Inspired by Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s batting, the Wrong ’Uns took its time to take centre stage this year. But, unlike Dhoni’s flowing locks and sixes, we cannot promise you that we will be worth your wait. After all, we aim to displease, with our set of unprecedented honours designed to ruffle feathers. For those who have no clue of what we are talking about, stop reading the Dream11 refund terms and catch up on My Kolkata’s unique IPL awards here. Invented in 2022, we already have a richer legacy than the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) combined, for they cannot imagine their trophies into existence.
For our first instalment of 2024, we bring back seven of our most popular categories from the last two seasons, which involves finding a brand new head for the White Cap, the most dreaded accolade in IPL history. Without any further ado, here are our winners for all things brilliant and bizarre (often one and the same thing) from the opening weeks of the IPL (the Wrong ’Uns will be fortnightly this season because our sponsors are more interested in funding something else this summer).
The Socrates Award for the Best On-Field Dialogue
Post-match IPL conversations between teammates tend to have all the depth of a Tinder bio, but this one between Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson is particularly wholesome. Not least because Samson calls Buttler “Jos bhai” in a manner that makes the Englishman sound like the de facto leader of a Jaipur gang. To be fair to Buttler, he did do his share of plundering against RCB, with Samson matching him for the most part. That complementarity and camaraderie shines through on the mic as well, as two of the IPL’s most watchable batters unpack a memorable win for the Rajasthan Royals (RR).
The Kalbaisakhi Award for the Most Pleasant Surprise
Mayank Yadav’s pace has set the IPL alight
TT ArchivesLucknow’s best-kept secret is no longer the special ingredient(s) that goes into its finest kebabs. Instead, it is to do with how the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) managed to keep Mayank Yadav under wraps for two years, only to unleash him with the kind of pace that would make Indian SUVs jealous. Capable of easing his way into the 150kmph bracket and above, Yadav already has six wickets to his name this season, bowling with a sense of control that is rare for someone operating at his speed. Even though he walked off against the Gujarat Titans (GT) with an injury, expect the 21-year-old to be back very soon, ready to stir up another Kalbaisakhi for opposition batters.
Most Outlandish Kit
India was one of the few countries where Barbie lost out to Oppenheimer at the box office. That may not have been the case had RR turned up in all-pink last July. Having left Greta Gerwig gaping in joy with their outfit (meant to be a symbol of women empowerment in rural India), RR went on to make RCB pink with shame by making a chase of 184 look like a (strawberry) cakewalk. To be fair to the kitmakers, RR’s shade of pink was not exactly an eyesore. After all, the world has endured far more ludicrous versions of pink over the past year. Just ask Margot Robbie!
Most Startling Statistic
Out of the 89 centuries struck in IPL history till date, only 22 have come in a losing cause. Both Hashim Amla and Samson have twice struck tons only to end up on the losing side, but the unwanted record of scoring the most IPL hundreds in defeats now belongs to Virat Kohli, with three. This includes Kohli’s last two three-figure scores in the IPL, with his 113 not out against RR ending up with the same fate as his unbeaten 101 against GT last season.
The ‘I Know Better’ Award for Peak Uncle Behaviour
Sanjay Manjrekar is 58 these days. In other words, just the right age for peak uncle behaviour. After trying to shush the Wankhede Stadium for jeering Hardik Pandya with a one-word command of “Behave”, Manjrekar went one better (or one worse) at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium. Entrusted to explain RR’s “Pink Promise” initiative (for empowerment of rural women, in case you did not get that at the first mention) at the toss, Manjrekar did his mechanical best to communicate the message, before uttering the careless words: “And now back to [the] serious business of just flipping the coin in the air.” The ever-patronising Manjrekar did not flip the coin himself, but many fans were understandably flipped at his utterly uncalled for comment.
The Easter Award for Remarkable Resurrection
Riyan Parag has come out all guns blazing for RR this season
TT ArchivesAfter going viral for all the wrong reasons over the last few seasons, Riyan Parag has got his act together this term. The 22-year-old was decisive against DC, the Mumbai Indians (MI) and GT, and is batting as if coach Kumar Sangakkara has transferred some of his brain cells to the Assamese prodigy. For someone who was constantly under the scanner whenever RR lost in recent years, it must be uplifting for Parag to suddenly become the hero RR fans did not know they needed this time around.
The White Cap
The White Cap could easily have been handed out to Glenn Maxwell or Cameron Green for being too generous with the scorers this season, but it lands instead on the head of RCB skipper Faf du Plessis. With 109 runs in five innings, du Plessis has not converted promising starts into the kind of match-winning innings RCB need to ensure that Kohli is playing for more than his place in the Indian T20 World Cup team. More than his batting, du Plessis has come under fire for his laidback captaincy, since he has not been flailing his arms around or cursing opponents (under his breath) every second over. Should this continue, the South African may soon be keeping the White Cap for the whole season and letting go of the reins to… a more camera-friendly candidate!
