IPL 2018: 5 Major takeaways from the season

The 51-day journey of the 11th edition of the IPL reached its conclusion on 27th May and what an amazing tournament it turned out to be. This was definitely one of the most competitive seasons of the 11-year rich IPL history. The level of competition was so high that the battle for the spots in the playoffs ended on the last day of the league stage.

The tournament produced some fantastic cricket and exhilarating performances throughout the season. The IPL served as a great platform for the young talents not only to showcase their skills but also to learn from some of the most celebrated names in the world of cricket.

From the rise of the youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Rashid Khan to the incredible performances by the veterans like Shane Watson and MS Dhoni, the entire tournament was a delight to watch. Let us take a look at some of the major takeaways from the season that perfectly demonstrates the spirit of the modern day cricket.

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#1 Healthy Competition and tough contests

The jersey exchange gesture won hearts

This season was one of the most closely contested seasons in the history of the IPL. It was amazing to witness a number of nail-biting finishes and instances of momentum shifting. The sense of professionalism and unpredictability was quite profound.

There were instances where some teams slipped out on successfully defending huge scores and on the other hand, there were times where teams came out with the victory tag despite putting up low scores to defend.

RCB failed to defend a mammoth score of 205 against CSK whereas SRH successfully defended a low score of 118 against the MI. The "try till the end" attitude in the teams was visible in their efforts.

The Rajasthan Royals' sudden rise in the later stage of the tournament is a prime example of it. After the first half of the tournament, very few people believed that the Royals would bounce back and they did. Similar efforts were displayed by the Delhi Daredevils when they defeated the CSK and took the MI out of the equation.

#2 Not a young lad's game only

The picture says it all

If by any chance you believed that the T20 format is only suitable for the youngsters, this IPL season probably would have made you re-think. There is no doubt that a lot of youngsters rose to the occasion but so did the veterans. Experienced cricketers like Chris Gayle, MS Dhoni, and Shane Watson proved why they are still some of the biggest names the cricketing world has to offer.

Gayle played 11 matches and scored 358 runs that included a ton and three half centuries. Dhoni registered 455 runs to his name and did an amazing job as a finisher. Watson, who retired from the international cricket in 2016, delivered a performance for the ages in the final match by scoring 117 runs in 57 deliveries.

Whether the need of the hour was hitting massive sixes, finishing matches or stitching crucial partnerships, these players displayed how to deal with pressure situations and how to make a comeback. As far as the fielding is concerned, take a look at the glovework by Karthik and Dhoni. Also, who can forget the superman AB de Villiers?

#3 Terrific comebacks

The Royals did make a good comeback after a gap of 2 years

This season saw the return of the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals to the IPL after a gap of two years. Amidst all the past allegations and doubts, it was never easy for both of the teams to make a sound comeback. There were a lot of questions raised regarding the unity of the team and whether they could deliver.

The IPL 2018 is over and we can see that the CSK and the RR fared quite well. While the RR made it to the playoffs, the CSK franchise won its third title. It was not easy for both the teams but kudos to them for bouncing back so well.

The Royals were languishing at the bottom of the points table once somewhere after the first half of the tournament and they bounced back amazingly. CSK did stumble on a couple of occasions but pulled themselves back by working cohesively.

#4 An insight into the future of the Indian Cricket

Rishabh Pant- What a talent!

Every year, one of the most crucial aspects of the IPL has been the list of the Indian youngsters who stood out the most. Players like Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal were the finds of the IPL. This season too has introduced the cricketing world to some talented young lads who showcased their skills and made some noise in the selectors' office.

It was wonderful to see young batsmen like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul take the IPL by storm with some thunderous performances. Rishabh Pant was the batsman with the second most runs in the tournament as he scored 684 runs in 14 games. KL Rahul made the fans go crazy with wonderful striking on numerous occasions. He scored 659 runs in the season.

Bowlers like Mayank Markande and Siddharth Kaul made headlines with their skills. It was fascinating to see Shivam Mavi and Mohammad Siraj bowl at over 150 kmph with precision. The U-19 players like Prithvi Shaw, Abhishek Sharma, Shubhman Gill, and Shardul Thakur shined as well.

Shaw scored two magnificent fifties and was lauded by the experts for his sound technique. Shardul Thakur was the go-to man for MSD for slog overs. Shubman and Abhishek impressed and garnered lots of praises from veterans like Jaques Kallis and Michael Vaughan.

Sure the U-19 players didn't set the IPL on fire per se but they had some strong showings. They showed potential and promise with their performances. It will be interesting to see how things turn out for them and the Indian cricket.

#5 IPL: Celebrating Talent, Cultivating Dreams

Rashid Khan- The best T20 bowler in the world

Over the years, the T20 cricket has embraced some significant changes in the way things have run their course. This IPL season has demonstrated such changes to all intents and purpose. This season has shown that one need not be a guy with big-name value or need not come from a well-developed domestic circuit like those of England or Australia to be successful in the IPL.

One may come from the under-developed cricketing environment like those of Nepal and Afghanistan but if he has the drive and the abilities, he belongs to the big leagues like the IPL. Talented young cricketers like Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Rashid Khan have come so far and delivered oh so well.

Rashid Khan was sensational throughout the tournament. He scalped 21 wickets in the tournament and was lauded by experts from all over the world for his skills and confidence. Mujeeb Ur Rahman was amazing with the ball for the KXIP. He bowled exceptionally well and picked up 14 wickets in 11 matches whilst being economical.

With the immense hard work they have put in, not only they have earned respect but also inspired the young boys and girls of their respective nations to carry hopes in their eyes and dream big.