IPL 2015: Highest Run-Scorers, Wicket-Takers, More After Rajasthan vs. Mumbai

A Steve Smith-inspired Rajasthan Royals made it three wins from their opening three matches in this season’s Indian Premier League, as they secured a comfortable seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.  

The margin of victory could have been even wider for the league leaders had it not been for an inspired counter-attack from Kieron Pollard and Corey Anderson. The duo’s 104-run stand helped Mumbai to a respectable score of 164 for five in their 20 overs.

But Ajinkya Rahane and Smith laid solid foundations for Rajasthan, and with the Aussie supremo carrying his bat until the end of the innings, there was little danger of anything other than a Royals win.

With some more inspired individual displays on show, here’s a look at how various individual classifications have been affected following this entertaining match, along with a recap of the day’s standout performers.

Top 10 Run-Scorers

Andy Brownbill/Associated Press

Player	Team	Runs
Steve Smith	Rajasthan	122
Chris Gayle	Bangalore	117
Gautam Gambhir	Kolkata	115
David Warner	Hyderabad	110
Corey Anderson	Mumbai	110
Brendon McCullum	Chennai	104
Rohit Sharma	Mumbai	98
Deepak Hooda	Rajasthan	97
Ajinkya Rahane	Rajasthan	93
Kieron Pollard	Mumbai	90

 All statistics via ESPNcricinfo.

Top 10 Averages

Rob Griffith/Associated Press

Player	Team	Average
Brendon McCullum	Chennai	104.00
George Bailey	Punjab	85.00
Shikhar Dhawan	Hyderabad	76.00
Harbhajan Singh	Mumbai	65.00
Steve Smith	Rajasthan	61.00
Corey Anderson	Mumbai	60.00
Chris Gayle	Bangalore	58.50
Gautam Gambhir	Kolkata	57.50
Suryakumar Yadav	Kolkata	57.00
Corey Anderson	Mumbai	55.00

All statistics via ESPNcricinfo.

Top 10 Strike Rates

Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press

Player	Team	Runs	SR
Harbhajan Singh	Mumbai	64	266.66
Andre Russell	Kolkata	41	241.17
Abu Nechim	Bangalore	9	225.00
Deepak Hooda	Rajasthan	97	220.45
Varun Aaron	Bangalore	6	200.00
Mohit Sharma	Chennai	2	200.00
Suryakumar Yadav	Kolkata	57	196.55
Angelo Mathews	Delhi	27	192.85
Harshal Patel	Bangalore	11	183.33
AB de Villiers	Bangalore	74	180.48

All statistics via ESPNcricinfo.

Top 10 Wicket-Takers

Rob Griffith/Associated Press

Player	Team	Wickets
Imran Tahir	Delhi	5
Anureet Singh	Punjab	5
Dwayne Bravo	Chennai	4
Mitchell Johnson	Punjab	4
Trent Boult	Hyderabad	4
Ashish Nehra	Chennai	3
James Faulkner	Rajasthan	3
Nathan Coulter-Nile	Delhi	3
Morne Morkel	Kolkata	3
Mohit Sharma	Chennai	3

All statistics via ESPNcricinfo.     

Top 10 Bowling Figures

Rick Rycroft/Associated Press

Player	Team	Runs	Wickets
Imran Tahir	Delhi	28	4
Anureet Singh	Punjab	23	3
Ashish Nehra	Chennai	25	3
James Faulkner	Rajasthan	26	3
Nathan Coulter-Nile	Delhi	30	3
Trent Boult	Hyderabad	36	3
Morne Morkel	Kolkata	18	2
Harbhajan Singh	Mumbai	20	2
Mitchell Johnson	Punjab	23	2
Dwayne Bravo	Chennai	25	2

All statistics via ESPNcricinfo.       

Top 10 Economy Rates

A.M. Ahad/Associated Press

Player	Team	Runs	Wickets	Econ
Sandeep Sharma	Punjab	19	1	3.87
Deepak Hooda	Rajasthan	23	0	4.60
Stuart Binny	Rajasthan	23	1	5.75
Ravichandran Ashwin	Chennai	47	2	5.87
Domnic Joseph	Delhi	18	1	6.00
Pravin Tambe	Rajasthan	58	2	6.44
Amit Mishra	Delhi	53	3	6.62
Morne Morkel	Kolkata	53	3	6.62
Sunil Narine	Kolkata	54	0	6.75
Imran Tahir	Delhi	55	5	6.87

All statistics via ESPNcricinfo.

Standout Performers

A.M. Ahad/Associated Press

Kieron Pollard Salvages Mumbai Cause

After Aaron Finch was forced to retire hurt and Mumbai lost a flurry of early wickets, Kieron Pollard and Corey Anderson had a massive rebuilding job on their hands. While the latter of the duo played well for his 50, it was the former that lit up the Ahmedabad venue with some remarkable late hitting.

Pollard smashed 70 off of just 34 balls for his team, hauling the Indians off of their knees and towards a competitive total of 164 for five. Here’s a closer examination of how the West Indies star played, courtesy of Freddie Wilde of ESPNcricinfo:

"

Kieron Pollard: • • • • 1 • 4 1 6 • • 1 1 • 4 1 4 1 4 6 • 4 • 6 2 1 2 1 6 4 4 6 • W 70 (34). #IPL #RRvMI #RR #MI

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) April 14, 2015"

What made the knock extra special was the situation in which Mumbai found themselves when Pollard strode out to the crease.

After losing Unmukt Chand in the 10th over, the Indians were reeling on 45 for three and seemingly staring down the barrel of another defeat. But a 104-run partnership between Pollard and Anderson breathed life back into their cause.

As noted by CricBuzz, given the circumstances, it was a remarkable effort from Pollard:

"

28-ball 50 for Kieron Pollard. He was under the pump before the start of this match. Big innings in a crunch situation #IPL #RRvMI

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 14, 2015"

In a tournament bristling with big-hitting players, there are few who can hit the ball quite as hard and quite as far as Pollard once he starts connecting cleanly. If he can preserve these kinds of levels throughout the remainder of the tournament, Mumbai will be a force to be reckoned with as they get settled into this competition.

Steve Smith Helps Rajasthan Home

While the IPL is loved around the world for the dynamic action that’s on show game after game, you don’t have to be a huge hitter to impress in this particular format. It’s something Steve Smith showcased in spades here as his excellent unbeaten 79 saw Rajasthan home against the Mumbai Indians.

Thanks to the Australian superstar, the Royals never looked flustered as they sought to hunt down the Indians’ total. He played with a control and composure early on and, despite losing a couple of key partners throughout the innings, accelerated with assurance in the latter stages.

Alt Cricket had high praise for the Rajasthan skipper:

"

World-class knock from Steve Smith. Always had a tricky chase under control, a masterclass in T20 temperament. #whaddaplaya! #ipl

— Alt Cricket (@AltCricket) April 14, 2015"

It was an innings bristling with the confidence of a world-class talent. There were no slogs, no rash swipes at the ball and no chances yielded to the Mumbai bowlers. While the scores were pretty tight at one stage, with Smith at the crease, there was an irrepressible sense that Rajasthan would go on and make it three wins from three.

As noted by cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, Smith didn't have to smash a clutch of sixes to be effective for his team:

"

The great beauty of this innings by Steve Smith: when he wasn't getting boundaries, the scoreboard was moving with 1s & 2s

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 14, 2015"

The Aussie is captaining this side in the absence of Shane Watson, and he’s a player who seems to relish responsibility, whether that be leading the team or being thrust into a ferocious chase.

Either way, with high pressure clashes set to come for this Rajasthan team, having a player who can stay eminently cool in the heat of battle will put them in great shape.