IPL 2015: Team of the week (April 20 to 25)

As we have come to the end of the third week of the Indian Premier League 2015, the tournament has become a lot more intense with teams just a few points away from each other in the points table.As many as ten matches were played in the past week. It wasnt’ a good week for table toppers Rajashthan Royals as they lost two and tied one (Match abandoned due to rain) after winning 5 matches in a row. RCB was one of the biggest gainers this week as they won two games convincingly and moved to 4th position in the table.Here is a look at the top performers from the past week the best eleven that can be picked from them. The XI is picked in accordance with their performance in the past week irrespective of their position in the batting order.

#1 Shreyas Iyer - DD

Shreyas Iyer

The 20-year old Shreyas Iyer has been a revelation for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League (IPL) so far, specially after his match-winning knock of 83 off 56 deliveries in the game against Mumbai Indians last week. He shared an outstanding partnership of 154 runs with skipper JP Duminy in the game as DD beat MI by 37 runs.

Opening the innings, he scored a watchful 31 off 38 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) when his side was looking to be in touble after wickets had fallen early.

#2 Ajinkya Rahane - RR

One of the most consistent performers for the Rajathan Royals in all seasons of the IPL has been opener Ajinkya Rahane. The right-hander has been in sparkling form this season as he is the current Orange Cap holder (Leading run-scorer) in the IPL scoring 323 in the 8 games he has played so far.

Rahane scored a brilliant 74 off 52 deliveries with 6 boundaries and 2 sixes against Kings XI Punjab. However, the game ended in a tie as KXIP levelled the score posted by Rajasthan Royals (191 runs) which lead to a Super-over in which KXIP came out victorious.

#3 Shikhar Dhawan - SRH

One of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting Mainstray – Shikhar Dhawan has finally found some form in the India Premier League this season after putting up two good performances back to back this past week. Dhawan scored 54 off 46 deliveries and shared a 130-run stand with his opening partner David Warner in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders. Sunrisers eded up with 176 for 4 in 20 overs but due to an hour long rain delay, the revised target for KKR turned out to be 118 from 12 overs. The Knight Riders could only manage 101 for four in 12 overs.

In the next game against Mumbai Indians, left-handed Dhawan scored a quick-fire 42 off 29 balls which constituted of 7 boundaries and provided a good start to the Sunrisers.

#4 David Warner - SRH

Skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad, David Warner, has been in great form in this season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He is the second highest run getter in the tournament (259 runs in 6 matches) after Ajinkya Rahane. His blistering innings of 91 off 55 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) helped SRH set up a target of 177 for the hosts.

Warner is know to be one of the most destructive openers in the world and has the ability to change a game on its head singlehandedly. Sunrisers’ success depends a lot on how the Australian fares in this tournament.

#5 Virat Kohli - RCB

Even though the Royal Challengers Bangalore have big hitters like Gayle and de Villiers in their ranks, it is Virat Kohli who is their most consistent performer with the bat. Virat can play the anchor role and also, use the long handle when required.

In the 3 matches that RCB played this week, the Skipper has done really well scoring 2 fiftes and a 35 not-out. His top score (62* off 42 deliveries) came in the game against Rajasthan Royals which RCB won convincingly. This week has been a good one for RCB as they won 2 out of the 3 matches they played and are currently placed 4^th in the points table.

#6 Suresh Raina - CSK

Suresh Raina is the most capped player in the Indian Premier League and has not missed a game yet for Chennai Super Kings since the inception of IPL. Raina, who is known for his big hitting in shorter format of the game, had a good week for CSK with the bat as he scored a quick-fire 62 off 32 balls, which consisted of 6 sixes, against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In the next game against Kings XI Punjab, he chipped in with 29 runs playing the anchor role when McCullum and Dhoni went berserk. CSK went on to win the game by a huge margin of 97 runs.

#7 Brendon McCullum - CSK

Wicketkeeper-batsman, Brendon McCullum, was the one who got IPL off to an electrifying start by smashing 158 runs for the Kolkata Knight Riders. He was bought by Chennai Super Kings in the 2014 IPL Player Auction and in that very season, he scored a total of 405 runs in 14 matches.

This season, McCulllum has scored 232 runs in 6 matches CSK have played so far. His innings of 66 off 44 balls at the Chepauk helped CSK set up a huge target of 193 against Kings XI Punjab. Chennai have won both the games they have played this week and are sitting firm at the 2^nd position in the points table.

#8 Mitchell Starc - RCB

Just days ahead of the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 8th edition, Royal Challengers Bangalore had suffered a huge blow as Mitchell Starc had been sidelined with an injury. Left-arm pacer Starc had a wonderful World Cup campaign this year as he took 22 wickets at 10.18 runs per wicket with an economy rate of 3.50 runs per over. He was also adjudged player of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 for his performance.

After being fit again, Starc made a strong comeback into the RCB team as he scalped 7 wickets in 3 games at an average of just 9.42 with best figures of 3-20 in the game against Delhi Daredevils. The Australian has been instrumental in the last couple of games that RCB have won.

#9 Imran Tahir - DD

South Africam leg-spinner, Imran Tahir, has had a wonderful IPL this season for Delhi Daredevils as he is the current holder of the Purple Cap (Highest wicket taker) with 13 wickets in 7 matches in the BCCI sponsored T20 extravaganza.

Though DD have had an average outing so far this season, Tahir has been consistent with the ball, taking wickets and keeping the batsman in check. His spell of 3-22 in 4 overs helped Delhi beat Mumbai Indians by 37 runs. Their bowling attack had taken a blow when the news of Shami being ruled out of the entire season broke out.

#10 Ashish Nehra - CSK

Love him or hate him but you can never ignore him. The 35 year old, Ashish Nehra has again proved that age is just a number in cricket. You need to be passionate enough to prolong your cricketing career. That is what the case is with Ashish Nehra. The tall left-arm fast bowler has had a string of good performances for the Chennai Super Kings this season.

Nehra is just behind Imran Tahir in the race for the Purple Cap holder as he has scapled 12 wickets in 6 games he has played so far. His outstanding figures of 4-0-10-4 against Royal Challngers Banaglore and 4-0-16-2 against Kings XI Punjab, has proved that he is still the best bowler for CSK by far.

#11 Yuzvendra Chahal - RCB

Yuzvendra Chahal has arguably been the best bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore so far. In the 5 matches Chahal has played this season, he has scalped 10 wickets with an average of 14.90. The leg spinner has been brave in flighting the ball in these Indian pitches which have short boundaries.

He took 3 crucial wickets of McCullum, Raina and Dhoni in the game against Chennai Super Kings past week though RCB lost that game. In the game against Rajasthan Royals he ended up with fugures of 2-25.