The middle-order men who stand out

If you look at the numbers, Twenty20 is a game for the top three when it comes to batting. The others usually get little opportunity to bat. When they do, it is usually under pressure or just swinging from their first ball. This IPL, too, has been incredibly favourable towards the top three. The 12 highest run-getters have batted in the top three; between them they have won 22 Man-of-the-Match awards in 31 games. Other match awards have gone to bowlers or allrounders. The middle order is thus forgotten. Here is a look at the best middle-order batsmen so far this season.

Dinesh Karthik, Gujarat Lions
Runs 215, average 35.83, strike rate 127.21
Thirties: 4
Best innings: 50 not out off 39 balls in a chase of 181 against Royal Challengers Bangalore

Statistically and otherwise, he has played the best in a thankless role. At a time when middle-order batsmen are remembered for match-losing innings as the field spreads and the old ball becomes difficult to hit, Karthik has been the backbone of the Gujarat Lions batting. It helps that his is not the role of the enforcer in a squad that has Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Aaron Finch and Suresh Raina. However, he has been called in to do the job on more than one occasion. He has not disappointed, including coming in at 87 for 2 against Royal Challengers and seeing his side through to the win.

Karun Nair, Delhi Daredevils
Runs 139, average 34.75, strike rate 124.10
Thirties: 2
Best innings: 68 off 50, batting at No 4 after the early loss of the openers, against Kolkata Knight Riders

Having succeeded for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy and Rajasthan Royals in IPL, Nair has followed Rahul Dravid to Delhi Daredevils. One of the characteristics with Dravid's teams is flexibility, which is perhaps why he has got only seven games and five innings, but he has scored half-centuries in two of them. Both were crucial innings - the first was in a big partnership with Quinton de Kock, whose hundred helped Daredevils chase 192 against Royal Challengers. The second was a mature innings too, from 2 for 2 against Knight Riders. It started slowly, arresting the collapse, and then Nair exploded towards the end, giving Carlos Brathwaite a base to take off from.

Yusuf Pathan, Kolkata Knight Riders
Runs 146, average 73, strike rate 171.76
Thirties: 2
Best innings: 60 not out off 29 balls in a chase of 186 against Royal Challengers

Yusuf's average of 73 is because of four not-outs, but three of those have been brief knocks. Knight Riders' top order has not given him many opportunities, but he has given a fair account of himself whenever he has been asked to perform. That includes 36 off 27 in a tense, successful chase against Rising Pune Supergiants, and the manic 60 off 29, coming in at 66 for 3 after nine overs when Knight Riders needed 121 more at 11 an over.

Andre Russell, Kolkata Knight Riders
Runs 133, average 22.16, strike rate 156.47
Thirties: 2
Best innings: 39 off 24 balls in a chase of 186 against Royal Challengers

Russell has batted five times, and hasn't scored a half-century. But he can't be accused of having played an innings that might have robbed his side of momentum. His best effort came with a whirlwind knock against Royal Challengers. To add to these contributions, he has been a vital cog with the ball.