-coaster season where he went from being the third spinner in the team to the frontline spinner and made it to the Indian team for the Australia T20Is only to be ruled out of it later with an injury. The mystery spinner from Tamil Nadu was Kolkata's best bowler on display and picked up a rare five-wicket haul. Chakravarthy's five-fer against Delhi was the first and only five-wicket haul in the season. It was also the second time an uncapped Indian had taken a five-wicket haul in the league.
Nortje and the speed factor
Anrich Nortje was perhaps the find of the season for Delhi. A replacement player, the South African set the tournament alight with his pace and recorded the fastest delivery the league had seen (among recorded balls) when he delivered a 156kmph delivery against Rajasthan. Four of the fastest deliveries in the season were recorded by Nortje as he lit the season with his fiery pace.
Record viewership
The pandemic and the situation surrounding it had made the 13th edition of the league a massive mess before it began. This, however, took a massive u-turn during the season as we saw a record-breaking increase of 28% in the viewership in comparison to 2019. While an increase in the viewership was expected with there being no crowds in the ground and more free time for people in general, the massive spike in viewership was unprecedented.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @IndianT20League
