From Mumbai Indians failing to qualify to Sunil Narine smashing a century: Biggest surprises of IPL 2024

Who knew that the team with a fabulous top 7 with the bat, an above-average bowling line-up led by Jasprit Bumrah would be knocked out of the IPL 2024 playoffs race 15 days before the end of the league stage? Hardik Pandya's first season as a captain of MI hasn't been auspicious

Ahead of IPL 2024, it felt like the idea of Sunil Narine as an opener had been nipped in the bud and for good but Gautam Gambhir's return meant that the off-spinner was back at the top. Narine has smashed 461 runs at a strike rate of 182 including a century and three fifties

Riyan Parag came of age in the IPL. A consistent season with 500-plus runs, the ability to play in both gears, hitting sixes at will and getting used to every venue and scoring runs, Parag, has taken his domestic form into the IPL and has been one of the reasons for RR's consistent run in IPL 2024

Another reason for Rajasthan Royals' position in the table and performance has been skipper Sanju Samson's consistency. IPL 2024 was the first one for Samson with 500 runs and the skipper has not only been amongst runs regularly but have also scored them with maturity, according to the game situation and team's needs at a smashing strike rate

Three scores in excess of 260 for just one team! That's outrageous irrespective of the presence of the impact player, bats getting bigger and surfaces being good with small boundaries. Obviously, those are the factors but the intent at the top from the SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma has been magnificent as they just go hell for leather from ball one and the hitting has been absolutely mind-blowing from the duo, big reason why they are in top 3

Pat Cummins had never captained in T20 cricket. Thus, SRH's decision to hand Cummins captaincy was strange but not surprising given his exploits with the Australian team in Tests and ODIs. And Cummins flourished. His tactics were spot on and used himself with the ball cunningly too. SRH have 14 points with two games to go and are in a good chance to get into top two

Rajat Patidar may have been the Cinderella for RCB, getting out after those cute fifties but his intent and power-hitting have been a joy to watch. Patidar has murdered spinners, striking at 224 and it zooms past 260 against leg-spin. Patidar has been one of the reasons behind RCB's resurgence

Shashutosh as they have been called! Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma were the real bargains and superstars for the Punjab Kings, being the value-for-money players finishing multiple games for their side and winning a couple of them on their own after top-order faltered

Harshal Patel's comeback! The Harshal Patel of 2021 was back on show in the IPL as the dip, the hang-time and the deception with the slower balls returned for the Punjab Kings pacer and he has been jostling for Purple Cap with Jasprit Bumrah

Shivam Dube the destroyer! It's a proper character arc for Shivam Dube like in the films, playing for CSK as he has gone from middle-order enforcer to a monster six-hitter, the one who instils fear in the bowlers and has been rewarded with a spot in India's T20 World Cup squad

The disappointments! Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and Devdutt Padikkal have been some colossal disappointments in the 2024 edition of the IPL after shining in the last season

The death overs mayhem from Stubbs! Bought as a backup, Tristan Stubbs might be one of the pre-auction retentions for the Delhi Capitals having been their consistent finisher. Stubbs was consistent, rapid and just magnificent. Striking at 190 in the season, 260 at the death and 320 in overs 18-20, Stubbs has been phenomenal, add to that, his fielding, ability to bowl and keep wickets