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The third season of Pakistan Super League concluded less than two weeks before the start of this year's Indian Premier League. While Islamabad United were crowned as champions for the second time in three years of PSL, the Chennai Super Kings lifted the IPL trophy third time in their ninth season.
While cricket returned to Pakistan for the last three matches of PSL which were played in Karachi, Chennai Super Kings winning the tournament coming back after a two-year exile gave the much-needed happiness to millions of fans who were waiting for their favourite franchise to return.
The debate among fans as to which league is better might never end. But here we have tried to list the best XI players of both the leagues in the recently concluded tournaments. This is in no way a comparison between the leagues but it is just a celebration of their success.
PSL: Openers - Luke Ronchi, Kamran Akmal
Luke Ronchi was brilliant for the Islamabad United as he provided good starts on a regular basis. In spite of starting the tournament poorly, he came back strong and scored five half-centuries in the last seven matches that he played this season. In total, he made 435 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 182.00 and was the highest run-getter of the tournament. The crucial half-centuries from the player of the tournament in Qualifier and Finale helped Islamabad United clinch their second title in three seasons.
Opening the batting for Peshawar Zalmi, Kamran Akmal often gave his side quick starts which on most occasions took the game away from the opposition. For the second consecutive year, Akmal was among the top run-getters of the tournament. He bettered his last year's run tally of 353 by scoring 425 runs in 12 innings. The dashing opener helped his side go into the playoffs with a superb 61-ball 107, which was also the only century of the tournament.
IPL: Openers - KL Rahul, Ambati Rayudu
Individually, KL Rahul had a great tournament but was let down by his team when it mattered the most. Rahul was the third highest run-scorer of the tournament with 659 runs from 14 innings with a strike rate of 158.41. He scored 6 half-centuries in the tournament. In his very first match of the tournament, he broke the record for the fastest half-century in IPL history as he reached 50-mark in just 14 balls.
Ambati Rayudu was instrumental in Chennai Super Kings' title-run this season. Rayudu, who never scored more than 400 runs in any of the previous IPLs, scored 602 runs in this year's tournament. Even his strike rate,149.75, saw a steep rise compared to that of previous seasons, 126.16. In addition to the three half-centuries, he scored an unbeaten hundred against the runner-ups Sunrisers Hyderabad in the league stage.
PSL: Middle-order- Shane Watson, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed
Shane Watson was written off by many after a poor outing in last year's IPL. But Watson proved his critics wrong and aced all the tournaments that he took part in, starting from BBL. In PSL, he scored 319 runs in 10 innings at an average of 35.44 and a strike-rate of 135.16 and was the fifth highest run-getter of the tournament. Watson, the best all-rounder of PSL this year, also took 11 wickets for the side.
Babar Azam was one of the most consistent players in this year's PSL. He was one of the main reason for Karachi finishing second on the points table. He scored 402 runs in 11 innings at an average of 40.20. Azam scored as many as five half-centuries in the tournament, joint highest along with Luke Ronchi. Even though he scored a fighting 63 in the Eliminator 2, his side failed to chase down 171 in a rain-truncated match.
Shoaib Malik has been an integral part of Pakistan's team for many years and was the key batsmen for Multan Sultans in this year's PSL. In what was a rather disappointing tournament for Multan Sultans, Malik was the most consistent batsman. In the 8 innings that he played, he scored 224 runs at an average of 37.33. His best innings of the tournament came against the Quetta Gladiators as he took his unbeaten 65 took his side form 41/3 to a total of 152 in 20 overs.
Sarfraz Ahmed, the captain of Pakistan national side, has been one of the reasons for Pakistan’s number 1 ranking in T20Is. He has not only led his side well but also has played the key role of a finisher. In this PSL, he had a good time with the bat and also behind the wickets. He scored 223 runs in 9 innings and has affected the second most dismissals in the third season of PSL.
IPL: Middle-order - Kane Williamson, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik
Kane Williamson was considered, by many, as a player unfit for the shortest format. He gave a fitting reply to all those people in this year's IPL. Williamson was the leading run-getter of the tournament as he amassed 735 runs in 17 innings at a strike rate of 142.22. He also scored 8 half-centuries, the most by any batsman in this season.
The stylish yet unorthodox southpaw had a phenomenal IPL season. Even though his team were at the bottom of the points table, Rishabh Pant was the leading run scorer in the league stages with 684 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 173.60 and an average of 52.61. In addition to five fifties in the league stage, he also scored an unbeaten 128* off just 63 balls against Sunrisers who had the best bowling lineup in the tournament.
MS Dhoni's return to Chennai Super Kings and him leading the team to their third title was a gift to the fans who were waiting for the return of their favourite franchise. Dhoni was exceptional in marshalling his troops all throughout the tournament. Even with the bat, he had a great tournament as he scored 455 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 150.66. Dhoni remained not out on 9 occasions and had the best average, 75.83, this season.
Dinesh Karthik did a great job leading a side with limited resources. He used the players available at his disposal very efficiently and successfully led them to a third position in the tournament. Karthik played a major role in KKR's success. He was unbeaten in five of the six successful chases by KKR this season. In total, he made 498 runs in 16 innings at an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 147.77.
PSL: Lower-order - Darren Sammy, Shahid Afridi
Darren Sammy has been doing a great job leading the Peshawar Zalmi in PSL. After leading Peshawar to the title in the second season, he guided them into the finals this year. His numbers might not speak volumes but he finished the matches for his side a few times this season. Even when he was unable to run, he came to bat against the Quetta Gladiators and took his side to victory with a 4-ball 16 run cameo. In the 9 innings that he played in PSL this year, he scored 153 runs at a strike rate of 182.75.
Shahid Afridi still has the ability to take the game away with the bat and the ball and also in the field. In fact, in a format dominated by youngsters, the ageless cricketer plucked the catch of the tournament. He led his side, Karachi Kings, to the playoffs but could not take part in the knock out games due to his fitness. Even though he hasn't contributed much with the bat, he was the fifth highest wicket taker with 13 wickets from 9 matches.
IPL: Lower-order - Andre Russell, Rashid Khan
Andre Russell played many key innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders this year. He scored 316 runs from just 171 deliveries. Russell provided many scintillating finishes to a side which lost one of its main overseas players right before the start of the tournament. His best innings came against Chennai Super Kings in which he scored an unbeaten 88 off just 36 balls. He also contributed with the ball by picking up 13 wickets in 16 matches.
In this year's tournament, Rashid Khan again proved why he is the best T20 bowler in the world. He picked up 21 wickets in 17 matches with an economy rate of 6.73. He was sensational not only with the ball but also in the field and with the bat. He was lightning quick in the outfield all throughout the tournament and saved many runs for his side. His best innings with the bat came against KKR in the second qualifier in which he scored a 10-ball 34.
PSL: Bowlers- Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan, Wahab Riaz
Faheem Ashraf, the all-rounder, did not have much to do with the bat this season, but he had an exceptional season with the ball. He took the highest number of wickets in the tournament - 18 in 12 matches that too at a strike rate of 13.30. He also had a decent economy rate of 7.75 to round off his bowling. He led the Islamabad bowling attack brilliantly and was one of the mains reasons for Islamabad's success.
Usman Khan impressed one and all with his bowling the latest edition of PSL. He performed consistently throughout the tournament and was one of the best bowlers in the third edition. He took as many as 16 wickets in just 9 innings. His strike rate of 12.00 was the best in the tournament for any bowler who has bowled more than 5 overs. If Usman Khan continues his form in the next domestic season, he might make a national comeback in near future.
Wahab Riaz was consistent all throughout this year's PSL. He not only took 16 wickets in 12 matches but also restricted the run flow. His economy rate of 6.86 this season is something that we generally don't associate with Riaz. With his consistent performances in the PSL, he will hope to make a comeback to the national side, after being out for more than one year.
IPL: Bowlers- Andrew Tye, Umesh Yadav, Siddarth Kaul
Andrew Tye was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 24 wickets in 14 matches. He troubled many batsmen with his knuckleballs and yorkers. In a bowling lineup which struggled more often than not, he was the only consistent performer with the ball. Even though in a losing cause, he took three-4fers in three consecutive matches. His 24 wickets came at a strike rate of 14.00 and with a decent economy rate of 8.00.
Umesh Yadav bowled many fiery spells in the powerplay overs and took the most wickets during that period of play. Even though he was a bit expensive in the death, he had a decent overall economy rate of 7.86. His performances with the ball gave RCB a chance of making it to the playoffs, before faltering in the last match. In the 14 matches that he played, he took 20 wickets for the Bangalore based franchise.
Siddarth Kaul, who was exceptional in 2017 edition continued his good form even in this year's tournament. Originally a fifth bowling option for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kaul stepped up in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Billy Stanlake and cemented his position in the playing XI. He picked up 21 wickets in 17 matches with a decent economy rate of 8.28. His economy rate took a slight dip in the last few matches but he consistently took wickets for his side.
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