IPL 2018: Five players who can feature in the Most Valuable Player list

With the Indian Premier League slated to begin from April 7. A lot of action is expected to be seen. IPL is going to be a lot more exciting this year due to the new composition of the teams.

While vying for the IPL title, the players will be keeping an eye on the individual awards. One of them being the Most Valuable Player award. The Most Valuable Player ranking is calculated taking into account all aspects of the game viz. batting, bowling, and fielding. Points are awarded to the players based on their performance.

IPL being the most competitive cricket tournament in the world has a plethora of talent. Nevertheless, these five players have a high probability of featuring in the top 10 of Most Valuable Player List of IPL 2018. Let us find out who these players are?

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#5 Glenn Maxwell

Glen Maxwell during his stint with Kings XI.

Swashbuckling and fearless this Aussie batsman has a repertoire of tearing away the opposition bowling. With his wide array of shots and his ability to torment the opposition, Maxwell makes a great T20 player. In the previous edition of the IPL, he was fifth Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He is a handy bowler too in times of need.

He has performed well in the T20 tri-series featuring New Zealand and England. He played a couple of match-winning innings in the series. He now, looks onset to carry on his exploits in the IPL as well. Maxwell has scored a total of 1228 runs in the IPL so far. In the IPL 2017 itself, he scored 310 runs in 14 matches at an average of 31. His ability to dominate the game makes him a player of importance.

He was bought by the Delhi Daredevils in the recently concluded auctions at a whopping price of Rs 9 crore. A great competitor and an able batsman Glenn Maxwell is a match-winning player. He has performed consistently in the previous editions of the IPL. His penchant for winning matches for his side makes him one of the able contender for Most Valuable Player of IPL 2018.

#4 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine has added an extra dimension with his batting over the years

The Trinidadian has been a revelation of the IPL. He has been the most consistent performer of the tournament till date. Foxing the batsman with his canny variations, Narine is a magician at work. Narine is the most economical bowler in the IPL history, his economy of 6.32 runs per over is the best economy garnered to date. Capable of providing flying starts to his team as an opener, Sunil is a complete package for any team.

Sunil Narine has become a T20 specialist bowler off-late and has been amongst wickets in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League. His IPL records make him a match winner. His contribution to the Kolkata Knight Riders has made him an indispensable player.

Kolkata Knight Riders have retained Sunil Narine for this season because of the impact he has on the team. He was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of IPL 2017 because of his consistent performance with both the ball and bat. Being a versatile cricketer, Sunil Narine is certainly a strong contender for Most Valuable Player of IPL 2018.

#3 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli exults after completing a century.

Virat Kohli the Indian skipper is known for his hunger for scoring runs. He has been in a terrific form off-late. With great temperament and strong fundamentals, Kohli makes batting look easy, even on the toughest surface. Going by the sound leadership that he renders to his team, Royal Challengers Bangalore have reposed their faith in Kohli. A true competitor, Kohli is a nightmare for the opponents.

His IPL record speaks of his ability to control the game at his whim. He is the second highest run-scorer in the IPL history. He had scored 973 runs in IPL 2016, the highest aggregate run ever scored in a single IPL season. Recently, he has put a strong performance in South Africa and would like to replicate his performance in the IPL 2018.

A great fielder and one of the quickest players to run between the wickets, he can steal the game away from the opposition even without hitting boundaries. Kohli's knack and hunger to score runs make him one of the most enterprising players of today's era. Kohli will certainly raise his game for the upcoming IPL and is ready to go all guns blazing.

#2 AB de Villiers

AB De Villiers in action.

The man who needs no introduction, AB De Villiers aka Mr. 360 degree can turn the game around in a matter of few deliveries. He can play his shots all around the park with dismal ease. Due to his match-winning capability, he was retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2018. He boasts of all the cricketing shots described in the cricketing manual.His antics with the bat makes even the best bowlers of the world look like an amateur.

He has produced some mind-boggling performances in the IPL. In IPL 2015 he scored 513 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 46.63. In IPL 2016 he scored 687 runs at an unbelievable average of 52.84.

The kind of form that AB De Villiers has been in the ongoing series against Australia, he looks onset to give his opponents a run for their money. His athleticism adds up like an adornment in his arsenal. AB de Villiers is never out of the game and can pull off a jaw-dropping catch at any moment. He is equally capable of producing magical groundwork to lift up the spirits. He can be one of the toughest contenders for the Most Valuable Player of IPL 2018.

#1 Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes playing for Rising Pune SuperGiants.

An excellent allrounder, Ben Stokes possesses an innate ability to deliver both with the ball and bat. Due to his ability to contribute in all facets of the game, he is a valuable asset for the team he plays for. Rajasthan Royals paid a staggering price of Rs 12.5 crore to pick the English Allrounder in their squad. Stokes had performed well in IPL 2017 and was the third Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

He had scored 316 runs and scalped 12 wickets in the 12 matches he played for Rising Pune Supergiant in IPL 2017. He would be looking to better his record in the IPL 2018. Stoke's big-hitting with the bat and a knack of picking up wickets at regular intervals make him a devastating allrounder.

Being an excellent athlete, he can grab some spectacular catches and can produce miraculous run outs to make an impact in the game. His all-around skills and his recent form make him a prospective candidate for the Most Valuable Player of IPL 2018.