English wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow has thoroughly enjoyed his first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 29-year-old English cricketer played his last match in the ongoing IPL 2019 season on last Tuesday (23rd April) night when his team Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) faced the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chennai.
Though the SRH opening batsman scored a duck in that last match, the right-handed batsman played impressive cricket during his maiden IPL stint.
Playing for SRH in IPL 2019, Jonny Bairstow scored 445 runs in ten innings with an average of 55.62 and strike-rate of 157.24. When he finished his maiden IPL season journey, he was the second most run-scorer in IPL 2019.
The prominent batsman Bairstow hit a solitary century and two half-centuries in this IPL season. He was one of the aggressive cricketers in this IPL season who struck 48 fours and 18 sixes respectively.
Talking about his experience in his first IPL season, Jonny Bairstow claimed that he loved to play with SRH.
During his last match in IPL 2019, Jonny Bairstow said at the innings break, “I’ve absolutely loved it. Not my day today but the experience has been unbelievable. The guys here at Sunrisers have been really good. Lot to learn from. I think the main thing is to have confidence in your own ability. Top of the order, going out there and playing the way you like. Today it didn’t come off but I think the boys have done well.”
SRH failed to win the Chennai match against CSK
Bairstow failed to open his account in that match. However, another opener David Warner and the No.3 batsman Manish Pandey played big innings that helped SRH to put 175/3 (20 overs) on the board in the first innings. The Orange Cap holder David Warner scored 57 runs off 45 balls while Pandey remained not out on 83 runs off just 49 balls.
However, SRH failed to defend that total against the home side. CSK opener Shane Watson played a brilliant innings of 96 runs off 53 balls that helped CSK to chase down that target in 19.5 overs after losing four wickets (176/4).
Jonny Bairstow opened up his experience with David Warner –
Bairstow also enjoyed batting with the Australian cricketer David Warner in this IPL campaign. The opening pair aggregated 791 runs partnership in this IPL season with an impressive average of 79.10. In the ongoing IPL season, they had four hundred-plus partnerships and three half-century partnerships.
Talking about his batting experiences with David Warner, Jonny Bairstow added, “It’s been fantastic batting at the top of the order with him. If he gets off to a flier, I like to take my time and vice versa.”
Now, Bairstow is now preparing for the upcoming 2019 World Cup. England and Wales will host the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup from 30th May to 14th July.
Before the World Cup, Bairstow will feature in the five-match home ODI series against Pakistan that will run from 8th May to 19th May.
After the World Cup, England will also play the home Ashes series against Australia (1st August to 16th September).