IPL 2016 Weekly Roundup: Week 3

As was anticipated, the third week of the IPL 2016 lived up to the hype and produced some highly interesting moments and some exhilarating matches. Here, we look at some of the talking points of the tournament that occurred in its third week. The Morris and Pollard massacre: Chris Morris. (Photo Source: BCCI) The IPL always gives us some kocks where the batsman goes absolutely berserk. We got two in the last week when Delhi Daredevils’ Chris Morris and Keiron Pollard of Mumbai Indians absolutely ripped the opposition’s bowling to smithereens with their brutal massacre. Morris led a sensational charge when his team was down and out against Gujarat and scored a belligerent 82 off 32 balls, but unfortunately, could not finish the game for his team. Pollard, on the other hand, played a savage innings of 51 from 17 balls against Kolkata and took his team comfortably home. Mumbai Indians climb up: Mumbai: Mumbai Indians celebrate fall of a wicket during an IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 28, 2016. (Photo Source: Sandeep Mahankal/IANS) After yet again beginning with a stutter, the Mumbai Indians have picked themselves up brilliantly and are now second in the points table with five wins from nine games. They beat Punjab, Kolkata and Pune in the last week and have hence climbed up the ladder rapidly. Mumbai now seem to have a settled 11 with a captain in imperious touch. Other teams better watch out. Pune’s mess escalates: Pune: MS Dhoni of Rising Pune Supergiants in action during an IPL match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Kolkata Knight Riders at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on April 24, 2016. (Photo Source: Nitin Lawate/IANS)â Pune have not been able to find a settled combination; their batting seems too one-dimensional and bowling lacks any sting. They are languishing towards the end of the points table with just two victories from eight games. Then they have been plagued with injury troubles to their key players: Kevin Pietersen, Faf Du Plesis and Mitchell Marsh had been ruled out of the tourney with injuries. And now, Steven Smith too has been added to the list as the Australian batsman is out of the championship due to a wrist injury. Smith was Pune’s vital cog and the biggest hope they had of staging a turnaround. With his ouster, it seems, Pune’s journey has been completely derailed this season. RCB and that déjà vu factor: Hyderabad: Royal Challengers Bangalore celebrate fall of a wicket during an IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on April 30, 2016. (Photo Source: IANS) From the past several seasons, Bangalore has been seen as the most dangerous team what with the likes of Chris Gayle, Ab de Villiers and Virat Kohli, among others, dotting their batting. But somehow they never seem to make a genuine mark on the tournament. This year too, with the inclusion of Shane Watson, they were being touted as the most feared side. However, with just two wins in six matches, Bangalore is yet again at the bottom of the table and one gets a feeling of déjà vu with them. Their bowling has let them horribly down and unless they find a solution soon, it may be too late for Bangalore. Punjab has a sliver of hope: Rajkot: Kings XI Punjab celebrate fall of a wicket during an IPL match between Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on May 1, 2016. (Photo Source: Surjeet Yadav/âIANS) Everything seemed to be lost yet again for Punjab this season. But they just might have a sliver of hope. After reliving David Miller of captaincy duties Punjab asked Murali Vijay to be at the helm. And in his first game itself, Vijay made a mark, helping in beating table toppers Gujarat comfortably by 23 runs. In Marcus Stoinis they have a good all-rounder in the team and if Axar Patel and Vijay too can continue the form they showed in the last match, then Punjab may just make a comeback yet. An IPL for the openers: Pune: Ajinkya Rahane of Rising Pune Supergiants celebrates his half century during an IPL match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on April 29, 2016. (Photo Source: Nitin Lawate/IANS) This IPL has undoubtedly been great for the openers. Out of the top six scorers in the tournament, five have been openers. More than that, though, this season we have seen the openers not just setting the stage for the others but actually making match-defining contributions. David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and even Gautam Gambhir have been regularly playing long innings for their teams which, on most occasions, alters the game in their favour. Lack of new Indian faces: Bengaluru: Karun Nair of Delhi Daredevils celebrates his half century during an IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, on April 17, 2016. (Photo Source: IANS) The IPL takes pride in the fact that it helps hone and nurture new and upcoming talent. However, except for a Krunal Pandya here or a Shivil Kaushik there, there seems to be a lack of Indian talent making its mark in the season. It is the known faces again which are doing the job for their teams and the IPL really needs some defining performances from some young and unknown Indian player – akin to the way Shreyas Iyer did last year. The IPL has finally come to life: Dwayne Bravo. (Photo Source: BCCI) Five teams fighting tooth and nail to get in the top four. Tense finishes. Brutal hitting that takes your breath away. The IPL could not have asked for more in its third week; especially having the sedate start it did. Almost all matches have been tight and the results not a certainty until towards the end. And now, with the points table being so cluttered, we should get more viciously fought matches in the coming days.