IPL 2018: Best Playing XI of the Eleventh Season

IPL 2018: Best Playing XI of the Eleventh Season

The eleventh season of the Indian Premier League turned out to be full of exciting matches. There were some fine performances from the world-class players for their respective teams. These fine performances from the players helped their teams in doing well in this season eleven of the professional domestic Twenty20 league.

Consequently, we take a look at the best players in the season who would have made the best possible XI of the IPL 2018. Our team will consist of only four foreign players as is the norm in the tournament.

Let’s take a look at the best Playing XI of the eleventh season.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul kickstarted KXIP campaign with the fastest IPL fifty. Rahul was classical at the top of the order for the Punjab franchise.

The flamboyant batsman impressed with his majestic strokeplay. Furthermore, Rahul also did a decent job behind the wickets.

Rahul scored 659 runs in the 14 matches he played. However, the right-hander didn’t receive support in the second half of the league matches. Thus, Rahul was the lone warrior in the Punjab brigade.

Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu has had a dream season for the Super Kings. The right-hander savoured most of his success while opening the batting.

However, he also played a couple of handy knocks while batting at the number four position.

Rayudu scored 602 runs in the 16 matches he has played in this season. Moreover, these performances also helped him in sealing his place in the Indian team for the England One-day International series. Rayudu is instrumental in the success of the yellow brigade.

Kane Williamson

There were always doubts raised over the game of Kane Williamson in the T20 form.

Nonetheless, Williamson proved the saying that, “A classical Test batsman is bound to achieve success in the T20 form but vice-versa is not always going to be true (with few exceptions).”

However, the extra responsibility of leading Sunrisers got the best of the New Zealand skipper.

Williamson delivered consistent performances for the 2016 edition champions. The stylish right-hander gathered 735 runs in the 17 matches he played. This is the third highest runs ever scored in a particular season of the league.

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant was able to hit the ground running with his performances. Daredevils gloveman impressed with his pyrotechnics.

Pant scored 684 runs in the 14 matches he played for the Delhi Daredevils.

The left-hander played some blistering knocks for the Delhi team. The pugnacious southpaw batsman scored five fifties and one hundred in the 14 matches he played for the Men in Blue.

Meanwhile, Delhi could not qualify for the final four as Pant lagged support from the other end.

MS Dhoni (c and wk)

We witness a completely different avatar of Dhoni in this edition of the IPL.

The CSK skipper came to bat higher in the batting order. Thus, Dhoni received more deliveries to face and he was able to deliver the goods.

Furthermore, Dhoni scored 455 runs at a staggering average of 75.83 and struck his runs at a strike rate of 150.66.

The talisman lifting his game was a big positive as the master played handy knocks to finish Chennai innings on a high. MS Dhoni took Chennai Super Kings to their third IPL title as he was once again superb in the leadership role.

Sunil Narine

Some World Class players in this team.

Sunil Narine was awarded the Most Valuable Player for his all-around performance. The Windies all-rounder did a fine job while opening the batting for the Kolkata Knight Riders. The southpaw was instrumental in providing quick starts to his team.

Furthermore, the Kolkata Knight Riders linchpin delivered the goods with the ball as well. Narine scored 357 runs in the 16 matches he played for the Men in Purple. The mystery spinner scalped 17 wickets in the 16 matches he played in the season. He conceded his runs at an economy of 7.66. Thus, he held a tight grip on the proceedings.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya wasn’t at the top of his game with the bat. However, the all-rounder was able to deliver the goods with the ball. Pandya scalped 18 wickets in the 13 matches he played for the reigning champions Indians.

However, Pandya was expensive in his bowling as he conceded runs at an economy of 8.93.

Furthermore, Pandya is a live wire on the field and saves crucial runs with his fielding. The right-hander also has the ability to play imperative cameos for his team in the fag end of the innings.

Andrew Tye

Andrew Tye was able to flummox the batsmen with his knuckleball variations. The Australian fast bowler was able to take 24 wickets in the season which made him the leading wicket-getter. Thus he also clinched the Purple Cap.

The Kings XI pacer Tye scalped three four-wicket hauls in the 14 matches he played.

Moreover, Tye was also economical in his spell. Punjab pack leader conceded runs at an economy of 8 runs per over.

Unfortunately, Punjab could not qualify for the playoffs stage after veering off the track in the second half of league matches.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan was majestic.

Rashid Khan continued to breathe down the batsmen’s neck. The Afghanistan spinner was once again able to deliver match-winning performances for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The leg-spinner took 21 wickets in the 17 matches for the Orange Army.

Most importantly, Rashid didn’t let the batsmen off the hook as he held a tight grip on the proceedings.

The leggie conceded runs at an economy of 6.74 which was instrumental in successfully defending targets for SRH.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah didn’t have the best of the first half of the season. However, the talismanic bowler was able to bounce back stronger in the business end of the season.

Bumrah scalped 17 wickets in the 14 matches he played for the defending champions. The Indians bowler was successful in hitting the bullseye with his yorkers in the death overs.

Bumrah kept a tight grip as he conceded runs at an economy of 6.89.

Siddharth Kaul

Siddharth Kaul did a fine job for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The right-handed bowler was right on the money with his line and length. Furthermore, Kaul also impressed with his pace and bounce.

Kaul scalped 21 wickets in the 17 matches he played for the Orange Army. However, Siddharth turned out to be expensive in the fag end of the tournament. Overall, Siddharth conceded his runs at 8.64 runs per over in the season.

12th Man: Shane Watson

Watson played his best knock in the final.

Shane Watson scored two hundred in this of the IPL 2018. The former Australian all-rounder did a fine for the title winners Chennai Super Kings while opening the innings.

Watson scored 555 runs in the 15 innings he played for the Men in Yellow. The right-hander scored his runs at a brisk strike rate of 154.60. Watson made full use of his vast experience to deliver the goods for the Chennai franchise.