IPL 2017: 5 Exceptional performances from lesser known players after first week

#3 Nitish Rana (50 of 29 balls against KKR)

KKR had set a competitive target of 179 for Mumbai Indians on the back of a brilliant innings from Manish Pandey. Mumbai, in reply, got off to a terrific start as their openers added 65 for the first wicket.Surprisingly, Nitish Rana was sent in at number 3 when the stage was perfectly set for Rohit Sharma. Mumbai were quickly reduced to 97/4 in the 13^th over.

All the hopes for Mumbai were almost over when they lost Pollard and still required 59 off last four overs. But by then, Rana had got set and he blazed off along with hard-hitting Hardik Pandya. Rana’s hitherto solid innings which included a scoop over the keeper and an inside out drive off Ankit Rajpoot in the penultimate over brought the target in the sights for the hosts. He could not finish the game but his innings provided the much-needed impetus to the innings which helped Pandya seal the game. KKR was caught unaware of Rana’s promotion and his hard hitting skills and so this superb innings makes this unique list.