This IPL, we witnessed some sensational performances from, both, the legends of the game as well as youngsters who are making a mark for themselves. So, choosing the best eleven from the plethora of talent that was on display is far from easy. However, I have gone ahead and given a shot at it.
Sticking to the rules of the league, I have got 4 internationals in the side, in addition to the 7 Indians. So here goes my team of the tournament.
KL Rahul
Lokesh Rahul was absolutely sensational throughout the IPL. With an almost non-existent middle-order, he was Kings XI’s batting backbone. Ended up as the third highest run-getter this season with 659 runs at a strike rate of 158.41 in 14 games.
KL Rahul scored the fastest IPL fifty, off 14 balls
He was definitely one of the top 3 batsmen this season and as a result was a fairly easy pick in the best XI.
Ambati Rayudu
Choosing Rahul as the first opener was easy, but choosing a player to partner him was anything but. Narine had a brilliant season with the bat and a lot of KKR wins were made possible because of his belligerent hitting early on in the innings. With the ball too, Narine was more than a handful, picking up 17 wickets in the season. However, in order to keep the side balanced, I had to leave out Narine and have Rayudu in his place.
Having played as a middle-order batsman for most of his IPL career, Rayudu was asked to open the batting for CSK. It proved to be an inspirational move, as Rayudu flourished in that role. With Faf coming into the side, Rayudu was shifted to the middle-order a few times, but still the runs continued to flow from his willow. Rayudu finished with 602 runs in the tournament and they came at a very healthy strike rate of 149.75.
Kane Williamson(c)
If someone had told Kane Williamson, before the IPL begun, that he would be the Orange cap holder at the end of it, he would have had a good laugh over it. As he was not even assured of a spot in the starting XI, with Warner around.
However, a lot transpired in between and Kane ended up being the captain of SRH for the season. He not only ended up scoring 735 runs at a 140+ strike rate, thereby winning the Orange cap, but also captained the side phenomenally well. He guided them till the final hurdle, but there they lost to the brilliance of just one man, Shane Watson.
An extremely calm guy under pressure, Williamson will be the captain of my side. He has also been very bold and innovative with his strategies.
Hit 8 half-centuries, the maximum by any player this year
Rishabh Pant(wk)
Rishabh Pant is one of those players who doesn’t hit the ball, he just destroys it. He had an IPL season which he will remember for a long long time. Played some breath-taking cricket throughout the season, but it could just not translate into wins for DD as they ended up at the bottom of the group.
Pant, however, made a significant contribution to the league and kept everyone glued to their seats when on strike. He finished the league as the second highest run-scorer, having played 3 less games than Williamson, scoring 684 runs at a breath-taking strike rate of 173.6.
He also took home a couple of awards and a cool 20 lakh rupees to go with it. The stylish player of the season as well as the Emerging player award were both given to Pant, which sums up the season that he had.
Pant was a very easy choice to make because of the season that he had. This side has no shortage of wicket-keepers, but he will be keeping wickets for the side.
Now holds the highest score(128*) by an Indian in IPL
Dinesh Karthik
Next in after Pant, I have gone for Dinesh Karthik at number 5. I had to choose between either Dhoni or Kartik and I went for the latter.
Both of them had brilliant seasons with the bat, scoring almost the same amount of runs at almost similar strike rates, so there was hardly anything to choose between the two. So, it was a very difficult choice for me to make.
I have chosen Karthik as he was aggressive from the outset while Dhoni took his time before he went after the bowling. This aggressive approach from him helped take the pressure off the other batsmen as well. Karthik also stayed till the end and finished a lot of matches for KKR this time around. So, with the two explosive all-rounders to follow, I think Karthik gives the side a tad more aggression to it, which I would love to have.
Karthik has amassed 498 runs at a strike rate of almost 150. With KKR having quite a few injury concerns throughout the tournament, Karthik must also be given credit to the way he led them till the play-offs.
Hardik Pandya
Now coming the all-rounders, I have two very high quality all-rounders in the side. First up, I have gone for Hardik Pandya at number 6.
While Hardik Pandya has been more of a batsman than a bowler, this season he has been more prolific with the ball than the bat. Ended up as MI’s highest wicket-taker this season, with 18 wickets at a slightly high economy rate of 8.92. Although the economy was on the higher side, he got MI those much needed breakthroughs at crucial junctures, which the lead bowlers in the side were unable to.
In addition to his batting, he also scored 260 runs at a strike rate of 133.33. Add to it, his athletic fielding, Hardik Pandya could just not be omitted from this team.
Andre Russell
Next in the batting order I have got Andre Russell. H Pandya and Russell coming in at number 6 and 7 gives the side the much needed batting might lower down the order.
Not being fully fit, Russell still managed to go through the entire IPL without missing a single game. Credit must be given to Karthik for the way he handled him, especially in their bowling.
Russell played some highly impactful cameos throughout the season. He ended up scoring 316 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 184.79. In addition to his batting, he also played a significant part in the KKR bowling line-up, leading the pace attack in the absence of other senior bowlers. He finished the season with 13 wickets at an expensive economy rate of 9.28.
Though the numbers might not look exceptional, the impact that Russell had, with both bat and ball in hand, contributed significantly to KKR’s run in the tournament.
Rashid Khan
In at number 8 is the best spinner this season, Rashid Khan. He was, as always, highly economical throughout the season, except a couple of matches against Kings XI.
Having an economy rate of 6.73 in a T20 game is a rarity, Rashid managed to have that across the entire tournament. This, in itself, is a testament to this guy’s mastery in T20s. He picked up 21 wickets as well, to go with his miserly economy rate.
Coming in to bowl after the powerplays, Rashid, more often than not, put the brakes in the opposition’s scoring with his wide variety of deliveries. He was also highly effective in the death overs.
It just just doesn’t end there. He is an exceptional fielder as well, took some sensational catches this season. And to top it all, he can strike some mighty blows with the bat, which was in full view in the playoff game against KKR. Had it not been for Rashid’s cameo, SRH were almost out of the game in the first innings itself.
All in all, a complete package nobody would want to miss out on. And as I do not have any other front-line spinner, Williamson can bowl a bit if needed, Rashid’s role, as an attacking bowler, becomes all the more important.
Andrew Tye
The purple cap winner this season, AJ Tye, had an exceptional season with the ball. He is someone who can be called upon to bowl at any time in an innings. He is equally effective at the start as well as at the death.
Picking up three 4-fers this season, ended up with 24 wickets in total. These came at a decent economy rate of 8. For someone who bowls atleast 2 of his quota of 4 overs at the death, these are good numbers.
Tye, like Rashid, can strike a few meaty blows at the death. But I have chosen him in the side for his bowling and his runs with the bat will be a bonus.
Registered three 4 fer’s in the tournament
Umesh Yadav
Next in is Umesh Yadav. Though, RCB as a side, did not have a great season, Umesh Yadav stood out.
He was simply unplayable at the start of the innings. Kohli used him superbly as well. Knowing that he tends to be quite expensive in the slog overs and also loses his effectiveness, Umesh’s quota of 4 overs were used up within the 14th over.
Picked up 20 wickets at an economy rate of 7.86. Most of his wickets came in the powerplays, which helped RCB to peg the opposition back early in the contest.
Umesh Yadav picked up the most number of wickets in powerplay this year
Siddharth Kaul
Kaul completes the list. He has been pretty consistent over the past few years. This year was no different for him.
Kaul’s variety of slower balls and perfect yorkers make him a very difficult bowler to get away at the death. SRH therefore used him quite a lot during that period of the game.
Kaul picked up 21 wickets at an economy rate of 8.28. Just like Tye, for someone who bowls more in the death, the economy rate is quite good.
So the bowling line-up has Rashid Khan, AJ Tye, Umesh Yadav and Siddharth Kaul. And I have Russell and H Pandya as my two all-rounders. This gives me 6 proper bowling options, so even if one of them has an off day, I do not need to go searching for players who can complete the quota of 4 overs.
Also, with Yadav bowling at the start and Kaul coming at the back end, not to forget Tye who can do well at both places, I have the attack that can contain the opposition to a decent enough score. And the batting power and depth that I have got should be able to set or even chase a very good score.
Team of the Tournament
KL Rahul
Ambati Rayudu
Kane Williamson
Rishabh Pant
Dinesh Karthik
Hardik Pandya
Andre Russell
Rashid Khan
Andrew Tye
Umesh Yadav
Siddharth Kaul
So, this is my team of the tournament. Go ahead and pick yours.