Quick Edit - IPL 2022: The Cummins no one saw coming

Pat Cummins's whirlwind knock against Mumbai Indians that kicked up a storm at the MCA Stadium in Pune yet, please go and watch every second of it. It won't take you too long - after all it was just 15 balls. And yet the impact that it made is something that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

As far as records go - the history books will show that the Australian Test captain (who will be seen in a new light altogether by bowlers across the world now) equalled the previous record of the fastest fifty in IPL history, off 14 balls. KL Rahul smashed that in the 2018 edition for Punjab. That too was a brilliant knock, played by one of the best batsmen India has produced in recent years.

After all there is a reason why innings like these are almost always tagged freak knocks. What the history books will not be able to tell you though is the overall impact that they made on not just those matches but on the tournament overall. First the similarities - In the 2018 match between Punjab and Delhi Capitals, DC batted first and scored 166-7.

Gautam Gambhir top scored for his old team, with a 42 ball 55, before being run out. Punjab were chasing a target of 167 and Rahul scored a 16 ball 51, with six fours and four sixes, before falling to Trent Boult. On Wednesday night, KKR were chasing 162 to win against Mumbai and Pat Cummins scored a 15 ball 56*, with four fours and six sixes.

And now consider the differences - In the 2018 game, Rahul opened the innings. Scoreboard pressure was the same as in any run chase of a 160 odd target. At the other end his opening partner was Mayank Agarwal (who fell for 7 to Chris Morris) and he had the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Karun Nair, David Miller and Marcus Stoinis coming in after that.