Superlative performer's; the Aged Warriors of IPL 8

Superlative performer’s; the Aged Warriors of IPL 8: As they say age is just a number. There can’t be a better example than the Indian Premier League (IPL) to justify that. Improved fitness levels and sophisticated training modules have ensured that player’s who would earlier be considered a burden to the side, are now playing an integral role in their respective teams. International retirement these days does not equate to total pack up for cricketers. Platforms like the IPL provide them the opportunity to show their worth and also guide the younger guys through the tough times. The current season also has many names in the late 30s and some in their 40s who are an asset to their sides: 1. Brad Hogg: Brad Hogg KKR. (Photo Source: BCCI) The old war horse went to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for just 50 lakhs. After Narine being reported again and out of action, Hogg stepped up and took the role of the lead spinner. Besides his bowling Hogg is also a decent fielder. Even at the age of 44 he is difficult to pick by most batsmen and still going strong in the IPL. The Chinaman has picked up 9 wickets in his 5 outings for the KKR thus far in the season and not just with the wickets, the pressure that he has build along with leggie Piyush Chawla has given KKR the advantage more often than not. 2. Ashish Nehra: Ashish Nehra CSK. (Photo Source: BCCI) The 36 year old India pacer has been a revelation this season. He is also the purple cap holder with 17 wickets in 10 games at an average of 15.35. His left arm angle and swing have been tough to negotiate. Nehra has been a central factor in the dominating performance of the Super Kings this season. His bowling comes as a surprise to many, but it was injuries that kept Nehra out of the team more often than his game. 3. Pravin Tambe: Pravin Tambe RR. (Photo: BCCI) 41 years young Tambe is a whole hearted cricketer. He believes in giving not 100 but 200% on the field. Having toiled for years in domestic cricket, Pravin Tambe has taken the opportunity of playing in the IPL with both hands. He has inspired enough confidence for the team management to consider him the lead spinner for Rajasthan Royals. The leggie has picked up 7 wickets in this IPL thus far and has 23 wickets in his Indian T20 league career of 25 matches. 4. Harbhajan Singh: Harbhajan Singh MI. (Photo Source: BCCI) The Indian great has often played the role of slowing down the rate by picking up crucial scalps. If the opposition gets off to a flying start, the skipper Rohit Sharma looks no further but to Bhajji. His guile and flight have given batters a hard time and has pretty much performed the spin bowling duties on his own for the Mumbai Indians. Harbhajan who is 34 now has accounted for 11 wickets in the 9 games this season so far along with it he has scored 102 runs for his team. 5. Zaheer Khan: Zaheer Khan DD. (Photo Source: BCCI) The 36 years’ Indian left-arm swing bowling legend was out of action for quite some time and couldn’t even play the starting games due to fitness issues. Delhi had earlier made it clear that his role was not limited as a player but extended to coaching duties. With him playing an active role on the field now, Daredevils would hope that Zaheer could bring about a reversal in their fortunes. In the 4 matches that he has played, in this edition more than the wickets that he has picked, Zak’s rhythm has looked really good and his sprint with the ball matches to the one that we have in our memories. 6. Chris Gayle: Chris Gayle RCB. (Photo Source: BCCI) The Jamaican Calypso king has played some blinders this season. Chris Gayle’s ability to win games single handedly is the X factor which he brings to the table. The six hitting powerhouse leads the chart when it comes to clearing the boundary. A 35 years young and half fit Gayle, is at par if not better to the youngsters on display in the IPL. He has scored 357 runs in IPL 2015 so far being a part of 8 matches, it includes one big hundred and 2 half’s and not to forget the mammoth rate at which he scores those runs is 160.08 way beyond the ones who are considered to be good hitter’s. 7. Brendon McCullum: Brendon McCullum CSK. (Photo Source: BCCI) The blazing CSK opener at 33 is a dynamite on the field. Putting his body on the line is what distinguishes him from others. It was McCullum who gave the IPL a grand opening with his 158* run knock in 2008. He has the ability to dismantle the greatest of attacks with his outrageous stroke play. Baz has given CSK some of the most amazing starts this season and has stroked 315 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 174.03, also has a hundred and a fifty under his belt so far in the season.

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Superlative performer&#039;s; the Aged Warriors of IPL 8

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Superlative performer's; the Aged Warriors of IPL 8