NEW DELHI: As the halfway stage of IPL 2017 rolled over, week four of the tournament (April 27-May 3) saw a stunning spike in form from a team that had threatened to unravel not so long ago. In the past week, as RPS won three out of three, his bowling has fetched him seven wickets at an economy rate of 6.75. Of Tahir's seven wickets, five have been proper batsmen.During the 61-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, Tahir ran through the lower order with the scalps of Pawan Negi , Adam Milne and Samuel Badree as the visitors crashed to 96 all out. In those four overs, he bowled 12 dot balls - which is two full overs of deliveries not scored off.Against Gujarat Lions, who were beaten with one ball left, Tahir's figures were 3/27 in four overs, his wickets being Ishan Kishan, Aaron Finch and Dwayne Smith as the opposition slipped from 55 without loss in 5.5 overs to 94/4 after ten.Most recently against heavyweight Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Tahir managed only one wicket but it was a big one: the dangerous Yusuf Pathan, hit flush in line with the stumps for 4 off 16 balls. He should have had a second wicket, but Dan Christian parried the ball over the boundary for six instead.Tahir's rocking-baby celebrations and frenzied, uncoordinated runs around the ground after taking wickets have made for fun viewing to spectators, but it his legspin which has proved immensely valuable to a franchise who've gone from downbeat to genuine title contenders.

Source: Times of India May 04, 2017 05:31 UTC