Best Innings of Eoin Morgan: Batting Performance of Eoin Morgan in IPL

Best Innings of Eoin Morgan in IPL

A decade ago from now, a young, 23-year-old Englishman called Eoin Morgan came to India to play for Kolkata Knight Riders. After all these years, the same Englishman is returning to Kolkata Knight Riders. A few things have changed – KKR have switched their burning helmet logo for a new, sleek crest, and they have gone from being the laughing stock to one of the most successful franchises of IPL.

But more than them, change in Eoin Morgan has been radical. The young Englishman who many doubted and mercilessly criticized is now an ICC Cricket World Cup winner, and one of the most decorated skippers England have ever had. But in IPL, Morgan has never been quite spectacular.

5 Best Innings of Eoin Morgan in IPL

With his unsatisfactory average of 21 and strike rate of just over 120, his time at India has not been very fruitful. But amidst those hard times, he did play some great knocks.

Let us have a look at the top 5 Best Batting Performance of Eoin Morgan in IPL:

5. 51 (43) vs Kolkata Knight Riders

The first entry on our list of top 5 best innings of Eoin Morgan in IPL is from 2016, a season where he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Though most of his time was spent on the dugout, he was handed an opportunity against his former side Kolkata Knight Riders.

Batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Morgan’s team had a horrendous start as they lost 4 wickets with just 50 runs amassed. Morgan came down the other and saved Hyderabad’s sinking ship. Alongside Naman Ojha, he formed a crucial 67-run fifth-wicket stand. He scored a controlled 53 from 41 balls, which included 3 fours and a couple of big hits. Despite his knock, Hyderabad’s total was too low to defend.

4. 51 (38) vs Rajasthan Royals

Morgan was never exceptional in IPL, barring this one season of 2013. Here, he scored over 300 runs for Kolkata Knight Riders and also maintained an impressive strike rate of nearly 30. In this match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Rajasthan Royals batted first and scored 144 runs.

KKR had a very poor start. When Morgan came in to bat, he found his side struggling at 4 wickets down for just 43 runs. He tried to anchor the innings and played a gutsy knock of 51 runs from 38 deliveries. His knock included 3 fours and as many sixes. Unfortunately for him, not a single player could back him up as KKR lost this game.

3. 47 (21) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

This entry on our list of top 5 Best Batting Performance of Eoin Morgan in IPL is again from 2013. While most know Morgan as a calm and composed batsman who tends to play a well-guided innings instead of a happy-go-lucky one, he also a very aggressive side to his game. That side was on display Kolkata Knight Riders took on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens.

Unlike the previous two instances, his side had a great start to their innings this time around. When Morgan came into bat, KKR had already crossed the 100-run mark, with 8 wickets in hand and more than 6 overs to spare. With no worries to anchoring the innings, he played all sorts of aggressive shots in his kitty. In just 21 balls, he scored 47 runs which included 5 fours and 3 sixes. His knock also helped KKR score 180 runs.

2. 66 (51) vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala

By now the pattern is prominent – most of Eoin Morgan’s brilliant knocks ended up getting wasted as his team lost those games. This is one such game, where Morgan’s Kolkata Knight Riders took on the Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011. Batting first at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi scored 156 runs.

Morgan has promoted up the order to the opening in this game. He, alongside the experienced Jacques Kallis, set up an impressive 69-run first-wicket stand. Morgan carried on with his game after Kallis’ departure and scored 66 runs from 51 deliveries. Unfortunately, he failed to find a worthy partner yet again as Kochi sealed the deal.

1. 63 (28) vs Rajasthan Royals

Though he spent most of his IPL days with Kolkata Knight Riders, Morgan’s best-ever knock came in the orange of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Batting first against Rajasthan Royals at the Brabourne Stadium, Hyderabad had a good start to their innings.

Morgan’s turn to bat came in the 11th over, after Morgan’s current teammate Pravin Tambe dismissed Moises Henriques. He formed a good partnership with Shikhar Dhawan, and then with Ravi Bopara, to help Hyderabad cross the 200-run mark. He scored 63 from just 28 deliveries, which included five big hits.

5 Best Innings of Eoin Morgan in IPL

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