It’s been an interesting week of watching IPL, especially from a batting perspective. The  essence of batsmanship, of course, lies in scoring runs — but the way you go about it has  proven quite challenging for some players and teams. 

All-out aggression, even in this format and competition, isn’t always the right answer. This  year has made that clearer than ever, perhaps even more so than last year. Success now  demands not just big shots, but a clever reading of conditions and match situations. And  that balance still has a vital place in this great game.  

Compared to last year, I’ve really enjoyed watching this season unfold — it’s been far more  challenging for the players, particularly from a batting point of view. 

It’s also felt like a much fairer contest for the bowlers, who’ve had more assistance from  the surfaces. The reintroduction of saliva on the ball has made a noticeable difference too,  helping it move more laterally through the air. 

Interestingly, we’re seeing low full tosses — usually dispatched for boundaries — now  becoming genuine wicket-taking deliveries. Not necessarily by design, but it’s creating  more opportunities for the bowlers and adding another layer to the contest. 

Overall, it’s been a much better contest so far. There’s still a fair way to go, of course — we’re just past the halfway mark of the group stages — but it’s been fascinating to watch  how teams have navigated through some really challenging situations. 

Focusing on RCB for a moment, they look like the real deal this time. Yes, they’re still  chasing that elusive first title — something we seem to mention every year — but this  season, they appear far more balanced and complete than in the past. They’ve added  

more depth this season — something I was initially concerned about. I wasn’t sure if their  middle order had the strength to carry them through tight situations, but they’ve proven up  to the task. 

Tim David has been a real powerhouse down the order, stepping up brilliantly at 6 or 7  during those crucial finishing phases. Their top order remains very strong, and Rajat Patidar  has brought a calm, authoritative presence as captain, further solidifying the team’s overall  balance.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been so smart. Against Delhi the other day, he was expensive in  his first two overs but absolutely outstanding in his last two — I think he took three wickets  for just eight runs at the death, which is a fabulous feat. Not to forget, Josh Hazlewood has  been exceptional as well, and Yash Dayal has stepped up impressively. And then, of  course, there’s Krunal Pandya.  

You can point to several standout individual performances, but you simply can’t overlook  the role Krunal has played. He’s already picked up around 13 wickets, and that’s been vital,  especially considering there were some concerns about their spin options heading into the  tournament. Krunal has been contributing with both the bat and the ball but particularly  with the ball, he has given them a real edge during those crucial middle overs. He is mixing  the pace well to outhink the batters. 

As I mentioned, RCB seem to be reading situations much better this season. They’ve had a  few struggles batting first at home, but overall, they’re learning and adapting — and I  believe they’ll only get stronger from here. 

Gujarat Times, at the same time, have been terrific. They’ve had a relatively quiet week, but  once again, they’ve shown exactly what successful sides do: identifying key moments,  managing the ebbs and flows of the game, navigating the tough phases, and making the  most of the resources available to them. They look like a very smart, well-drilled team. 

“Smart” and “clever” are the two words I keep coming back to — because that’s exactly  what it takes to succeed in this tournament this year. Not every pitch is a flat belter, and  not every ball is flying out of the park. 

Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, have found their mojo again, and that’s coincided with Jasprit  Bumrah’s return. Trent Boult has also been outstanding with the new ball and is hitting his  stride at the death. Their batting, too, seems to be taking care of itself. The only thing I’d  say is that Mumbai could still get a bit more out of Tilak Varma — I feel there’s untapped  potential there. But for now, the batting is firing nicely. 

Will Jacks has been given an interesting, flexible role: he’s used early in the powerplay if  needed, within the first few overs, otherwise he drops down the order. That flexibility has  been a real asset. Right now, Mumbai look like the team to beat.  

As for Punjab Kings, they’ll have a say in the race for the top four — they’re just outside it  now but still very much in contention. Overall, they do look like a strong side.

As for Lucknow Super Giants, I think it’s going to be tough for them from here. In fairness,  they’ve done well to notch up five wins so far. But they’re facing a challenge I’ve written  about before — when a captain is under pressure, it can start to affect the dressing room  atmosphere. 

Let’s be honest, Rishabh Pant has had a tournament to forget with the bat, and that kind of  personal struggle can create a bit more unease and anxiety within the squad. It’s never  easy when your captain is carrying that much pressure. On a positive note, it’s great to see  Mayank Yadav back in action. 

LSG have been trying to find the right spot for him in the lineup since his return from injury.  It’s hard to write them off completely, though, because with players like Mitch Marsh,  Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran in that top three, any one of them has the potential to  turn a game on its head. So, they can’t be ruled out just yet, but they’ll need to make  changes quickly if they’re to stay in the hunt. 

As for Sunrisers Hyderabad, they’ve just had a little break, and I think that’s probably a  good thing. A chance to step back, reassess, and rethink their approach. Given the squad  they have on paper, their performance has been disappointing so far — this tournament  has been a real underachievement for them. But if there’s any team that could string  together five wins to close out the group stage, it’s SRH. If they’re going to do it, now’s the  time. 

Sunrisers still have the quality personnel to make a push. I think the change they made in  the last game — promoting Heinrich Klaasen just outside the powerplay — was a smart  move. The spinners generally bowl from overs six to 15, and Klaasen is one of the best  players in the world against spin. You want him batting when the spinners are most active,  and this adjustment will work well in the future games. 

Mohammed Shami will need to find his best form if they’re to have a chance of winning  their remaining games. But they can’t be written off just yet. Harshal Patel has been  excellent, and they have the right personnel to turn things around. This short break could  be just what they need — a quiet week to reassess and get back on track. 

Delhi Capitals need some big contributions with the bat. They’ve only managed seven  individuals 50s in total so far, with KL Rahul accounting for a number of those. The  partnerships I’ve seen haven’t quite clicked. They tend to be a bit one-paced, with two  players often operating at the same tempo. Ideally, you want either both players firing at a 

high tempo, or at least one of them playing at a significantly higher tempo than their  partner at the other end. 

It’s good to see Kuldeep Yadav being brought into the attack earlier in the innings. At the  start of the tournament, I felt he was being used a bit too late. With Mukesh Kumar and  Mitchell Starc, they certainly have two bowlers who can close out an innings effectively. 

As for Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, it’s been a frustrating campaign for  them. It’s certainly not a tournament they’ll look back on fondly — at least not so far. 

CSK is left reflecting on a poor auction, while RR is grappling with a series of missed  opportunities. Take their recent game against RCB, for example — they could have won  that one. Time and again, they find themselves in positions where victory is within reach,  but something seems to hold them back. 

There’s an element of self-doubt creeping in now, as they’ve let slip several games they  feel they should have won, leaving them with a growing sense of frustration.