Most Runs: The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most popular and competitive T20 leagues in the world. It has seen many top-tier bowlers from across the globe competing against some of the most destructive batsmen. While the IPL offers a platform for bowlers to showcase their skills, it also presents challenges due to the aggressive batting styles employed in the tournament. Some bowlers, despite their best efforts, often find themselves at the receiving end of high-scoring innings, conceding a significant number of runs.
Most Runs: In the 2017 season of the IPL, there were several standout performances, both with the ball and bat. In this article, we will focus on one aspect of the bowling performances — the bowler who conceded the most runs during IPL 2017. This specific record is an interesting one to explore, as it highlights a bowler who faced significant challenges throughout the season.
Who Conceded the Most Runs in IPL 2017?
Most Runs: The bowler who conceded the most runs in IPL 2017 was Chris Woakes, the English all-rounder who played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in that season. Woakes, despite being a skilled bowler with a proven track record in international cricket, had a tough time in IPL 2017, as he struggled to contain the opposition’s batsmen.
Chris Woakes: The Bowler Who Conceded the Most Runs
Most Runs: Chris Woakes, a right-arm fast-medium bowler, had a challenging 2017 IPL season. Playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team that struggled throughout the tournament, Woakes was part of a bowling attack that faced several tough challenges. While Woakes is known for his ability to bowl tight lines and lengths, his efforts in the 2017 season did not translate into favorable bowling figures.
Most Runs: In the 2017 IPL season, Chris Woakes played 9 matches and conceded a total of 404 runs in 36.3 overs. His economy rate for the season was relatively high, at 11.07 runs per over, which reflected the pressure the RCB team faced in many of their matches.
Woakes’ IPL 2017 Performance Breakdown
| Match No. | Overs Bowled | Runs Conceded | Wickets Taken | Economy Rate | Best Bowling | Average Runs per Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 39 | 1 | 9.75 | 1/39 | 39 |
| 2 | 4 | 51 | 1 | 12.75 | 1/51 | 51 |
| 3 | 4 | 45 | 2 | 11.25 | 2/45 | 45 |
| 4 | 4 | 48 | 0 | 12.00 | 0/48 | 48 |
| 5 | 4 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 | 1/40 | 40 |
| 6 | 3.3 | 38 | 1 | 10.86 | 1/38 | 38 |
| 7 | 4 | 51 | 0 | 12.75 | 0/51 | 51 |
| 8 | 4 | 41 | 1 | 10.25 | 1/41 | 41 |
| 9 | 4 | 51 | 1 | 12.75 | 1/51 | 51 |
| Total | 36.3 | 404 | 7 | 11.07 | 1/51 | 44.88 |
From the table above, we can observe that Chris Woakes struggled with his economy rate in almost every match he played. His best bowling performance of the season was 1/39, which came in a match where he bowled four overs. However, his overall economy rate of 11.07 runs per over across 36.3 overs is significantly high, indicating that he found it difficult to contain the opposition’s batsmen.
Analysis of Woakes’ Struggles in IPL 2017
There are several reasons why Woakes had a difficult time in IPL 2017:
- High Economy Rate: Woakes’ economy rate of over 11 runs per over indicates that he was often expensive, allowing the batsmen to score freely. In T20 cricket, bowlers are expected to keep the scoring rate under control, especially during the death overs, but Woakes struggled in this area.
- Pressure of Bowling in Powerplay and Death Overs: The Royal Challengers Bangalore often had to chase big totals, which meant that Woakes was frequently tasked with bowling in the powerplay or the death overs. These are the most critical overs in a T20 game, and bowlers who struggle to maintain tight lines and lengths during these periods tend to concede runs. Woakes’ high economy rate can be attributed to his inability to bowl effectively during these crucial phases.
- RCB’s Overall Struggles: The overall performance of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2017 was subpar. They finished in 8th place out of 8 teams, and this put additional pressure on the bowlers. When the team is underperforming, the bowlers often have to defend large totals, which leads to higher run concessions. Woakes’ struggles were part of the collective issues faced by RCB’s bowling unit.
- Inconsistent Performances: Woakes had a few moments of success in the 2017 season, with some decent wicket-taking performances. However, his inability to maintain consistency in his bowling performances, particularly in terms of restricting the batsmen, resulted in him conceding a lot of runs. His 7 wickets in 9 matches were not enough to compensate for the runs he leaked.
Other Bowlers Who Conceded High Runs in IPL 2017
While Chris Woakes topped the list for most runs conceded in IPL 2017, several other bowlers also faced difficult seasons where they conceded a large number of runs. Here are some of them:
| Bowler | Team | Runs Conceded | Matches Played | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Woakes | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 404 | 9 | 11.07 |
| Sandeep Sharma | Kings XI Punjab | 350 | 14 | 9.50 |
| Ben Stokes | Rising Pune Supergiants | 328 | 12 | 8.96 |
| Ashoke Dinda | Rising Pune Supergiants | 348 | 13 | 9.00 |
| Ishant Sharma | Rising Pune Supergiants | 302 | 12 | 8.94 |
Chris Woakes’ IPL 2017 campaign was one of the most challenging in his career. Despite his capabilities as an international cricketer, the conditions of the tournament and the high-scoring nature of T20 cricket put him under pressure. Woakes conceded the most runs in the tournament, and his high economy rate of 11.07 runs per over reflected the struggles faced by him and the Royal Challengers Bangalore as a team.
In T20 cricket, bowlers often face the risk of conceding runs due to the aggressive nature of modern-day batsmen. However, the ability to restrict the batsmen and adapt to different match situations is key to a bowler’s success. Woakes’ experience in IPL 2017, though difficult, would have provided valuable lessons for him in terms of handling pressure in high-scoring situations.
Although Woakes had a tough season, IPL is a league that often allows players to bounce back, and his performances in future seasons may be more successful as he adapts and grows from the experiences of his past campaigns.
