IPL 2018: 5 Expensive players who justified their price and performed exceptionally this season

The 2018 season was one of the finest seasons in the IPL's 11-year history. We saw some breathtaking performances this year, and the final saw a worthy champion being crowned.

There were various players in the IPL who were paid heavily this year. A few were retained by the franchises at high prices, and there were others who attracted huge bidding at the auction.

Some players justified the faith and expectations shown by their franchises in them. Here is a list of five expensive players who performed exceptionally this season.

5. Rahid Khan

Rashid Khan was surprisingly picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2017 auction, thereby becoming the first Afghan player to represent in the IPL. This year his bid reached up-to 9 crore when he was finally retained by Sunrisers by using the RTM card.

Rashid was superb this year with his googlies and his stump-to-stump line. He picked up 21 wickets in 17 matches while restraining the batsmen with an economy rate of 6.74.

He was the front-line bowler for Hyderabad this season. Whenever Willamson needed a breakthrough, he gave the ball to Rashid Khan.

His performance against KKR in the second qualifier will be remembered for a long time. He produced an amazing all-round performance in that match, finishing the innings for SRH with his 34 runs in just 10 balls and then bowling a brilliant spell in which he picked 3 crucial wicket for just 19 runs.

4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

MS Dhoni

There was a huge doubt about Dhoni's form before the start of the IPL but he silenced his critics with his superb batting and impeccable captaincy. He played some brilliant knocks for CSK this year which helped them win some close thrillers.

Dhoni scored 455 runs in 16 innings with an amazing average of 75.83. This year Dhoni registered a tremendous increase in his strike, going up to 150.66 - from 116 last year.

Dhoni hit 30 sixes in the 2018 IPL season, his highest ever for any season. He showed everyone why he was picked first at the time of retention at a base price of 15 crores.

Dhoni's amazing season at the IPL this year is also good news for Indian national team.

3. Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant was phenomenal in this year's IPL. He scored a massive 684 runs in 14 innings at a scintillating strike rate of 173.60.

In a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pant scored a blitzkrieg 128* off just 63 balls. This innings helped Delhi put up a respectable total of 187 on the board. Pant also hit the most sixes and fours in this IPL season, with 37 sixes and 68 respectively.

He justified his price tag and his retention with his destructive performances in the 2018 season. Pant was different this year; he played with responsibility and composure in the middle order. He showed everyone that he knows how to build a proper innings and later accelerate at the death.

2. KL Rahul

KL Rahul

KL Rahul attracted massive bidding in the auction and was subsequently picked at a whopping price of 11 crore by Punjab. Rahul justified his massive price tag by scoring 659 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 158.41.

While Rahul was brilliant, he unfortunately he did not get the right kind of support from his team members who were lackluster the entire season. Rahul was exceptional in the power-play overs with his batting technique and ability to play all types of shots. He also scored the fastest IPL fifty of all time - off just 14 balls - this season.

Rahul has shown tremendous growth as a responsible and destructive batsman in the 2018 season. He made huge contributions in the matches which were won by Kings XI Punjab, and he even chased a few targets single-handedly.

1. Sunil Narine

Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders - IPL T20

Sunil Narine was retained by KKR at his 12 crore base price although his fee was 8.5 crore. KKR lost a huge purse by retaining Narine, who had come off a long injury layoff.

There was a huge doubt about his ability as a spin bowler as he was no more a 'mystery' bowler after his change of action. There were also questions about his batting.

But Narine proved everyone wrong.

He was the best all-rounder in this year's IPL. He scored 357 runs at a thundering strike rate of 189.89 and also took 17 wickets in 16 matches.

Narine bowled tight overs in the middle which put pressure on the other side to play wrong shots. He was devastating in the poweplays overs with the bat; he scored a fifty in just 17 balls.

The kind of starts that Narine provided, helped KKR's middle order to play their natural game. Narine was definitely the best person to justify his expensive price tag.