Only a three-week gap separated the Indian Premier League and the World Cup this year. While some players like David Warner and Jasprit Bumrah were able to carry their IPL form into the multi-national event, a few others who had failed in the T20 competition upped their game to become match-winners for their respective teams in the grandest stage of them all.
Here are a few players who had a horrific IPL but topped the charts in the World Cup.
1. Rohit Sharma
The Indian vice-captain had a great World Cup, ending up with 648 runs from nine games, which included a record five hundreds as well. No other player in the history of the tournament had scored more than four tons in a single edition, and the Mumbai player broke Kumar Sangakkara’s record when he scored his fifth hundred against Sri Lanka.
However, things had not looked up for Rohit a few weeks ago, in the IPL. Though his side, Mumbai Indians, won their fourth title, the skipper had a dismal run, scoring only 405 runs in 15 games at an average of 28. He had made two fifties in the IPL and took his woes to Yuvraj Singh, who advised Rohit to focus on one game at a time.
His stellar run in the World Cup prompted Rohit to thank Yuvraj for his guidance and help.
2. Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
The Afghan spinner was the find of the 2018 IPL, as he picked 14 wickets from 11 games. He also maintained an economy rate of less than 7, which made him the X-Factor in the Kings XI Punjab team. However, things turned around for him this IPL, as his bowling strike rate reached 38. He was unable to keep a check on his line and lengths as well, conceding over 10 runs an over. Mujeeb was eventually dropped from the KXIP side in the latter stages of the tournament.
However, he seemed to turn his fortunes around in the World Cup, picking up seven wickets in seven games and bowling with an economy rate of less than 4. Asked to bowl in the powerplay overs, the spinner impressed and overshadowed more experienced players like Rashid Khan and Hamid Hassan. In Afghanistan’s disastrous campaign, where they failed to win a single game, Mujeeb emerged as a bright star.
3. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan
The Bangladeshi is a diligent all-rounder who performs his role to exception whenever called upon. However, he had a below-par IPL, where he played only three games for his team Sunrisers Hyderabad. Scoring nine runs with the bat, Shakib also had a poor run with the ball, giving away nine runs an over and picking up two wickets. He was eventually released by the SRH side midway through the edition.
However, he turned his disappointment around in the World Cup, to emerge as the best all-rounder of the campaign. Scoring 606 runs in eight games and picking 11 wickets, Shakib was the only consistent player for his team, whose performances ignited hopes of a top-four berth. He scored two tons and five fifties, including four 60+ scores with the bat and even, got a fifer with the ball against Afghanistan.
4. Kane Williamson
The SRH skipper struggled with an injury in the IPL 2019, but even when he was fit, he failed to leave a mark. In nine games, the Kiwi batsman only scored 156 runs at an average of 22.28. However, come the big occasion, Williamson raised his hands up to help New Zealand into the finals of the World Cup.
The player was the only consistent batsman in the Kiwi team, holding one end up and anchoring the ship even as others around him consistently failed. He ended the World Cup with 578 runs, scoring two tons and two fifties in the edition.
