Stoinis\u2019 knock came at the back end of the innings and, although it lifted the home side to a competitive total, it wasn\u2019t enough to shut the Royals out as they chased it down with four balls to spare and six wickets in hand.<\/p>\n
A couple of days earlier, PBKS had done something similar, registering a record T20 chase of 265 against Delhi Capitals.<\/p>\n
A common factor in this IPL season\u2019s wins has been PowerPlay performances. The Royals scored 84 for one in the first overs in reply to the Kings\u2019 65 for one. Similarly, DC had managed 68 for one against PBKS, which finished the fielding restrictions after scoring 116 runs without loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
PowerPlay overs have decided 73.68 per cent of matches this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years, teams have realised how important the PowerPlay is: only two fielders outside, six overs to maximise. So naturally, there\u2019s more focus on that phase now,\u201d RR fast bowler Sandeep Sharma said.<\/p>\n
There has been a steady rise in batters targeting the boundaries in the PowerPlay, with run rates climbing from 7.7 in the inaugural season to 8.42 in 2018, and now 9.9 this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing is a trend across the tournament \u2013 how dominant teams are in the first six overs. It\u2019s very hard to stop sides now with the way they\u2019re playing in the PowerPlay. You\u2019ve also got the replacement player rule, which allows you to stack your batting and go even harder,\u201d PBKS assistant coach Brad Haddin said.<\/p>\n
A look at the points table also reflects which teams have embraced this approach of setting up, or even finishing, games early. Punjab, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan, the current top four, also boast the best returns from their top three batters, especially the openers.<\/p>\n
For PBKS, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have scored at a strike rate of 205.55, followed by Royals openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at 195.56. SRH\u2019s Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head are at 183.17, while RCB\u2019s Virat Kohli and Phil Salt\/Jacob Bethell have struck at 164.42.<\/p>\n
Winning the PowerPlay isn\u2019t a guarantee, but it gives the batting side a significant advantage for the rest of the innings. DC openers, for instance, have a higher strike rate (172.35) than RCB\u2019s. But with the rest of Bengaluru\u2019s lineup sustaining the pressure, it has translated into results, while the Capitals remain in the bottom half.<\/p>\n
Is the finisher\u2019s role going extinct?<\/h4>\n
The relentless pressure from ball one has made 200-plus totals par, even if they don\u2019t guarantee wins. Openers are expected to score at a minimum of 10 an over, and the rest of the batting order must maintain a similar tempo.<\/p>\n
Teams are no longer building towards a late surge. The first six overs are now played with almost the same boundary-hitting intensity (26.11%) as the final four overs (24.12%).<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think there is a thing called finishers anymore. It\u2019s right from ball one \u2013 everyone is going at a rate of knots,\u201d Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming had said earlier this season. \u201cIt\u2019s not a build-up to the 16th over and then going harder. Everyone is going hard from ball one. Run rates of 10, 11, 12 throughout are expected. You\u2019re not really getting the big peaks at the end, it\u2019s just a more aggressive approach to get 240.\u201d<\/p>\n
Table-topper Punjab has been the most successful in executing this approach. While the top three score at over 12 an over, numbers four and five go at 11.1, and the lower middle order (6-8) at 10.81.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at the way we\u2019ve played, our top order has been super dynamic. They\u2019ve set up games and created opportunities,\u201d Haddin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what the rest have done is contribute in roles that win matches. It might not be a 70 or 80 \u2013 it could be 15 off six balls to give us momentum. At the moment, they\u2019re doing everything the game requires.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sandeep, however, believes finishers remain vital, especially over a long tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think the importance of finishers has reduced at all. Teams with strong finishers still have a great chance. If you look at the past, Chennai had Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni), Mumbai had Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard, and KKR had Andre Russell. Teams with strong players at 5, 6, and 7 tend to go far. That\u2019s where the bulk of pressure lies. The top three don\u2019t carry as much pressure \u2013 if they get out playing positively, it\u2019s accepted. But 5-6-7 is a crucial phase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This season has still produced instances of lower-order influence, such as Rinku Singh\u2019s effort in Kolkata Knight Riders\u2019 Super Over win against Lucknow Super Giants, but those moments are becoming rarer in a league where the PowerPlay is fast becoming the new death overs, and openers the new finishers.<\/p>\n
Published on Apr 29, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n