IPL 2018: Best Playing XI of the League Matches for Season Eleven

After 56 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, we have our final four for the playoffs stage. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have sealed their berth, for the final four of IPL 2018.

Meanwhile, there were some fine performances from the world-class players in the IPL. These fine performances from the players helped their respective teams in doing well in this season eleven of the professional domestic Twenty20 league.

Consequently, we take a look at the best playing XI of the IPL taking into account the league matches performances.

Our team will comprise only four foreign players as it has been a norm in any of the IPL teams.

Here is the Best Playing XI of the League Matches for Season Eleven:

Jos Buttler:

Rajasthan Royals find themselves in the playoffs stage and a lot of credit to goes to this man, Jos Buttler. He played a key role in getting his team to the final four.

Buttler scored five consecutive half-centuries to equal Virender Sehwag’s record. The England gloveman accumulated 548 runs in the 13 matches he played for the inaugural champions.

Royals wicketkeeper was instrumental in the success of the Jaipur-based outfit. Buttler struck his form in the second half of the season when he was given the opportunity to open the innings.

 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.

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 661 runs in the 14 matches he played.

Sunrisers also finished at the top of the IPL points table. Williamson will also be in contention to bag the Orange Cap, as he got at least two innings left in this edition.

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 586 runs in the 14 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.

Rishabh Pant:

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

Pant scored 684 runs which are currently the most by any batsman thus far.

Pant 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 Dhoni 2.0.

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.

Dhoni has scored 446 runs in the 14 league matches of this season. Furthermore, Dhoni scored his runs at a staggering average of 89.20 and struck his runs at a strike rate of 157.04.

Dhoni lifting his game was a big positive as the master played handy knocks to finish Chennai innings on a high.

CSK captain was once again superb in his leadership role. Thus, he is going to be the captain of the side.

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 is thus far the most by any bowler.

The Kings XI pacer Tye scalped three four-wicket haul 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 has 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 16 wickets in the 14 league 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 7.21 which was instrumental in successfully defending targets for SRH.

Umesh Yadav:

Umesh Yadav is always known to be expensive. However, the speedster was able to add more control to his armoury in this season. The fast bowler was able to extract good pace from the surface.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer scalped 20 wickets in the 14 matches as he is currently the second highest wicket-getter of the season.

Yadav also bowled with control as he leaked runs at an economy of 7.84 in this season. However, Yadav efforts went in vain as RCB could not qualify for the playoff stages.

Jasprit Bumrah:

Bumrah was able to catch up later in the season.

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.

12th Man: Sunil Narine:

Sunil Narine gave a good platform to the Knight Riders while opening the innings. The Windies all-rounder has scored 327 runs in the 14 league matches.

Furthermore, KKR spinner scalped 16 wickets in the same number of matches. Narine conceded his runs at an impressive economy of 7.62.

Narine would like to keep delivering the goods for the Men in Purple during the playoff leg of IPL 2018.