After around 40 days of gruelling and intense action, 4 teams have managed to secure their berth in the playoffs. While Mumbai Indians have looked the most dominating and complete team of them all, the other 3 teams have had to put in a lot of effort to qualify for the knockouts.
However, there have been players from the ousted teams who shone brightly in an otherwise dismal campaign for their teams and hence deserve to be singled out for praise. Over the 40 days, these players have been consistent and have given them all but owing to lack of performances from other players the team did not quite benefit.
As we enter the final lap in this year’s IPL, here is the combined XI after the playoffs.
#1 David Warner (SRH)
The Sunrisers Hyderabad captain has been a dominant force once again and has raced past all other contenders and is currently donning the orange cap. In the 13 matches this season, Warner has plundered 604 runs at an average of 60.40 and with a strike rate of 144.84.
This effort includes a century and 4 half centuries and 1 century and he has been a talisman for his team at the top of the order. He will also captain the side.
#2 Rahul Tripathi (RPS)
The young man from Maharashtra has been one of the finds this season and has forced everyone to sit and take notice of his talent and unbridled abilty with the bat. He was drafted into the team after the first 2 matches and ever since has been an integral part of Pune’s scheme of things.
He holds the record for scoring 6 consecutive 30s in IPL and has invariably given Pune a flying start in almost every game. Such has been his brilliance that he has managed to overshadow Ajinkya Rahane who has struggled to get going.
In 12 matches, Tripathi has scored 388 runs at an average of 32.33 and with a strike rate of 150.97. His innings of 93 against the Kolkata Knight Riders is one of innings of the tournament.
#3 Shikhar Dhawan (SRH)
Before the tournament started, KL Rahul had announced that he will not be a part of the Champions Trophy squad and this opened the window of opportunity for Shikhar Dhawan as the opener. After a slightly scrathcy start, the left hander got going and soon he became an instrumental part of the team and played several innings of substance for the defending champions.
In 13 matches, Dhawan has scored 468 runs at an average of 39 and with a strike rate of 128.92. He is second highest run scorer this season and has also been roped into the Indian squad.
#4 Robin Uthappa (KKR)
Robin Uthappa did not have an entirely great domestic season, but he turned it all around in this year’s IPL and has been a solid figure for KKR with the bat. He has been given the role of a middle order batsman and has done an admirable job of it. Uthappa was at his dominant best and put all the bowlers to sword right from the word go.
In 11 innings, he scored 386 runs at an average of 35 and with a strike rate of 167. Another consistent season for the man from Karnataka!.
#5 Ben Stokes (RPS)
The million dollar man proved to be worth every penny for Pune as he was a huge component in their resurgence from obscurity to the number 2 spot.
The combative all-rounder was superb with the ball and with the bat and won more than 5 matches all by himself. If this was not enough, he was like a train on the field and pulled off some amazing catches in the outfield.
In 12 matches, Stokes scored 316 runs at an average of 31. This included a century against the Gujarat Lions and many believe it to be the best innings this season. With the ball, he picked up 12 wickets at an economy of just 7.18. He was entrusted with bowling all the pressure overs and time and again came out with flying colours.
#6 Chris Morris (DD)
Once again, Morris was one of the standout performers for Delhi, but unfortunately the team could not utilise him to the best of his ability. He was often pushed down way to low in the batting order as a result of which he could have any substantial say on the result of the match. Despite this, he scored 154 runs in 9 innings at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 160.
With the ball, he was fast, nasty and very accurate and picked up 12 wickets in 9 innings at an economy of 7.74.
#7 Krunal Pandya (MI)
The older Pandya did his reputation no harm this season both with the bat and ball and was one of the gun players for the Mumbai Indians this season.
He was very tight with the ball and not only stalled the flow of runs but also picked up wickets in the middle overs. He has picked up 10 wickets in the 10 matches he has featured in with his tight left arm spin.
With the bat he has become the finisher for Mumbai, but has also displayed great temparement as he has been able to soak up the pressure.
He has scored 136 runs in the 100 balls he has faced so far which is a fair indication of his worth.
#8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH)
The best bowler of this season, Bhuvneshwar has been to bowling what Warner is to batting for the defending champions. He has just picked up wickets whenever it has been expected of him. With the new ball he has got the ball to swing perfectly but has reserved his best for the death overs where he has been superb with his yorkers and changes of pace.
He has picked up 25 wickets in the 13 matches with an economy rate of 6.97 and is the proud owner of the purple cap.
#9 Rashid Khan (SRH)
The young Rashid has been the story of this year’s IPL. Plucked out from Afghanistan, he has been one of the stars this season as he has befuddled almost all the batsmen with his immaculate leg spin and the mysterious googly.
In 13 matches he has picked up 17 wickets at an economy of 6.67. These are remarkable numbers for a young man playing at such a huge stage for the first time.
#10 Jaydev Unadkat (RPS)
One of the surprising performers this season, Unadkat has been the answer to many of Pune’s problems as he has been the solution with the ball.
The young Saurashtra man has picked up wickets both with the new and old ball and also taken a hattrick and is one of the biggest reasons for Pune’s surge at the backend of the tournamet.
With 21 wickets in 10 matches, Unadkat is second leading wicket taker this season so far.
#11 Jasprit Bumrah (MI)
The Baroda bowler has been the leader of attack for Mumbai this season and has been the best death bowler along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Apart from his prowess at the death, he has also picked up wickets up front and also in the middle overs.
With his ability, he is without a doubt the future of the Indian bowling attack. He has picked up 13 wickets in 13 matches and has won a number of games for Mumbai Indians all on his own.
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