Let an assessment display how the nine franchises have done in season six of the Indian Premier League in the middle of the tournament.
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS
The two-time IPL winners are presently top of the table with seven wins (the highest in the season) from nine matches and still performing well. They lost their first match to Mumbai Indians narrowly and then ended up on the wrong side of an upset against Pune Warriors. However, five wins a row have put CSK right back into the fray. With MS Dhoni batting explosively, Michael Hussey in blazing form and Suresh Raina now starting to prosper, Chennai are headed in the right direction. Possessing three bowlers in the top ten list of wicket-takers, the attack has proven much spiky in 2013.
Highest point: Thrashing Kings XI Punjab by ten wickets.
Lowest point: Falling to Pune by 24 runs.
Best player: Hussey scored 445 runs at 74.16 in eight games.
Top performer: South Africa's bowling all-rounder Chris Morris who has taken 10 wickets at 20.20.
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE
Positioned at the second on the IPL 6 score-board with six wins from nine matches, RCB are again preparing for the play-offs but still need to sort out a few anomalies. The batting solely rests on Chris Gayle and skipper Virat Kohli who are emphatic as well as consistent. The bowling has been dry, with the likes of RP Singh experiencing a couple of highs and several lows. RCB are missing a potent spinner, which could prove destructive as the tournament progresses; remarkably if the batting remains disordered.Bangalore have already won all their home matches but need to begin winning on the road.
Highest point: Ousted Pune by 130 runs.
Lowest point: Lost to Mumbai Indians by 58 runs.
Best player: Chris Gayle has a league-leading of 450 runs at 90, with a best of 175 not out. Whenever he has crossed half century,Bangalore have won.
Top performer: Ravi Rampaul—The West Indian quick has hauled eight wickets in five matches apart from being fierce on the field.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan displayed as a competitive and disciplined squad. Before Shane Watson was linked up with the squad, Rajasthan displayed soaring spirit and determination which outweighed talent: they have already hammered KKR, Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab. Since Watson's arrival, they have ousted Mumbai and Sunrisers Hyderabad and presently occupied the third place on the score board. Rajasthan’s three batsmen have crossed 200 runs--the highest in any side along with CSK, while James Faulker has been excellent bowler. In case a few other internationals are included, Rajasthan could see their graph heading further upwards in the second half.
Highest point: Thrashed KKR by 19 runs at Jaipur.
Lowest point: Lost by 87 runs with Mumbai.
Best player: Faulker's 16 wickets have come at a miserly 7.75 apiece and his economy rate of 5.35 the best for bowlers to have taken at least six wickets. Notable performer: Faulker is a fast bowler capable of bowling well at the death which the Australian has proved.
MUMBAI INDIANS
Ricky Ponting quitted after six matches and million-dollar cricketer Glenn Maxwell has not obtained a game. However Mumbai managed to win five matches despite some big stars struggling for consistency. The team's success has been dedicated to some excellent fielding and knocks from Dinesh Karthik and Rohit Sharma. The squad has witnessed fifties from Dwayne Smith in the last two matches.
Highest point: Hammered RCB by 58 runs.
Lowest point: Falling back to Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets.
Best player: Karthik began the season with a bang and he is the only Mumbai batsman to cross 300 runs.
Notable performer: Mitchell Johnson has been given a prolonged run this season. His nine wickets at 23.66 have led Mumbai towards success.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
Formerly known as Deccan Chargers, still remains in the fray for the play-offs. They have suffered by having a horrible batting order and losing JP Duminy for the season and Shikhar Dhawan for the first eight games. They have been carried on by their bowlers, mainly Dale Steyn and Amit Mishra. However got a silver lining as Dhawan has returned and all-rounder Darren Sammy marked his debut with a glitzy 60.
Highest point: Squashed Pune by 11 runs when defending 119.
Lowest point: Lost against KKR by 48 runs.
Best player: Mishra has been an outstanding bowler, snaring a team-high 14 wickets at 15.21 including a hat-trick. He has been twice honoured as the Man of the Match.
Notable performer: Thisara Perera's 144 at 20.57 and ten wickets at 23.90 made him a valuable asset in this squad.
KINGS XI PUNJAB
The top order remains inconsistent while the composure of David Miller has carried the spirits of the Adam Gilchrist-led side. The young opener Mandeep Singh is the best with great consistency. He is the sole batsman to cross 200 runs. The bowling have been a dazzling performance but as the table tightens in the second half, how their all-rounders and medium-pacers unite could prove decisive for Punjab.
Highest point: Pursuing down 186 to oust Pune with one ball remaining.
Lowest point: The ten-wicket drubbing by CSK.
Best player: Mandeep with 219 runs at an average of 31.28. He has pushed Punjab to wins.
Notable performer: Miller has provided the middle order with the flash needed to win matches. His undisputed 80 off 41 balls in the glorious win over Pune was an example of concentration and coolness.
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
The previous season champions have struggled for consistency, as evident by the fact that they have still to win two matches in a row. Gautam Gambhir has been unable to manage the team like he did in 2011 and 2012, though he leads the KKR run charts by 308. The main problem for the team is that key innings and bowling spells have not been produced in unison. With just three wins out of nine matches, Kolkata have reached the position where every match is virtually a must-win.
High point: HammeredHyderabad by 48 runs at EdenGardens.
Low point: Lost to RCB by eight wickets.
Best player: The only batsman to score three half-centuries was Gambhir who has struggled hard to lift his team.
Notable performer: Eoin Morgan participated in all the nine matches and is second to Gambhir in the run charts scoring 268.
DELHI DAREDEVILS
Nine matches with two wins. The loss of Kevin Pietersen, Jesse Ryder and Varun Aaron no doubt impaired but the indifferent form of Virender Sehwag and Mahela Jayawardene has really damaged the Delhisquad. Barring Umesh Yadav, the bowling has lacked shine as five times Delhi have conceded 150 or more. A sagging middle order has hardly helped, but with David Warner moving down to No. 4 there is still hope forDelhito remain in the count for the play-offs.
Highest point: Defeated Mumbai by nine wickets.
Lowest point: Lost to Chennai by 86 runs.
Best player: Warner heads Delhi's batting charts with 273 runs at 39. Those are not great figures but he has been the most consistent batsman and the best fielder by a week.
Notable performer: Yadav has bowled with pace and accuracy. He has different speed and length to stifle runs at the death, as evident from a two-run, double-wicket 18th over against Pune.
PUNE WARRIORS
The Pune squad occupies the bottom after losing to Delhi on Sunday. The batting rests too much on the openers while the bowling lacking in bite. Actually the mixed captaincy method - they possessed four leaders in nine matches which has left Pune wearing a puzzled look. The aftermath of Gayle's blistering 175 is still being left.
Highest point: Crushed CSK in Chennai by 24 runs.
Lowest point: Lost toBangalore by 130 runs.
Best player: Aaron Finch has not proven as the excellent of captains, but as an opener he has been important for Pune with 266 runs. His arrival improved Pune's performance at the top and he has scored four half-centuries opening stands.
Notable performer: Rahul Sharma has returned from a turbulent off-season to take eight wickets at an economy of 6.20 and has been a consistent threat due to his legspin.
