22.03.2019 Author: C.NAMASIVAYAM
The perception of determining the fate of a T20 match by a Super Over, in the end, is a fascinating one. It is like watching a double climax in a superb movie. First, it is the excitement leading up to the super over followed by the Super Over itself. The Super Over rules is a better way of arriving at a just result than the bowl-out rules which was more like a lottery.There have been a total of 12 tied T20I matches in the past. 3 out of those 12 matches were decided by the bowl-out rules and 9 by the Super Over. In IPL, there have been 7 tied matches that were decided by the Super Over tiebreakers.
The team which has been involved in the most number of Super Overs tiebreakers is Rajasthan Royals. They have been involved in 3 Super Over matches and have won 2 of them.
Main traits of a Super Over Bowler
# The bowler bowling the Super Over should be an attacking bowler. If he manages to pick up 2 wickets, it is game over for the opponents.# At the same time, he should bowl flat and should not allow batsmen to get under him.
# The bowler should be currently in form and oozing confidence.
On that note, let us have a look at the best Super Over bowler for each Franchisee in IPL 2019.
#1. Imran Tahir (CSK)
More Imran Tahir is fresh from bowling a Super Over in the first T20I against Sri Lanka at Capetown on March 19, 2019. Needing to defend 15 runs, Tahir gave away just 4 runs bowling to big-hitter Thisara Perera. With his flatter trajectory, he never allowed Perera to get under the ball to loft him.For CSK, Dwayne Bravo would have been the obvious choice, but of late he has been more expensive at the death and his wicket-taking ability too has diminished. Comparatively, Tahir could surprise the opposition with a couple of wickets in the Super over which could bring a hasty end to the innings. Hence, Imran Tahir is the better option for CSK.
#2. Sunil Narine (KKR)
Sunil Narine would be the apparent choice for KKR to bowl the Super Over. Though KKR have other options like Andre Russel and Kuldeep Yadav, still Sunil Narine is the proven quality as far as Super Over is concerned.He has relished on bowling in the Super over in the past. In the CPL in 2014, playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors, Narine had bowled a Super Over maiden against Red Steel.
Narine makes KKR's choice a straight forward one.
#3. Jaydev Unadkat (RR)
Rajasthan Royals have Jofra Archer, Oshane Thomas and Ben Stokes as the options. But after what happened to Ben Stokes at Eden Gardens in ICC T20I World Cup 2016 final, the skipper might not prefer to go with him. On the other hand, both Jofra Archer and Oshane Thomas are relatively inexperienced. Hence, the best choice would be the Indian left-arm fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat.With his natural outside the off-stump angle to right-handers, Unadkat is a difficult proposition to be picked up for big shots. Besides, he is an effective wicket-taking bowler in the Super Over.
#4. Trent Boult (Delhi Capitals)
The Delhi Capitals have the option of Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada. But the best option would be New Zealand's strike bowler, Trent Boult.While Chris Morris is not a safe bet, Rabada with his extra pace could travel the distance in a Super Over. On the other hand, Trent Boult is a more controlled strike bowler and hence a better choice.
#5. Andrew Tye (Kings XI Punjab)
The Kings XI Punjab have options like Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sam Curran and their skipper Ravi Ashwin. But deploying the spinners in the Super Over has its own risk associated with it unless the bowler is of Sunil Narine's calibre. If the batsmen could connect a couple of blows against a spinner, it would become a costly experiment.Ashwin had a bitter experience in the Champions League in 2010 at Port Elizabeth when he conceded 23 runs in the Super Over against Victoria Bushrangers.
For Kings XI, the safest choice would be the Australian bowler Andrew Tye. He is a specialist death bowler like a Dwayne Bravo who could be a force to reckon with in a Super Over with his accurate yorkers and slower deliveries.
Andrew Tye is the man for Kings XI Punjab if it comes to that.
#6. Tim Southee (RCB)
RCB has the likes of Mohammad Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl the Super Over. However, the more wise option would be Tim Southee. He has a lot of experience bowling at the death.Southee had bowled one of the best Super Overs ever bowled in a T20I at Christchurch against Australia in 2010. He gave away 6 runs only in that over to take New Zealand to victory in the tiebreaker.
Compared to Southee, Siraj, Chahal and even Umesh Yadav are expensive options. Southee would be the better bet to bowl the Super Over for RCB.
#7. Jasprit Bumrah (MI)
From times immemorial, Lasith Malinga has been the automatic choice to bowl the Super Over for whichever team he is representing. However, times have changed now and the pupil has taken over from the master.Jasprit Bumrah could do no wrong in the death overs. He could deliver his yorkers at will and could hit timber more often than not. With his awkward action and express pace, Bumrah is a threat to the wicket and the limbs of the batsmen. He has been in such tight situations innumerable times and every time he has come good.
Bumrah would be the first choice to bowl the Super Over for any team in the World, leave alone for Mumbai Indians.
#8. Rashid Khan (SRH)
The Sunrisers Hyderabad have bowlers like Billy Stanlake and Shakib Al Hasan to bowl the Super Over. However, the real race would be between India's medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Afghanistan's Rashid Khan. In fact, no other IPL team has two equally good options to bowl the Super Over. SRH has the luxury of two superb bowlers who could bowl the Super Over.For Sunrisers, both Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan are excellent choices. Rashid Khan being a spinner is expected to be a more controlled bowler who is not expected to bowl the wides. On the other hand, Bhuvi has the ability to pin down batsmen with his immaculate yorkers.