IPL 2018 XI that can take on Windies in the Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge at Lord's

West Indies are the reigning WT20 Champions
West Indies are the reigning WT20 Champions

Middle Order

Kane Williamson

Williamson's batting is one of the most pleasant cricket sights
Williamson's batting is one of the most pleasant cricket sights

The first name that struck anyone on hearing the words Sunrisers Hyderabad was always David Warner.

The Australian had marshaled his troops for example and was once again touted to be the pivot around which the team would have revolved.

Destiny, though, had other things in store. Kane Williamson, in no way at all, was considered the like-for-like replacement for the fiery Warner as the captain of the side.

Cometh the night of the final, one would not at all be surprised if the same Kiwi captain lays his hands on IPL silverware.

Leading the orange army with the Orange Cap on his head, Williamson has beautifully adapted his batting style to suit the shortest format of the game.

Watching him bat, either while setting a score or while chasing stiff targets, has been a treat.

His sublime batting has yielded 685 runs this year, at an average of 57.08 and a strike rate of 143.60. He has hit 26 sixes, not one of which came off powerful strokes or slogging, but just pure timing and batting genius.

AB de Villiers

A B de Villiers: The Superman
AB de Villiers: The Superman

After watching Williamson bat in this year's IPL, one may think whether there is a better batsman in the tournament. And yet when you watch the great Mr. 360 degrees you just start questioning whether there actually exists a word called 'impossible'.

He can paddle fast bowlers for sixes over the third man, he can get down on one knee to send the ball in orbit, he can sweep spinners consistently and can win matches single-handedly. And if you are still greedy for more, he will defy physics and pluck catches from obscurity.

If there ever was a human being who could do just about anything on a cricket field, it was this freakish man from South Africa, who would have strolled into this XI even without having scored 480 runs for RCB at a strike rate of 174.54 and averaging 53.33.

As the Superman from South Africa bids adieu to the sport, it is more a day of mourning than celebrating a career, for we will not get to see miracles taking place on the cricket field anymore.

In times when the sport is fighting hard to establish a strong global image, a 34-year-old worldwide fan-favorite calling it a day due to lack of motivation for World Cup that is one year away shall be considered as a knell.

If there was one message that could ever be conveyed to him by fans across the globe, it would surely be that we never got tired of watching him do what eventually made him 'tired'.

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Edited by Amar Anand