Left Handers' XI of IPL 2015

4. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

Well, this might raise the brows of many folks by having him batting at this position. Owing to his importance as a dependable and an equally aggressive batsman, he makes his place into this list. Dhawan has been one of the top notch left handed batsmen for India for quite some time now.

Alongside that, his timing and placement has often been compared to some great left-handers including Sourav Ganguly and Mathew Hayden. His healthy innings right at the start for SRH has helped them to cruise to big totals. Also, the Man with the Distinct Moustache, complimented Warner brilliantly in the opening partnership for SRH.

Among the few impactful innings played by him in this season, the one against Rajasthan Royals at the Brabourne Stadium justifies his spot in this team. He smacked the bowlers all around the park and scored a total of 54 runs off 35 deliveries in real quick time. Batting in such a position, lower in the middle order might well explode out the pinch-hitting instinct of him.

5. Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina

Raina can also be called as Mr. CSK, owing to the fact that he has never missed a single game for them. Raina has been pretty much consistent throughout the seasons of IPL. But in this particular season, he has not fired to that extent.

The aggressive left-handed batsman has scored 346 runs in this season. Just to draw an instance of how his performance could play a pivotal part in the game, Raina’s emphatic knock of 61 runs off 32 deliveries against RCB with the aid of 6 sixes proved to be quite much enough in deciding the fate of the game.

He also possesses the sublime quality of sneaking in a few economical overs in the middle and this has helped CSK’s cause for throughout the years. Also, his intensified brilliance in the field in conjunction with his abilities to bowl economical spells adds to the strengths of any team. Owing to his sporting and fighting spirit on the field, in conjunction with his dramatically consistent fitness level, Raina can surely be the X Factor of any team on a day.

6. JP Duminy

JP Duminy

Duminy has been the Mr. Performer for DD in this season. The left-handed batsman batted incredibly well for them in this season and has scored a total of 414 runs in 14 matches with 4 half centuries. Also, as a matter of fact, his spin bowling has been an advantage for DD as he has succeeded in taking 8 wickets in the season. He has been the baton holder for DD in this season and DD simply over-depended upon him to a considerable extent.

This can be justified by his impact in DD’s away game against SRH. Duminy scored a blistering innings of 54 runs initially which was backed by a sensational 4 wicket haul coupled with incredible captaincy, which seized victory in favour of DD. Also, his unbeaten knock against MI of 78 runs in real quick time was indeed a treat to watch.

The centurion stand between him and Shreyas Iyer in that match can be called as one of the greatest partnerships in this IPL. A player of his class in such a prime form is likely to enforce amplified strength for a squad in the middle order. Also, Duminy is quite much versatile in his batting approach and can adjust himself to defensive or aggressive mode depending upon the circumstances of the game.

7. Axar Patel

The spinning all-rounder of India is perhaps one of the brightest prospects for India in limited over cricket. Due to the poor performances of KXIP this season, Axar’s game-changing contributions have been shadowed on a number of occasions.

It can never be forgotten that he had immense contributions in taking KXIP through to the finals in the previous IPL. He managed to take 13 wickets this season and who could forget the 21-year old’s cameo with the bat against RR to take the match down to the super over. With 13 runs required off the last over and with no recognized batsman to compliment him, Axar has been splendid in that match.

As a bowler, he is capable of bowling economically even in the powerplay overs. In the rain-intruded match against RCB of late, Axar’s cameo of 20 runs at the death overs helped KXIP to pose a defendable total. This was followed by his incredible performance with the ball (2/11 in 2 overs) to take KXIP par the victory line.