IPL 2018 : All-rounders' XI

All-rounders are a commodity that has always been in demand in cricket, especially T20 cricket. All-rounders are vital for any team and teams in IPL try to stack up their squads with a lot of all-rounders. What makes all-rounders indispensable in T20 cricket is the fact that they provide their team management the extra cushion of playing an extra bowler or batsman in the playing XI.

Also, if an all-rounder gets injured, the teams are forced to make two changes as they lose a player who can do both batting as well as bowling. All these points make all-rounders invaluable for a cricket team. Some of the best all-rounders in the world play for different franchises in the IPL and show their mettle.

This year too, all-rounders played a crucial role in their respective team's campaigns. We will try to build an XI that consists of only all-rounders, the best all-rounders of IPL 2018. This surely will be a team to beat.

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#1 Shane Watson

Bowling: Wickets - 6, Economy - 8.96

Batting: Runs - 555, Avg - 39.64, Strike-rate - 154.59

Shane Watson showed his class with the bat this year. After having a couple of disappointing seasons with RCB, Watson looked at home playing for Chennai Super Kings.

He hit a couple of centuries this season and he saved his best for the finals, as he struck an unbeaten 117, taking CSK to their 3rd IPL title. He was effective with the ball too, but Dhoni did not use him much in the latter half of the tournament.

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#2 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine decimated bowling attacks in IPL 2018

Bowling: Wickets - 17, Economy - 7.65

Batting: Runs - 357, Avg - 22.31, Strike-rate - 189.89

Sunil Narine has always been amongst the top bowlers to watch out for in the IPL but he amazed everyone with the bat too this season. Kolkata Knight Riders used him as an opener excessively and he delivered by giving them quick starts.

He was brilliant with the ball as always. Narine was named the Most Valuable Player of IPL 2018 at the end of the tournament.

#3 Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib playing a sweep shot

Batting: Runs - 239, Avg - 21.72, Strike-rate - 121.31

Bowling: Wickets - 14, Economy - 8.00

Shakib Al Hasan was a key member of Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in IPL 2018. The Bangladesh T20 captain provided the much-needed stability to SRH's inconsistent middle order by playing some gritty innings.

He also complimented Rashid Khan superbly, as SRH defended a number of low totals successfully. Shakib was vital to SRH's journey to the finals this year.

#4 Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya was mighty effective with his left-arm spin

Batting: Runs - 228, Avg - 22.80, Strike-rate - 145.22

Bowling: Wickets - 12, Economy - 7.07

Mumbai Indians showed a lot of faith in Krunal Pandya by using their RTM card to get him back in the squad. The all-rounder certainly did not disappoint them. He played some crucial cameos in the lower-order for Mumbai Indians and scored quick runs for the side.

Krunal also bowled some tight spells for the side, as testified by his outstanding economy of 7.07 runs per over.

#5 MS Dhoni (C & WK)

Dhoni hitting one out of the park

Batting: Runs - 455, Avg - 75.83, Strike-rate - 150.66

MS Dhoni is an all-rounder in every sense. He can keep wickets, he can find a place in any playing XI purely as a batsman, and when needed, he can roll his arm over too. Dhoni had a magnificent IPL season and played some spectacular innings for Chennai Super Kings.

He batted with a healthy strike-rate of 150.66, which shows the amount of freedom with which he batted this year. This was one of Dhoni's best IPL season.

#6 Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya took the most number of wickets for Mumbai Indians

Batting: Runs - 260, Avg - 28.88, Strike-rate - 133.33

Bowling: Wickets - 18, Economy - 8.92

Mumbai Indians relied heavily on Hardik Pandya this year. Hardik, who is a regular in the national side, did live up to the high expectations. While he might be a tad bit disappointed with his batting effort, there was a vast improvement in his bowling.

Junior Pandya took 18 wickets and was the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians. This season must have done a world of good for Hardik Pandya as a bowler.

#7 Andre Russell

Russell hit some mammoth sixes in the tournament

Batting: Runs - 316, Avg - 28.72, Strike-rate - 184.79

Bowling: Wickets - 13, Economy - 9.38

It was a comeback season for Andre Russell after missing out the last season due to a ban. And he did not waste much time in getting back in his groove. The big-hitting Jamaican played some special innings for KKR and hit some towering sixes.

Russell had a great strike-rate of 184.79 and demolished a lot of bowling attacks. He was also successful in picking up 13 wickets.

#8 Dwayne Bravo

Bravo smashed 68 runs off 30 balls in the first match of the season

Batting: Runs - 141, Avg - 35.25, Strike-rate - 154.94

Bowling: Wickets - 14, Economy - 9.96

Dwayne Bravo set the tone for IPL 2018 by playing a stunning inning against the hosts, Mumbai Indians, in the opening match of IPL 2018. After that match, Bravo did not get much of an opportunity with the bat, but he played his part whenever he could.

With the ball in hand, Bravo was asked to bowl in the death overs. He will be a little disappointed with the number of runs that he gave but he did manage to win a couple of matches with the ball for the side.

#9 Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja made a brilliant comeback with the ball

Batting: Runs - 89, Avg - 17.80, Strike-rate - 120.27

Bowling: Wickets - 11, Economy - 7.39

There were a lot of questions raised on Ravindra Jadeja's place in CSK's playing XI as he faltered with both the bat and ball in the initial part of the tournament. But MS Dhoni kept faith in the left-arm spinner and Jadeja responded brilliantly.

In the second half of the tournament, Jadeja bowled some crucial overs in the middle overs and strangled the batsmen for runs. He bowled with an impressive economy of 7.39 runs per over and played his part in the team's success.

#10 K Gowtham

Gowtham played some match-winning cameos for Rajasthan Royals

Batting: Runs - 126, Avg - 14.00, Strike-rate - 196.87

Bowling: Wickets - 11, Economy - 7.80

K Gowtham was one of the most promising debutants of IPL 2018. The Karnataka all-rounder was fantastic with both the bat and ball.

He was given the tough task of bowling in the powerplays, but he took up the challenge and provided some important breakthroughs to his side. However, Gowtham's big-hitting ability stole the limelight.

He snatched victory from the jaws of defeat a number of times this season and was a major reason for Rajasthan Royals making it to the playoffs.

#11 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan was unplayable at times

Batting: Runs - 59, Avg - 11.80, Strike-rate - 190.32

Bowling: Wickets - 21, Economy - 6.73

Rashid Khan had yet another successful IPL season. The 19-year-old Afghan finished second in the top wicket-taker list of the season and troubled batsmen with his variations.

He did not give away easy runs to the batsman and bowled some match-winning spells throughout the IPL.

He also showed his batting prowess when he smashed a match-turning 34 runs off just 10 balls in the second qualifier against KKR.