IPL 2018: Key all-rounders for each IPL side

There is always a puzzlement in T20 cricket as far as team combinations are concerned, whether to go with the seven batsmen - four bowlers combination, or with a surplus batsman in the playing eleven. That is the reason why the teams opt for all-rounders in their side to provide much-needed stability, giving them sufficient batting depth and an extra bowling option as well.

Here are the best all-rounders from each IPL side, on whom the teams will lean on in the 2018 season.

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#1 Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings)

The Carribean all-rounder is one of the most loved cricketers across the globe, having participated in almost every franchise-based league. He is the current record-holder for taking the most number of wickets (87) in the shortest format in a single calendar year.

Dwayne Bravo is an icon overseas cricketer for Chennai Super Kings, having won the purple cap twice, in the year 2013 and 2015. Furthermore, the 34-year-old is the only bowler to pick more than thirty wickets (32) in a single edition of the cash-rich league.

The Caribbean cricketer is the only cricketer to pick a hundred wickets and score a thousand runs in the IPL.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 83

Runs - 1262

SR - 126.33

HS - 70

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 103

Wkts - 122

Economy - 8.2

BBI - 4/22

#2 Daniel Christian (Delhi Daredevils)

The medium-pace all-rounder from Victoria, Daniel Christian was an integral part of Deccan Chargers in his maiden IPL season in 2011. He was also a regular member of the Rising Pune Supergiants' playing eleven in 2017.

The Australian cricketer fulfills the role of a lower-order hitter with the bat and a useful bowler who can contain the batsmen in the middle overs with the ball. He often bowls at the death in T20 cricket.

Delhi Daredevils, having a dearth of all-rounders, will lay money on the 34-year-old in the upcoming season.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 31

Runs - 420

SR - 123.17

HS - 39

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 36

Wkts - 30

Economy - 7.89

BBI - 2/10

#3 Marcus Stoinis (Kings XI Punjab)

The seam-bowling all-rounder from Perth was acquired by the Kings XI Punjab in 2016 but is yet to perform to his full potential in the IPL, having shown glimpses of his talent. His recent Big Bash League and international form is something to look out for ahead of the forthcoming season.

The Australian has sharpened up a bit, both with the bat and ball, since his last appearance for KXIP, courtesy of a phenomenal India tour and the BBL. The 28-year-old carved a 99 and took three wickets in the Big Bash, before heading on to serve his adopted nation in the ODI series against England.

KXIP will majorly bank on the all-round contribution of Marcus Stoinis, who was retained by them using the RTM card.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 8

Runs - 163

SR - 123.48

HS - 52

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 12

Wkts - 10

Economy - 9.07

BBI - 4/15

#4 Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The Caribbean cricketer has previously set the IPL on fire with his all-around performance for Kolkata Knight Riders. Former skipper Gautam Gambhir put the significant onus of finishing the innings on Andre Russell, who has managed to complete the task on multiple occasions.

No matter how many wickets have fallen, if acceleration is the utmost necessity, the West Indian will walk in all guns blazing. That is the reason why he has batted everywhere from No.3 to No.6 and even 7 for KKR.

The 29-year-old won the 'Most Valuable Player' award in 2015 and will be crucial for his side, returning after a one-year ban for the doping violation.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 25

Runs - 574

SR - 173.41

HS - 66

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 34

Wkts - 31

Economy - 8.52

BBI - 4/20

#5 Krunal Pandya (Mumbai Indians)

The 'Man of the Match' award winner in the finals of last season, Krunal Pandya was retained by Mumbai Indians through RTM in the 2018 auctions.

His remarkable consistency was a crucial factor in his team emerging champions in 2017. The left-hander's inclusion on the list is self-explanatory, given his performance in the last season, where he scored 243 runs and scalped ten wickets.

For MI to extend their dominance in the upcoming season as well, they will certainly bank on the elder of the Pandya brothers.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 20

Runs - 480

SR - 158.42

HS - 86

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 24

Wkts - 16

Economy - 7.15

BBI - 3/14

#6 Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals)

Ben Stokes fetched the highest price at the IPL auctions for the second consecutive season this year, picked by the Rajasthan Royals for a whopping Rs. 12.5 crore.

Last year, he justified his price-tag by walking off with the 'Most Valuable Player' award in his maiden IPL season, where he scored 316 runs, took 12 wickets and drove them to the finals of that season.

RR would be looking forward to Stokes to sing the same tune once again and make their IPL return, for the first time since 2015, monumental.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 11

Runs - 316

SR - 142.99

HS - 103

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 12

Wkts - 12

Economy - 7.18

BBI - 3/18

#7 Washington Sundar (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Washington Sundar made his IPL debut last year, playing for Rising Pune Supergiants and showed why he is a capable all-rounder, who even opened the batting for TUTI Patriots in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, finishing his campaign as the leading run-scorer and the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament in the TNPL.

The Chennai off-spinner isn't a massive turner of the ball, but his control and subtle change in pace make him threatening in the format where the batsmen are mostly going at the bowler.

For all these reasons and his recent form, the 18-year-old is a major factor to improve RCB's fate in the IPL.

IPL Career Batting: Not sufficient opportunities

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 11

Wkts - 8

Economy - 6.17

BBI - 3/16

#8 Shakib Al Hasan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The unsung hero of the Kolkata Knight Riders for years, Shakib Al Hasan was poached by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL player auctions 2018. The all-rounder from Bangladesh has achieved the top rank in all the formats of the game at the international level, and is a proven performer.

Lacking middle-order stability, SRH will trust the left-hander for providing reinforcements with the bat. In addition to that, his economical bowling can provide a healthy support to their lead spinner Rashid Khan.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 32

Runs - 498

SR - 130.37

HS - 66

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 42

Wkts - 43

Economy - 7.17

BBI - 3/17