The 2016 version of the IPL to put it kindly has failed to really infuse the cricketing fanatics with any kind enthusiasm. The tournament so far has been littered with one-sided contests and half-empty stands.
The general public has so far remain detached from the tournament. While the cricket fanatics might be suffering from an overdose of cricket following the recently the recently concluded World T20, the first week of action in the IPL has gifted us many a rollicking performance to store in our mind palaces.
Taking the first ten games into stock and keeping the quota of four foreigners, we present to you the Team of the week for Week 1 of the IPL.
Honourable mention: Manan Vohra
Quinton de Kock
After a couple of scratchy season in the IPL, Quinton de Kock seems to have earmarked this year’s edition as his coming out party. The young South African etched his mark in the IPL this year with a trailblazing knock of 108 from 51 balls against the Royal Challengers Bangalore to help the Delhi Daredevils chase down a daunting target of 192.
Before the game at the Chinnaswamy stadium, De Kock seemed to be the only reliable batsman at the top of the order for Delhi. After falling down like a house of cards against the Kolkata Knight Rider, the Daredevils made a formidable comeback against Punjab with De Kock chipping in with a handy half-century.
Then, to top the week off, the elegant 23-year old helped Delhi to a memorable victory at the Chinnaswamy. De Kock currently stands third in the race for the orange cap with 184 runs from three innings at an average of 92 and an astounding strike-rate of 178.64.
Aaron Finch
After a disappointing World T20, which saw Finch play only one game for Australia, Aaron Finch is certainly pointing out what the Aussies missed on the sub-continental pitches. The last foreign player to be bought at the IPL auction, that too at his base price is making the Gujarat Lions front office look like geniuses.
Currently placed at no. 2 in the ICC T20 batsmen ranking, the Aussie has taken the IPL by storm. The man from Victoria has notched up three consecutive man of the match awards for his performances with the willow while helping the Gujarat Lions to the top of the table.
His knock of 67 to pull off a last-ball victory against the Mumbai Indians on Friday goes to show the kind of talent that he is. The man from Victoria currently stands second in the race for the orange cap with 191 runs from 3 games at an average of 95.50 and a strike rate of 139.41.
Gautam Gambhir
The Indian left-hander looks to be back to his best this year, leading the Kolkata Knight riders from the front with his formidable stroke.The IPL has always been one of Gambhir's favourite tournaments to shine. However, less than memorable last couple of years has seen the Delhite lose his place in the India team set-up while also facing the humiliation of scoring three consecutive ducks in IPL 2014.
However, that seems to be a tale of the past as the 34-year-old seems to exude confidence that was attached to him in his heydays. There seems to be confidence in his movement as well as footwork which has resulted in him scoring a flurry of runs.
His latest innings of 90* to guide his team to a comfortable eight-wicket win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad exemplified the rich vein of form he is in currently. Gambhir currently leads the race for the orange cap with 192 runs in three games at an astounding average of 192 and a strike rate of 125.49.
Virat Kohli
The Indian star seems to have taken off from exactly where he left in the World T20. The Royal Challengers skipper continues to dazzle the cricketing world with his graceful footwork and mesmerising strokeplay.
The Indian test captain has hit two half-centuries in two innings this season, taking his tally of fifties to five in his last six T20 innings. After leading his team to a comfortable win over Sunrisers Hyderabad with a knock of 75, it seemed like he was about to do the same after a blistering innings of 79 from 48 balls against Delhi. That was before Quinton de Kock decided that he didn’t quite like the script.
AB de Villiers
The South African seems to have put the disappointments of the World T20 behind him and has come roaring out in the IPL. The blade which has cut its own niche in the cricketing world seems to be back; redirecting deliveries to all parts of the ground.
The only man in world cricket who can genuinely take full advantage of all the angles afforded on a cricket ground is back at his best and that's bad news for all bowlers. After hitting a breathtaking 82 in his first game to help Bangalore to a victory, he hit another quick fire 55 only to see his countryman De Kock make the headlines with his brilliant knock of 104. His strike rate of 182.66 is currently the best amongst the top ten run-getters so far this season.
Andre Russell
When the Kolkata Knight Riders grabbed Andre Russell in the IPL auction two years earlier there was widespread scepticism regarding the buy as the Windies talent failed to really captivate the IPL during his stint with Delhi. Two years on and the phrase “the rest as they is history” can easily be attributed to the purchase.
Russell not only provides Kolkata with the option of that hard hitter at the death but also has given Kolkata the option to bowl both with the new ball as well as in the death. The Jamaican is currently second in the race for the purple cap with 5 wickets in three games whilst his knock of 36 from 17 balls against the Mumbai Indians reminded us again about his destructive abilities with the willow.
Ravindra Jadeja
Whilst missing a game for the Gujarat Lions due to his marriage, Ravindra Jadeja has proved in his two games his all around worth to his team. The southpaw is yet to hit it off his bat but has picked up handy wicket whenever Suresh Raina has looked for him to deliver.
His four wickets in these two games help him land him in this place with no other Indian all-rounder yet making a bigger impact on the IPL so far.
Sandeep Sharma
Kings XI Punjab haven’t got off to the best of starts this season with two losses in their first three games. But that has not been due to lack of trying by Sandeep Sharma. The lanky Indian pacer has picked up four wickets in his three games while maintaining an outstanding run-rate of 5.55 per over.
His victims at the top of the order have so far been big names such as Brendon McCullum and Ajinkya Rahane with Sharma picking up a wicket every 13.5 balls.
Amit Mishra
The man from Haryana has always been one of the superstars in the IPL. He has not only picked up wickets wherever he has been, Mishra also has three hat-tricks to his name in the tournament.
After a less than inspiring campaign for Delhi last year, many had thought that the leg-spinner was approaching the dusk of his career. Mishra seems to have other plans and his performances have spoken for him and his capabilities.
His figures of 4 for 11 against Punjab has been the best for any bowler so far this year. Mishra currently stands tied for second place with 5 wickets.
Murugan Ashwin
The leg-spinner has been one of the biggest revelation in this year’s IPL. Once a net bowler for the Chennai Super Kings, the Tamil Naidu native was supposed to play second fiddle to his more experienced namesake Ravichandran Ashwin.
Someone, however, seems to have forgotten to give him the script. The young 25-year-old has taken over the mantle of the more dangerous of the two Ashwins; picking up six wickets in his three games.
The lad from Chennai currently is tied with Mitchell McClenaghan and Dwayne Bravo at the top in the race for the purple cap whilst picking up a wicket at a rate of 12 and giving away only 6.91 runs per over.
Umesh Yadav
While Pravin Tambe might have done better, the lookout for a pacer lands us here. Umesh Yadav has been the pick of the Indian pacers so far this season. After a spell of 0/21 in three overs in Kolkata’s opener, the quickie ripped through the Sunrisers Hyderabad batting line-up on Saturday.
Yadav's spell of 3 for 28 helped set-up a relatively easy chase for his team; which was duly completed with Gautam Gambhir guiding the Knight Riders home for their second win of the season.
Check RCB Squad 2024 Details. Follow Sportskeeda for IPL 2024 Live Score, Schedule, Points Table
