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IPL 2021 has been a great entertainer despite being spread over two countries in two halves. There have been quite a few hits, and a lot of misses as well. Cricwizz takes a look at some weird awards that could be given to teams or players in IPL 2021.

Best entertainer award

Punjab Kings 

This award goes to Punjab Kings for turning one-sided contests into thrillers and snatching defeats from the jaws of victories on more than a couple of occasions. That is more due to their inconsistent middle-order who could not carry on the heroics of their openers – KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. The biggest entertainer was the Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match when the Rahul-led team failed to chase down 4 runs in 6 balls and ended up losing by 2 runs. 

Best innovator award

Glenn Maxwell

There is just one contender for this award, and it is none other than Glenn Maxwell of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Maxwell brought out his creative best in the second half of IPL 2021 in UAE. He unleashed reverse sweep, scoops, switch hits to tore into the bowling attack of top teams such as Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. His success with the bat has been the reason behind RCB’s march into play-offs this season.

Best 'worst' batsman

David Warner

It is Aussie batsman David Warner of SRH. He was in such poor form that he was not only dropped from the captaincy and the playing XI simultaneously but also omitted from further participation from the remaining matches despite being the top-scorer for his team in every season he played for them. 

He scored over 500 runs in every season for SRH since he joined them in 2014, except in the 2021 season. In the 2021 season, he could manage just 195 runs @ 24.37 at a strike rate of 107.72 in 8 games. In the last few games, he was seen cheering for SRH in the stands.

Best stunner award

Srikar Bharat

This award goes to Srikar Bharat when he played stunning innings of 78* against Delhi Capitals in the last league match to help RCB win a thriller on the last ball. Bharat smashed a six off the last ball of Avesh Khan to steal the win. Bharat's success has solved a perennial No 3 problem for RCB. 

Best over-rated player award

Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran Punjab Kings IPL
Nicholas Pooran (Image Credits: IPLT20)

Punjab Kings rated West Indian Nicholas Pooran highly and retained him ahead of Glenn Maxwell ahead of the 2021 IPL season. But the gamble on Pooran backfired in the current season. Pooran could manage just 85 runs @ 7.72 at a strike rate of 111.84 in 12 matches. Pooran’s flop season affected Punjab’s balance as they lost few close matches due to an inconsistent middle-order.

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Cover Credits: IPLT20