By IANS,
New Delhi : When Mumbai Indians’ Robin Uthappa sent Jacob Oram soaring over the mid-on boundary Wednesday night, it was not just another six but the completion of a century of sixes for the ongoing inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL).
Six more over-boundaries were added by the time Mumbai Indians lost the thrilling encounter to Chennai Super Kings by six runs while chasing 208.
The 107 sixes in the IPL have come at an astonishing pace at an explosive average of 12 sixes per match in a tournament that is less than a week and eight matches old.
Keeping in tune with the spectacular opening ceremony at Bangalore, the fireworks from the batsmen have surpassed the expectation of the hype surrounding the Twenty20 tournament.
Packed stadiums and entertainment – the highpoint of which has been the cheerleaders – have kept the crowds thrilled. Right now the flavour, without doubt, is the IPL.
When some of the world’s best international cricketing stars descended in India for the tournament billed as path-breaker and the future of cricket, there was anticipation, an air of excitement and mystery surrounding it.
Kolkata Knightriders’ Brendon McCullum not only gave a dream start to the tournament, but also ensured packed house for the rest of the tournament. The Kiwi smashed thirteen sixes in the first match and equalled his compatriot Craig McMillan’s record of most sixes in T20 format.
Six-hitting prowess got better in the second match between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. The Super Kings batsmen smashed 16 sixes and Australian Michael Hussey alone plundered 10 of them as Super Kings soared up 240 for five in 20 overs.
The T20 World Cup in South Africa last year was a huge hit but the sixes at the IPL will surely put it to shade. A total of 255 sixes was hit in 27 matches in South Africa, but if the current six-hitting trend continues the remaining 50 matches of the IPL, will see the number being exceeded many times.
Remember, Yuvraj Singh, who hit six sixes off a Stuart Broad over in a T20 World Cup match against England last year, has not yet exploded in his trademark fashion. Yuvraj had emulated Sir Gary Sobers and Ravi Shastri in smashing six sixes in first-class cricket and later South African Herschelle Gibbs got them against an ICC associate member in the World Cup.
While, 30 or more in an over have been seen a few times in the DLF IPL, it remains to be seen if we will get to see a ‘Six Sixes’ feat once more.