IPL 2018 : The best Overseas XI of this season

Overseas players have always been the real game changers in the IPL. From Shaun Marsh's berserker style arrival to David Warner's majestic season last year, it has been the overseas players who have had the biggest impact on any teams performance. In fact, the purple cap and orange cap for most wickets and runs in a season have been won more times by Overseas players than by Indians.

This season of IPL was no different, with a group of overseas players playing their best game. For the 6th time, both orange cap and purple cap were won by an overseas player. As the Chennai Super Kings completed a fairytale return to clinch their 3rd IPL title after 7 years, we compile a playing XI of the best overseas XI from the 11th edition of Indian Premier League.

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Openers

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Shane Watson(Chennai Super Kings)

Finally, back to his top form.

Let's start with the only two time IPL Player of the Tournament - Shane Watson. After two disappointing seasons with Royal Challengers Bangalore and a retirement from International cricket two years ago, only a few were expecting Watto to play, let alone shine, in IPL 2018. However, the way he played throughout the tournament was just a throwback to the player that he was at his prime 10 years ago.

Just like his equally rejuvenated opening partner Ambati Rayudu, Watson was at his destructive best now that he was playing at the opening slot. In 15 matches that he played for CSK in this edition, Watto accumulated a grand total of 555 runs, which included two splendid hundreds, at a strike rate of over 154. With the bowl, Watto, who bowled sporadically, took six vital wickets at an economy of under nine.

Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The surprise package with the bat.

The only reason why Andre Russell was not the MVP for Kolkata Knight Riders despite performing so well, was the presence of Sunil Narine in their playing XI. Already one of the best bowlers in the shortest format of the game, Narine brought out a new weapon from his arsenal - the ability to smash the ball on demand - and it did wonders for the team. Playing as an opener, he even managed to overshadow his partner Chris Lynn.

Dismantling every bowler that bowled to him in this edition, Narine pilled up a grand total of 357 runs in 16 matches at a gargantuan strike rate that is just shy of 190, which included the highest score of 75. With his more proficient weapon, Narine managed to take 17 wickets at a tremendous economy rate of 7.65. It is easy to say that Narine was not only KKR's MVP but also the MVP of the tournament.

Middle Order

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Jos Buttler (wk) (Rajasthan Royals)

Showing his worth in style.

While all the limelight was on Ben Stokes before the start of IPL 2018 because of his high auction price, it was his fellow English teammate who managed to steal the limelight from right under his nose. It would be an understatement to say that Jos Buttler was a one-man army who single-handedly took Rajasthan Royals to consecutive wins and ensure that they qualify for the playoffs.

A push to the top of the batting order was all that Buttler needed in order to bring out the best of him. Part of playing XI in all but two matches that Rajasthan Royals played in this season, Buttler went into a beast mode in the second half of the tournament, scoring five 50+ scores on the trot. His total of 548 runs at an average of 54.8 and strike rate of over 155, along with his tremendous skills behind the stumps, warrant a spot in this line up.

Kane Williamson (c) (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Leading by example.

IPL 2018 will forever be remembered as the tournament that not only changed fans' perception about Kane Williamson as a captain but also as a player in the shortest format of the game. Could anyone tell you that Kane would win the Orange cap in 2018 before the start of the season, you would have laughed at that person. However, Williamson has been the perfect replacement for not only Warner 'The Captain', but also for Warner 'The Batsman'.

Easily the best batsman in the longest format of the game, Williamson brought a completely different side of his in IPL 2018. The proud owner of the Orange cap, Williamson accumulated a gargantuan total of 735 runs in 16 matches that he played, that also at a whopping strike rate of 142 and with eight 50+ plus. With his impeccable leadership skills, Kane took SRH to their 2nd IPL final in three years.

AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Mr. 360 at his prime.

AB de Villiers left the whole cricketing world stunned when he announced his retirement from International cricket at the end of IPL's league stage. It was the last thing that fans were expecting from Mr. 360 at the time when he was playing his best game for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Even though RCB failed to make it to the playoffs yet again, ABD won a number of matches for the franchise in this season.

Along with Virat Kohli, ABD was the only bright spot in the overall disappointing RCB batting line up. Part of the playing XI in 12 fixtures in the league stage, ABD accumulated a staggering 480 runs. His average of almost 54 and a strike rate in excess of 170 were both among the best from this edition. And it's better we do not talk about his profess in the field, where he took, arguably the best catch of the season.

Lower Order

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Shakib-al-Hasan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The best all-rounder in the world.

If Williamson and Rashid Khan were stealing the spotlight in this IPL with their impressive performances for SRH, Shakib al Hasan was silently playing his part for the team with his bat as well as the ball. While all of SRH middle order struggled to score runs on a regular basis, Shakib always contributed with the 20s or 30s that used to make the difference in the final score. The same goes for his excellence with the ball in hand.

Acting as a pillar in the SRH middle order in all the 17 matches, Shakib scored 239 runs in 13 innings at an average of 22 and strike rate of almost 120. However, he had a significantly better season as a bowler, as he was involved in 14 dismissals of the opposition batsmen. With a bowling economy of 8.00, Shakib was one of the best all-rounders in this season.

Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings)

A true Champion.

Ever since he jumped ship from Mumbai Indians to Chennai Super Kings in 2011, Dwayne Bravo has grown a thousand times as a player to become one of the best cricketers in the shortest format of the game. Twice the winner of the purple cap in the last five years, Bravo again had a phenomenal season for the Yellow Army as he played a vital role in the team's journey to the finals in their return season.

Between CSK's opening contest against Mumbai Indians to their summit clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Dwayne Bravo played 16 matches for the team and scored 141 runs at a strike rate of almost 155 and average of over 135. With the bowl in hand, Bravo took 14 wickets at an economy of 9.96.

Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The most aggressive batsman of this season.

What a season did the Kolkata Knight Riders have in 2018? Termed as one of the weakest squads in IPL 2018, Kolkata Knight Riders finished as the third best team courtesy of some great overall teamwork. However, it was the efforts of their two retained players that had the biggest impact on their impressive season. Famed for his powerful and aggressive batting, Andre Russell was again at his destructive best in the KKR middle order.

Batting at number 6 or 7 throughout the season, Big Dre Russ scored 316 runs at a mammoth strike rate of almost 185 and an average of over 28. With the bowl, Russell was the backbone of the inexperience KKR bowling lineup. He accounted for 13 wickets in 16 matches at a slightly disappointing economy of over 9, but his strike rate of 17.46 was one of the best in the season.

Bowlers

Trent Boult (Delhi Daredevils)

The only successful bowler from DD.

Had it not been for an ill-timed injury suffered by Kagiso Rabada, there is a very good chance that Trent Boult might have played only a handful of matches in this IPL. However, not only did Boult get a chance to play all the matches for Delhi Daredevils, he was the only DD bowler that actually managed to make an impact in the season. While the team was struggling to win matches, Boult was busy fighting for the purple cap.

Since his team finished as the lowest ranked team in the league stage, Boult's fight with other bowlers for the purple cap came to an end just after 14 matches. In those 14 matches, Boult was involved in 18 wickets of the opposition batsmen. With an economy of 8.84 and a stupendous strike rate of 17.55, Boult was one of the best fast bowlers in this IPL.

Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Exceptional, as always.

If anyone has any doubts regarding Rashid Khan's profess as the best bowler of this generation, I recommend you to watch his majestic performance against KKR in Qualifier 2. Not only did he take wickets as he mostly does, it was his late strikes with the bat and catches in the last over that made the difference. Even during the early stages of the tournament, he was as efficient as he was during the second half.

Rashid Khan did the same thing for SRH's bowling line-up that Kane Williamson did for the batting line-up - Lead by example. In the 16 matches that he played for SRH, Rashid accounted for 21 wickets, which is the joint second highest in the tournament and his economy of just 6.73 is the best among all the bowlers. Rashid Khan was the force that took Sunrisers to their 2nd IPL Final.

Andrew Tye (Kings XI Punjab)

The winner of the purple cap.

Andrew Tye made a dream debut in IPL last season when he took 12 wickets in just six matches, which included a hat-trick and a 5-wicket haul, that he played for Gujarat Lions. However, he took his stock to a whole new level with his unimaginable performances that not only cemented his place as the best bowler for Kings XI Punjab but also as the best bowler of the entire season.

So good was Tye throughout the season that, even though his competitors played three more matches than him, they failed to overtake him as the leading wicket-taker of IPL 2018. His 24 wickets in 14 matches were complimented by his three 4-wicket hauls, a stupendous bowling strike rate of 14.00 and an economy of 8.00 runs per over. Even though Punjab failed to win any award this season, Tye definitely deserved the purple cap and a spot in this team.

Honourable Mentions

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Living up to his hype.

Chris Lynn:- Sunil Narine's equally destructive opening partner was at his best again this, as he accumulated 431 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate in excess of 130

Jofra Archer:- Even though he missed some of the matches in an early stage, Archer emerged as RR's highest wicket-taker, accounting for 15 dismissals in 10 matches at a strike rate of just 15.53

Mujeeb-ur-Rahman:- If Rashid Khan did wonders for SRH, his compatriot Mujeeb-ur-Rahman was not that far away either, as he took 14 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of just 6.99.

Mitchell McClenaghan:- An unexpected success, considering he was not even supposed to be a part of the team, McClenaghan ended his season with 14 wickets in 11 matches at a strike rate of just 17.

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Playing XI:- Shane Watson, Jos Buttler(wk), Kane Williamson(c), AB de Villiers, Shakib al Hasan, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Andrew Tye

Bench:- Chris Lynn, Chris Gayle, Jofra Archer, Mitchell McClenaghan