IPL 2018: Team of the Tournament

With the Chennai Super Kings emerging as the new champions following their triumph against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, the most tightly fought IPL season in the history of the tournament comes to an end.

While numerous youngsters made it to the limelight yet again, veterans like Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, and Yuvraj Singh failed to even have a mediocre season. Here in this article, I scrutinize the numbers and statistics to form the best IPL XI of the season 2018:

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#1 - Lokesh Rahul (KXIP)

Emerging out from the shadows of Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers in the IPL for the first time, KL [Kamaal Lajawaab] Rahul did not fail to impress. The 26-year-old batsman from Mangalore amassed 659 runs in 14 innings at an average of 54.91 and ended up at No. 3 in the Orange Cap list.

Rahul became the third player, only after his former teammates in Chris Gayle & AB de Villiers to cross 600 runs in a single season of the IPL with a strike-rate exceeding 160. I've been saying this again and again - KL Rahul is the second most skilled Indian batsman across all three formats after Virat Kohli, and must be included in the Indian team in all three formats of the game. 

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#2 - Ambati Rayudu (CSK)

MS Dhoni's masterstroke of allowing Ambati Rayudu to open the innings proved to be super advantageous for the Chennai Super Kings, as Rayudu churned out runs for fun, so much that he is now a part of the Indian limited-overs team to tour England.

Rayudu piled up 602 runs in 16 innings at an average and strike-rate of 43 and 149.75 respectively. He also smashed the winning boundary towards extra-cover to clinch the trophy for CSK.

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#3 - Kane Williamson (SRH)

For all those who never rated Kane Williamson as a T20 player, here are his statistics from the 2018 IPL: 735 runs at an average of 52.50 and strike-rate of 142.44 with 8 half-centuries to his name, as he recorded the third highest aggregate score in a single season of the IPL after Virat Kohli [973] & David Warner [848].

"No Kane, NO Gain" was the mantra for the Sunrisers Hyderabad this season.

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#4 - Rishabh Pant (DD)

Perhaps the biggest find for Indian cricket this year, Rishabh Pant for sure would have left an impact on the selectors following his dream run in the 2018 IPL. Standing at No.2 in the Orange Cap list, the 20-year-old youngster scored 684 runs in 14 innings at an average and strike-rate of 52.61 and 173.60 respectively.

With MS Dhoni's retirement coming closer, Rishabh Pant is expected to replace the legend as the wicket-keeper batsman in the Indian team.

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#5 - MS Dhoni - Captain & WK (CSK)

MS Dhoni wound the clock back for all of us this season, as we got to witness vintage Mahendra Singh Dhoni of 2011. The 36-year-old veteran scored 455 runs in 15 innings at an average of 75.83 [which is the highest for any batsman this season] and strike-rate of 150.66.

Hope that Dhoni continues his good form and plays in the same way for India in the 2019 World Cup, and once again finishes off things with his trademark helicopter shot over deep mid-wicket!

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#6 - Andre Russell (KKR)

Arguably the best all-rounder in Twenty20 cricket at present, Andre Russell will bat at No.6 for my team. The Jamaican all-rounder piled up 316 runs at a strike-rate of 184.79, providing KKR with the finishing touches required towards the end of the innings. 

Russell wasn't bad with the ball either, where he took 13 wickets in 15 innings at a strike-rate of 17.46. He along with MS Dhoni would prove to be calamitous for the bowlers at the death overs.

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#7 - Rashid Khan (SRH)

No hesitation in calling Rashid Khan as the best leg-break bowler in Twenty20 cricket as of now. The 19-year-old Afghani picked up 21 wickets this season and also recorded the fourth best economy rate - 6.73.

Rashid also was brilliant with the bat. Coming in to bat at No. 7 & 8, King Khan also played some match-winning cameos for his team. He was nothing less than an acrobat in the field either.

Rashid was one of the two major pillars for the Sunrisers Hyderabad this season.

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#8 - Umesh Yadav (RCB)

Umesh Yadav was my bowler of the season. Bowling in the powerplay overs, Umesh would run in, hit the deck hard and quietly walk away with a couple of wickets in his bag. The speedster from Vidarbha [Vidarbha Express, aka Umesh] picked up 20 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 7.86 and strike-rate of 15.95.

Just like Rayudu, even Umesh Yadav has received a call back to the national team and will tour England next month.

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#9 - Andrew Tye (KXIP)

Perhaps the biggest positive for KXIP this season was Andrew Tye's consistent bowling throughout the tournament. It was for the first time that a player from a team who did not qualify for the playoffs won the Purple Cap. 

Tye picked up 24 wickets in 14 matches at an economy and strike-rate of 8 and 14 respectively. He also became the first player to pick up three 4-wicket hauls in a single season of the tournament.

KXIP for sure would look to retain Andrew Tye's services for next year's IPL.

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#10 - Kuldeep Yadav (KKR)

Kuldeep Yadav ended up the season as the joint highest wicket-taker for Kolkata with Sunil Narine. Kuldeep, along with Narine & Chawla, spun a web around the batsmen, as the trio picked up 48 of the 92 wickets the KKR bowlers managed to take this season. 

The 23-year-old youngster sent the batsmen back to the pavilion for 17 times in 16 innings and bowled at an impressive strike-rate of 18.11. Kuldeep would be keen to carry on his good form in the India blues as well. 

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#11 - Jasprit Bumrah (MI)

Many failed to realize how good a season Jasprit Bumah had with the ball. Bowling the difficult overs for his team, the right-arm seamer from Ahmedabad picked up 17 wickets in 14 innings and recorded the second best economy rate for a pacer this season - 6.88.

Jasprit Bumrah will play a decisive role in India's success when they will tour England next month. 

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Cheers,
Sparsh