IPL 2018: Best XI from the League phase

The league phase of the 2018 Indian Premier League finished on Sunday with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals making it through to the Playoffs.

The 56-match phase of the competition saw some excellent individual performers who helped their side taste success on more than one occasion.

Here is a look at the best XI from the league phase of the competition:

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KL Rahul

The right-hander almost single-handedly carried the batting fortunes of the Kings XI Punjab, amassing a whopping 659 runs in 14 matches at a strike-rate of 158.41. However, despite those performances, the team could not make it through to the Playoffs simply because Rahul did not the support he desired from the rest of his teammates.

However, those exploits with the bat has earned the right-hander a place in the Indian squad for the tour of England and he will look to take this form to the Old Blighty as well.

Ambati Rayudu

For the past several seasons, Rayudu had become one of the permanent members of the Mumbai Indians setup. However at the auction this year, he was snapped by the Chennai Super Kings and what a buy he has proved to be.

586 runs in 14 matches at a strike-rate of 153.40 puts him only behind Rahul at the 4th position for the leading run-scorers. With his team in the knockout stage, he has a chance to surpass his fellow Indian in the upcoming few matches.

Williamson has been awesome for the franchise

Kane Williamson

Leading the side in the absence of David Warner, Kane Williamson has been simply superb for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, both with the bat as well as a leader.

The Kiwi has scored 661 runs in 14 matches thus far and with at least two matches to go for his side, has the chance to leapfrog Rishabh Pant and make the Orange Cap his own. As a leader, too, he has been very impressive, in the way he has got the best out of his side and defended low totals.

Rishabh Pant

The lone bright spark in yet another disappointing campaign for the Delhi Daredevils. Pant was magnificent with the bat for the franchise, scoring 684 runs in 14 matches and is the current holder of the Orange Cap.

His exploits with the bat may not have earned him a spot with the Indian setup for the tour of England, but he will be with the 'A' side in England around the same time and will hope to put in a good performance during his time with this side.

MS Dhoni(C&WK)

The resurgence of MS Dhoni, that's what got everybody talking. There was excitement yet a sense of expectancy when it was confirmed that the Chennai Super Kings would return to the 2018 IPL and will be led by the talisman.

However, very few might have predicted this type of a comeback for him and the side. With Rayudu and Shane Watson, he has been the side's lynchpin with the bat, making 446 runs in 14 matches and has led the side very well on the field as well.

He has the chance to improve upon those numbers in the upcoming matches.

Karthik has been excellent as a finisher for the Knight Riders

Dinesh Karthik

The captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, Dinesh Karthik has had a fine maiden season with the franchise thus far, having made 438 runs in 14 matches to end the league phase as the team's leading run-getter

The 32-year-old has been very effective playing the finisher's role for the franchise and he will hope to continue doing that in the Playoffs as well in England in a couple of months time.

Andre Russell

One of the reasons why the Knight Riders made it through to the Playoff stage of the competition. Russell came into the competition having not played a lot of cricket, but after the initial matches really stepped on the gear with 264 runs in 14 matches with the bat and also claiming 13 wickets with the ball.

There is no disputing that his performances in the Playoff stage of the competition will have a significant bearing on how far the Knight Riders progress in the competition.

Andrew Tye was simply outstanding for the Kings XI Punjab

Mujeeb Ur Rehman

The Afghanistan spinner was one of the stars of the league for the Kings XI Punjab, picking up 14 wickets in 11 matches in his maiden year for the franchise.

The team will rue the fact that towards the business end of the competition, he got injured and one could observe that minus him, the team lacked the edge that they had with him in the side.

He will hope to do even better if he comes around next year to play in the competition.

Andrew Tye

By far, the best overseas bowler on display this year, With Mujeeb, Tye held the bowling attack of the Kings XI Punjab together, claiming 24 wickets in 14 matches.

Unless Sidharth Kaul with 17 wickets in 14 matches has an exceptional Playoff stage with the Sunrisers, it does not look like the Purple Cap will go away from him, but even if it does it won't take the shine away from the splendid year he had with the ball in hand for the franchise.

Umesh Yadav

In a disappointing season for most of the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers, it was Umesh Yadav who was absolutely terrific with the ball, taking 20 wickets in 14 matches.

The stocks of Yadav the white-ball bowler have declined in the last few years, but this performance has helped him earn a spot back in the limited-overs setup for the tour to England, where if given a chance he'll hope to replicate this performance.

Jasprit Bumrah

The seamer had an indifferent start to the competition but improved as the season progressed playing an important role in the team's must-win encounters at the fag end.

He ended his season with 17 wickets in 14 matches and will hope to carry his form into the tour of England in July.