IPL 2024: Best Overseas XI of second week

The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) entered its third week with the contest between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) versus Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Following the second week, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) held the top two spots on the points table with three wins apiece.

In the success of both sides, some of their overseas stalwarts played vital roles. Following KKR and RR, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) concluded their week in third place on the points table with two wins. LSG also succeeded in gaining four points due to their foreign players’ excellent work. As cricketing action is savoured by fans in the third week of the competition, let’s talk about the best overseas XI of the previous week.

Here is the best overseas XI of the second week -

1. Sunil Narine

KKR opening batter Sunil Narine looked exceptional with his bat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC). In the contest against RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kolkata were chasing 183 and Narine delivered a fierce start to the team along with his opening partner Phil Salt. 

The West Indies stalwart stitched an 86-run opening partnership with his English colleague off just 39 balls. After scoring a rapid 47 off 22, he went back to the pavilion but his crucial knock eventually got KKR a convincing seven-wicket win.

KKR’s next meeting was against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Visakhapatnam and Narine showcased his fierce side again. This time, he smashed 85 off just 39 and recorded his best IPL score. In the second innings, Kolkata were defending 272, and the 35-year-old did wonders with the ball as well. Bowling four overs, he gave away only 29 runs and picked up Sumit Kumar.

Also Check: What is Sunil Narine’s salary in IPL 2024?

2. Quinton de Kock (WK)

Quinton de Kock looked stunning in the second week. Riding on his magnificent batting displays, Lucknow beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) and RCB comfortably. Against the Kings at the EKANA Stadium, the wicketkeeper-batter scored a half-century. Talking about his performance against the Challengers, the veteran hit 81 off just 56 and did his job efficiently in the contest.

3. Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson played his maiden game of the competition against PBKS at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium. Coming out at number three, he played a 26-run innings off just 22 deliveries. His brief knock included four fours.

4. David Miller

David Miller was brilliant with his bat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Narendra Modi Stadium. In his team’s seven-wicket win, he chipped in with an unbeaten 44-run knock off just 27 balls with six boundaries (four fours and two maximums). 

5. Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran looked extraordinary in the second week. Against PBKS, his rapid 42-run innings off 21 helped LSG post 199 runs on the board. The 28-year-old continued his superb form against the Challengers at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, playing an unbeaten 40-run knock off just 21 deliveries.

6. Tristan Stubbs

Tristan Stubbs got dismissed on a golden duck against CSK but in the next contest against KKR, when DC were following a mammoth target of 273, the South Africa stalwart displayed his fighting spirit. Facing only 32 deliveries, he scored 54 runs with eight boundaries. His innings along with Rishabh Pant’s fifty helped the Capitals reach 166 and reduce the margin of defeat.

7. Andre Russell

Andre Russell has done a fine job as an all-rounder for KKR, thus far. Discussing his numbers in the second week, he chipped in with 2/29 figures with the ball against RCB in his team’s one-sided win. In Kolkata’s next game against DC, Russell looked ferocious with his bat and scored 41 runs off just 19 balls with seven boundaries (four fours and three maximums). 

8. Pat Cummins (C)

SRH couldn’t win their only game against the Titans in the second week but their skipper Pat Cummins exuded confidence with the ball while defending only 162 runs. The speedster bowled a four-over spell and splurged only 28 runs. He also got rid of Sai Sudharsan, who scored 45 off just 36.  

9. Naveen-ul-Haq

Naveen-ul-Haq looked disciplined with the ball against RCB on Bengaluru’s batting-friendly track. The paceman conceded only 25 runs and took two wickets in his 3.4-over spell. In the final overs of the contest, when RCB were heading towards the target of 182, the youngster dismissed Dinesh Karthik and broke the back of the hosts. Bowling the last over of the contest, he got Mohammed Siraj caught at the hands of Nicholas Pooran and took LSG home. 

10. Noor Ahmad

Noor Ahmad has put up a scintillating show with the ball in the competition. In GT’s seven-wicket triumph against SRH, he chipped in with a frugal spell of 1/32 in four overs. Bowling his first over, he delivered the crucial breakthrough in the form of Travis Head. The left-arm spinner did wonders with the ball against Punjab as well, picking up 2/32 figures in four overs. In the losing cause, Noor showed spunk as he got rid of PBKS key batters Jonny Bairstow and Prabhsimran Singh.

11. Trent Boult

Trent Boult has looked aggressive for Rajasthan in this competition, so far. Against MI at the Wankhede Stadium, the left-arm paceman demolished the hosts’ batting unit. During his four-over spell, Mumbai’s key batters Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, and Dewald Brevis became his victims. RR clinched a six-wicket win in the contest and the 34-year-old became the Player of the Match for his scintillating bowling display.