IPL 2019 - Team of the Season 

After 8 weeks full of hair-raising and nail-biting moments, Season 12 of the Indian Premier League has finally come to an end, with Mumbai Indians bagging the title for a record fourth time, thereby becoming the most successful team of the tournament till date.

In a rollercoaster final which kept changing fortunes, Mumbai held their nerve to edge over CSK for the fourth time this season, as they registered a 1 run win over MS Dhoni's troops. In the process, Rohit Sharma maintained his 100% win record in an IPL final, winning the title for the 5th time (having won it in 2009 with the Deccan Chargers).

IPL is known to be a platform for its highly competitive and sublime brand of cricket. It provides an opportunity for young players to brush their shoulders with seasoned experts, and carve a niche for themselves. This season, too, was marked with some brilliant individual performances. Let's have a look at the team of the season:

Disclaimer: The views in the article are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Sportskeeda.

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Openers

David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

David Warner made a comeback with a vengeance and stamped his authority over the tournament. The dashing southpaw was a pillar of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad, as he gave them impressive starts regularly.

Warner was in electric touch right from the beginning, being the side's top scorer in the first two games and followed it up with an unbeaten century against RCB. He consistently notched top scores for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, playing an anchor's role.

Warner finished as the highest run scorer of the tournament, bagging the Orange Cap award in just 12 games, with 692 runs at an average of 69.20. He scored 8 fifties and 1 hundred, including five consecutive 50s. Warner was the one of the key components who propelled SRH to the playoffs.

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Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals)

Shikhar Dhawan takes the second opening spot in the season's best squad alongside his erstwhile opening partner. Dhawan's addition to the squad worked wonders for Delhi Capitals, who qualified into the playoffs after a gap of 7 years.

The southpaw had an impressive run in the tournament and ended up being the highest run scorer for his franchise, with 521 runs in 16 games at an average of 34.73. With Delhi Capitals being a team brimmed with budding youngsters, Dhawan discharged the role of a senior international professional, maintaining the tempo of the game and holding things from one end. His contribution from the willow gets even more praiseworthy considering the testing track of Feroz Shah Kotla being his home pitch.

Middle Order

KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)

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KL Rahul was one of the few silver linings in an otherwise lacklustre campaign for the KXIP, as the team once again lost track in the second half of the league. KL Rahul, who had created ripples in the previous edition, managed to replicate his feats as he found form after having a series of low scores.

With the team being short of batsmen and having an inexperienced middle order, Rahul provided stability to the batting order at the top, with his brisk contributions. He made an attempt to bat deep on most of the occasions, with his well calculated century against the Mumbai Indians being the standout feature.

The 26-year old ended up as the second highest run scorer of the tournament, registering 593 runs from 14 innings at an average of 53.91, with 6 fifties and 1 hundred. He claimed the FBB Stylish Player Award of the Season.

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Manish Pandey (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Manish Pandey redeemed his worth for SRH, as he found some good touch towards the business end of the tournament. Pandey was one of the few players in the middle order across franchises, who had a good season.

The 29-year old showed great character once he was promoted to the No.3 spot, as he made sincere efforts to fill in the giant boots of Warner. He scored runs at a good pace, and rotated the strike well in the middle overs. He was exceptional in the final overs of the game against Mumbai Indians, maintaining his nerve against the likes of Bumrah and Malinga to take the game into the Super Over.

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MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings - Captain & Wicketkeeper)

MS Dhoni was the only batsman who was consistent with the bat for CSK, as he made invaluable contributions post the top and middle order collapses on numerous occasions. Dhoni was back in his vintage form, giving stability in the initial phase of his innings and unleashing himself against all bowlers towards the end.

He won several matches single-handedly for the defending champions of the season, with his scintillating knock of 84* against the RCB being the highlight. MSD ended up as the highest run scorer for the side from the south, with 414 runs in 11 innings, at an average of 103.50, with 3 fifties.

Dhoni was also spot on as a captain and wicketkeeper as usual. His resource management of the spinners and Deepak Chahar was a visual delight to watch, and it was majorly due to his sharp acumen that CSK managed to make it to the final.

All Rounders

Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)

Hardik Pandya had a breakthrough IPL season, and was clearly the X-Factor in the Mumbai Indians squad. Pandya brought immense balance and solidity to the side, making vital contributions in all the three departments. He was at his best in the death overs with the bat, hitting sixes at will against the best of oppositions.

He was the game changing element for the champion side, who gave the liberty of having a few extra runs in the kitty. The Baroda all-rounder also made handsome contributions with the ball, picking key wickets in the middle overs, along with his athleticism on the field. Pandya made 402 runs at a strike rate of 191 and picked 14 wickets. He was clearly the major element who drove Mumbai towards their fourth title.

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Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Andre Russell was in beast mode right from the start of the season, as he posed the threat of taking the game away from the opposition in just one over.

Russell came out into the middle in the most difficult of situations, and more often than not managed to take his team home. He came out to bat after the 15th over in most of the situations, but took the game away from the opposition with his aggressive stroke playing abilities.

Russell picked 11 wickets and hit 510 runs at a strike rate of 205 with 52 sixes, as no score was out of his reach. He grabbed the Harrier Super Striker of the Season and Most Valuable Player Award for his all-round exploits.

Spinners

Shreyas Gopal (Rajasthan Royals)

Shreyas Gopal was one of the few positives for Rajasthan Royals in this season. The 25-year old showed immense promise, as he spun a web around the opposition's batsmen with his leg spin in the middle overs.

He also showed signs of brilliance in his handful opportunities with the willow, exhibiting calm and composure towards the end. Gopal was the highest wicket taker for RR, with 20 scalps in 14 games. His standout performance came in the last game, as he took a hat-trick against RCB, claiming the wickets of their top 3- Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis.

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Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings)

Imran Tahir was the go-to man of MS Dhoni in the spin department, as he picked up wickets at regular intervals at a highly impressive economy of 6.70.

He exploited the conditions of Chepauk to perfection, as he managed to pick up big wickets from the oppositions, including the likes of Andre Russell, Rishabh Pant and Kane Williamson. The 40-year old proved that age is just a number, by picking up 26 wickets in 17 games, and claiming the Purple Cap Award for most number of wickets.

Fast Bowlers

Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals)

Kagiso Rabada proved to deliver the same magical touch with the bowl which Shikhar Dhawan delivered with the bat. He brought a sense of stability in the bowling attack of the Capitals.

Rabada proved to be highly effective in the start and at the death, picking 25 wickets from just 12 games. Rabada was particularly impressive in the Super Over against KKR, as he managed to contain and outdo Andre Russell with his fiery yorkers. Like his teammate Dhawan, the value of his contribution increases on considering the fact that the turning track of Kotla was his home pitch.

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Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)

Jasprit Bumrah reinstated his credentials as the best bowler in the world in this tournament, as he restricted the flow of runs towards the death overs. After an underwhelming start against the Capitals, he registered a phenomenal comeback against the RCB, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

He was also spot on in the Super Over against SRH, as he bundled their innings in a span of just 4 balls. Bumrah held his nerve in the all important final and kept bringing his team back into the game with crucial wickets, wilst bowling a decisive 19th over in which he gave away just 5 runs. Bumrah picked up 19 wickets for MI this season, ending up as the champion side's highest wicket-taker.