IPL 2018: Standout player for each team so far

In every edition of the IPL, each team has had one player who has been the standout performer for that side and really made the rest of the side revolve around them. This 'standout' player has often been one of the international or Indian stars, but on occasion, domestic Indian players have also stepped up to the plate and become the top performers for their side. This slideshow looks at who that one player has been for each of the eight franchises.

Side note: It is also interesting to see how the list of 'impact players' players for each franchise made before the tournament compares to this list.

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Delhi Daredevils - Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant, the attacking left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman from Delhi came into the IPL on the back of a very successful Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy, and he has just carried on from there. Time and time again, critics have spoken about Pant's immense ability but have mentioned one keyword: consistency. This season, it looks as if Pant has finally found that elusive consistency.

In 10 innings so far, Pant has made 393 runs at an average of 39.3 and with a mammoth strike rate of 173.12. Pant's hitting ability combined with this new-found consistency make him a very exciting prospect for Indian cricket, and further, his manner of batting has struck fear into the minds of the opposition player and has given the Daredevils arguably their only chance of winning matches. Pant has now become the main player in the Daredevils' devastating Indian batting core and going forward, he will be looking to carry on his form.

Kolkata Knight Riders - Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik, the Kolkata Knight Riders captain, has been leading his side from the front - both with the bat and in the field. His numbers are excellent: 316 runs in 10 innings at an average of 52.66 batting as a finisher. However, more than just the numbers, Karthik has been able to transform himself into a lower middle order batsman and finisher.

Karthik has a calming presence while he is out in the middle, almost the way that a finisher as great as MS Dhoni does. Just like Dhoni and other great finishers, Karthik, too, is seeing his side all the way through and he has finished the innings not-out on as many as four occasions. Going forward, Karthik will be hoping for more support from the rest of the batting unit so that Kolkata Knight Riders can cement a spot in the playoffs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore - Virat Kohli

No surprises for who the Royal Challengers' standout player has been. Virat Kohli, despite not having as outstanding a tournament as he has had in the past, has quietly trotted along to 396 runs at an average of 49.5. Playing in a team with an otherwise lackluster batting lineup and an in-and-out unwell AB De Villiers, the entire responsibility and brunt of scoring runs has fallen on Kohli, and while he has responded in fine fashion, his own form has not translated to overall success for the Challengers.

Going forward, with RCB needing a miracle to qualify for the playoffs, Kohli will be hoping that the rest of the batters significantly improve their performance.

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Siddharth Kaul

Siddharth Kaul's performances this IPL, which have resulted in a call-up to the India limited-overs squads, have been nothing short of brilliant. In a Sunrisers' bowling attack consisting of international-level stars such as Rashid Khan, Shakib al-Hasan, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, it is Kaul who has shone the brightest.

In 10 games so far, he has taken 12 wickets at an economy rate of a mere 7.05. Further, in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who missed several games due to a back injury, Kaul established himself as the leader of the pack and bowled brilliantly whenever called upon and especially in the death. With Jaydev Unadkat's form on the wane, Kaul could fill the void of the third seamer for the Indian team in T20 and perhaps even in ODIs.

Chennai Super Kings - MS Dhoni

In a side consisting of the orange cap holder in Ambati Rayudu and the most valuable player in Shane Watson, choosing MS Dhoni as the standout player may raise a few eyebrows; however, such has been the skipper's impact on his return to Chennai. Having arguably his best IPL to date, Dhoni has scored 360 runs in 10 innings at an average of a whopping 90 and strike rate of 165.89.

Dhoni, who has been criticised heavily for his inability to get a move on in recent years, is playing like the Dhoni of old; he is smashing sixes and putting the opposition on the back-foot from ball one. Further, the manner in which he is finishing means that he is showing signs of again becoming a reliable finisher as all cricket fans know him. This resurgence of MS Dhoni can only mean good things for Chennai Super Kings and Indian cricket.

Rajasthan Royals - Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson, in a batting line-up in which constant changes and a lack of fluency have become the norm, is playing at his fluent free-flowing best. He has scored 332 runs in 10 innings at an average of 36.88; however, more than just the numbers, often, Samson has looked like the only Royals batsman threatening to take away the game from the opposition, something which is quite an achievement in a batting order consisting of the likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes.

However, as with several other players, due to the rest of the team not clicking at all, most of Samson's performances have been in vain, and going forward, he will be hoping that others, especially the international stars, step up and perform.

Kings XI Punjab - KL Rahul

KL Rahul might just be coming into his own as a limited overs players. This IPL, in 10 innings, he has scored 471 runs at an average of 58.87. He has been extremely consistent and his 10 innings have included the fastest IPL fifty of all-time, a 95* in a game where the rest of his team go virtually no runs, and match-winning fifties while chasing against the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals.

In a season where Gayle has performed, he has outperformed Gayle: that, in itself, is a testament to how well played. Going forward, even with the likes of Gayle firing, Rahul's consistency is what will truly lead the Kings to the playoffs, and beyond!

Mumbai Indians - Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya's performance this season indicates that he is finally fulfilling his potential and becoming the 'genuine fast bowling all-rounder' that Indian cricket has lacked for the past many decades. As destructive as ever with the bat, he has played several handy cameos; however, he has also shown application with the bat on several instances, such as in his half-century against the Knight Riders, albeit in a losing cause.

The biggest improvement for Pandya, however, has come with the ball. Before the start of this year's IPL, Hardik Pandya had taken 10 wickets in the IPL in the 37 matches in which he had played. This season, in a mere 9 innings, the all-rounder from Baroda has already taken 14 wickets and even been the leading wicket-taker in the tournament at one point. Further, instead of giving the odd over here and there like he used to earlier, Pandya is consistently giving his captain four overs in every single game. This responsibility and application while batting to go with his consistency with the ball shows that he is truly rising as a player and could lead Mumbai Indians, and the Indian cricket team, to great heights.