Left-handers rule the roost at the IPL

7th May 2008

There seems to be something between left handed players and the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL), for they seem to be outperforming their right hand counterparts in almost all spheres of the game.

Whether it is Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey or Adam Gilchrist slamming quick-fire hundreds, or Sohail Tanvir picking up six wickets in an innings, left handers seem to be tasting success with both bat and ball. Here's a look at the major records held by left handers in the tournament so far:

Most fifties in the tournament - Gautam Gambhir (3)

Most sixes in the tournament - Adam Gilchrist (15)

Best innings strike rate - Suresh Raina (246.15)

Most boundary fours in an innings - Kumar Sangakkara (13)

Fastest century - Adam Gilchrist (42 balls)

Leading wicket takers in the tournament - Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan (12 each)

Best bowling figures in an innings - Sohail Tanvir (6 for 14)

Best economy rate in the tournament - Yuvraj Singh (5.50)

Most catches in the tournament - Yuvraj Singh (6)

Left handers also outscore their right hand counterparts on the century count; Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey and Adam Gilchrist are three southpaws to have scored hundreds in this 45-day extravaganza, while Andrew Symonds and Brendon McCullum are the only two right handed batsmen to score hundreds so far.

On the other hand, those who bat or bowl right handed account only for a handful of records, three of which came courtesy Brendon McCullum's blitzkrieg 158* on the opening day of the IPL. These include:

Highest individual score - Brendon McCullum (158*)

Most sixes in an innings - Brendon McCullum (13)

Most runs in boundaries in an innings - Brendon McCullum (118 runs)

Best economy rate in an innings - Mohammad Hafeez (2.00)

Leading run scorer in the tournament - Rohit Sharma (258 runs)

Fastest fifty - Yusuf Pathan (27 balls)

Left handers have also been better on the discipline front; left-arm bowlers have so far bowled only four no balls in the tournament, while the right arm variety have erred on the no ball front as many as 39 times so far.

Right armers seem to be at the receiving end of a few records as well. Palani Amarnath, the right arm medium pacer from the Chennai Super Kings, holds the dubious record of conceding 57 runs in his 4-over spell - that's the most conceded by a bowler in a match in the IPL. Further, two batsmen of repute, Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting hold the record for the most ducks in the tournament - both these world-class batsmen failed to open their account on two occasions.

Is this all by coincidence or do left handers have some advantage in this format of the game? One for you to ponder.