From IPL archives: Best Playing XI of 2009 season

After a successful inaugural edition, the league took a major blow as the dates of the second season of the IPL clashed with the dates of the general elections in India. It led BCCI to think of an alternative place to host the second season. South Africa got the nod from the BCCI to host the second edition of the Indian Premier League.

Although there was a change in location and the audience, the second season of the league turned out to be a huge success. It also contributed in promoting cricket to the global audience.

The second season of the Indian Premier League shaped many cricketing careers. The league paved way for many young cricketers to showcase their skills. Some players took the opportunity and excelled while some had a tough time on the pitch.

Here are a few players who had a stellar season and thus made into the best playing XI of the second season of the IPL.

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1. Matthew Hayden (Chennai Super Kings)

Matthew Hayden

Matches Played: 12

Runs Scored: 572

Strike-Rate: 144.81

The tall left-hander from Australia had played just four matches in the first season with a decent outing but came roaring back in the second edition of IPL. He scored a mammoth 572 runs from just 12 innings and helped Chennai Super Kings finish at second place in the points table. He almost single-handedly won matches for Chennai Super Kings with his destructive batting.

Even having played fewer matches than many players, Hayden emerged as the top scorer of the league. He scored 572 runs at a thunderous strike-rate of 144.81 which helped Chennai Super Kings get off to a flier during the powerplays.

Hayden was not just famous for his aggressive batting but also for his trend during later years in the third season of IPL by unveiling his new bat called Mongoose. This bat was a huge hit among the fans.

2. Adam Gilchrist (Capt & WK ) (Deccan Chargers)

Adam Gilchrist

Matches Played: 16

Runs Scored: 495

Strike-Rate: 152.30

To pair up with Hayden, we have fellow Australian Adam Gilchrist who was the wicket-keeper as well as the captain of the Deccan Chargers. His innings against Delhi Daredevils in the semi-finals will have a special mention in the history books of IPL.

He scored 85 runs off just 35 balls against Delhi in the rain-shortened semi-final. It is one of the most brutal innings of IPL. It was also the fastest IPL fifty back then it as it came off just 17 deliveries.

The team which had an embarrassing finish in the first edition with just two wins from 14 matches, went on to become the eventual champions of the 2009 edition.

He scored 495 runs from 16 matches with a strike-rate of 152.30. He also smashed 29 sixes which was the highest number of sixes by any batsman in the second edition of IPL.

3. Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)

Suresh Raina

Matches Played: 14

Runs Scored: 434

Strike-Rate: 140.90

The 22-year-old youngster from Uttar Pradesh took some huge steps in the shortest format of the game. Raina had a brilliant outing in the first season of the IPL. Continuing his good form in the second season as well, Raina had a stellar season with both bat and ball.

He scored 434 runs from 14 matches with a wonderful strike-rate of 140.90. He impressed everyone not just with his batting and fielding but also with his bowling. The part-time off-spinner scalped seven wickets in 14 matches with an amazing economy of 5.92.

His knock of 98 runs from 55 deliveries including 10 fours and five sixes against Rajasthan Royals is one of the best knocks by an Indian in Indian Premier League.

4. AB de Villiers (Delhi Daredevils)

AB De Villiers

Matches Played: 15

Runs Scored: 465

Strike-Rate: 130.98

AB De Villiers had a very quiet IPL in the first season as he played 6 matches and managed to score just 95 runs. But AB was in cracking form during the second season of the IPL. Playing at his home turf, AB scored 465 runs from 13 innings with an impressive strike-rate of 130.98.

Coming in the middle order and scoring bulk of runs with a healthy strike-rate helped the Delhi Daredevils finish at the top of the points table. He played a vital role in Delhi winning 10 out of 14 matches in the league stage.

He was only one of two batsmen who scored a century in the season alongside Manish Pandey. His match-winning innings of 105 runs from just 54 deliveries against the Chennai Super Kings included five fours and six sixes. It showed the world a glimpse of what the South African would go on to do in the coming years.

5. Rohit Sharma (Deccan Chargers)

Rohit Sharma

Matches Played: 16

Runs Scored: 362

Wickets Taken: 11

The Mumbaikar who made a name for himself in the T-20 World Cup 2007, played brilliantly during the inaugural edition of Indian Premier League. He scored 362 runs from 16 matches. Batting in the middle order for Deccan Chargers, Rohit provided solidity to the batting lineup.

Having taken only one wicket in the first season with the ball, Rohit came a long way and scalped 11 wickets from the 12 innings in which he bowled. Rohit Sharma's improbable hat-trick against Mumbai Indians helped change the course of the match and steered Deccan Charges to the victory. He picked up the wickets of Abhishek Nayar, Harbhajan Singh and the well set JP Duminy to complete a famous hat-trick.

His hat-trick is one of the memorable moments in IPL history.

6. Yuvraj Singh (Kings XI Punjab)

Yuvraj Singh

Matches Played: 14

Runs Scored: 340

Wickets Taken: 6

Yuvraj Singh, one of the best all-rounders that India has ever produced, was one of the key players in the Kings XI Punjab setup.

He was the top scorer for Kings XI Punjab with an aggregate of 340 runs from 14 matches. KXIP who finished at second place in the points table during the first season, couldn't make it to the semi-finals in the second season due to a poor net run-rate.

However, Yuvraj Singh was the key man for the team finishing at fifth place with seven wins and seven losses. He smashed 16 sixes in the tournament helping his team flourish in the death overs.

He picked up 6 wickets from the 9 innings in which he bowled and provided a great balance to his team as a finisher and a part-time spinner.

7. Irfan Pathan (Kings XI Punjab)

Irfan Pathan

Matches Played: 14

Wickets Taken: 17

Runs Scored: 196

The left-arm medium fast bowler had a brilliant outing in the first season and picked up 15 wickets. He was very good with the ball in the second season as well, finishing as the leading wicket-taker for his team. He helped in providing crucial breakthroughs to his team early in the innings and picked up wickets in the death overs as well with his toe-crushing yorkers.

He picked up 17 wickets from the 14 matches and was effective with the bat as well scoring 196 runs from the 12 innings he played. Irfan Pathan is one of the best fast bowling all-rounders India has produced and he did no harm to his reputation during the first two seasons of the IPL.

8. Anil Kumble (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Anil Kumble

Matches Played: 16

Wickets Taken: 21

Economy: 5.86

India's greatest spinner ever, Anil Kumble, coming on the back of a decent outing in the first season of IPL, proved his mettle in the shortest format of the game as well with his stellar bowling performance in the second season.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore’s captain spun a magic web and picked up 21 wickets from 16 matches which was also the second highest in the tournament. His economy rate of 5.86 suggests how deceptive he was throughout the tournament.

Leading his side's bowling attack, Kumble recorded his career-best figures in IPL history with 5-5 against Rajasthan Royals. Defending a total of 133 runs, Kumble showed why he is one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, finishing with the magical figures of 3.1-1-5-5 and leaving the Royals all out for just 58 runs.

Kumble led the Royal Challengers Bangalore into the finals of the second edition of Indian Premier League.

9. RP Singh (Deccan Chargers)

R.P Singh

Matches Played: 16

Wickets Taken: 23

Economy: 6.98

RP Singh was the best bowler for Deccan Chargers in the first season having picked up 17 wickets. He continued his good form in the second season as well.

He was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament, picking up 23 wickets from just 16 matches. The fast incoming delivery from the left arm swing bowler caused havoc to the batsmen during the entire tournament.

He was Gilchrist's go-to man in crunch situations and came up with the goods all the time.

RP Singh led the bowling attack of Deccan Chargers along with P Ojha. These two aggregated 41 wickets between them and helped the Deccan Chargers in clinching their first ever title.

RP Singh was awarded the Purple cap for leading the wicket-takers' chart.

10. Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)

Lasith Malinga

Matches Played: 13

Wickets Taken: 18

Economy: 6.30

Having missed out the first season due to injury, Malinga made his presence felt in the second season. The Sri Lankan yorker machine was the best bowler for Mumbai Indians in the second season of IPL.

Malinga scalped 18 wickets from 13 matches with an economy rate of 6.30. His unique bowling action and the unusual angle he produces through the hands caused a lot of chaos in the minds of the batsmen.

Malinga was exceptional during the death overs. His deadly yorkers with thundering pace was an uphill task for any batsman. His ability to bowl yorkers at will was an asset to the team.

This season gave an illustration of Malinga's future career as he went on to become one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history.

11. Ashish Nehra (Delhi Daredevils)

Ashish Nehra

Matches Played: 13

Wickets Taken: 19

Economy: 6.78

Mumbai Indians’ most successful bowler during the first season was bought by the Delhi Daredevils in the second season. It did not make any difference to Nehra’s performance as he continued his fine form with Delhi.

Nehra was assigned to lead the pace attack and he didn't disappoint the management. He scalped 19 wickets from 13 matches and was one of the major reasons why Delhi Daredevils finished at the top of the points table in the second season.

His ability to break partnerships and contain runs at the end helped the Delhi Daredevils in restricting the opposition. Nehra along with Pradeep Sangwan and Dirk Nannes, picked up 49 wickets. Nehra ended up as the third highest wicket-taker in the second season of IPL.