The Quint’s IPL 2019 XI: Dhoni to Lead, Gopal, Chahar Make the Cut
As another edition of IPL came to an end, The Quint lists down its IPL XI of the season.
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It was curtains for the twelfth edition of the Indian Premier League as Mumbai Indians were crowned the champions for the record-breaking fourth time in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Like the final, the entire season was evenly fought with many matches being decided off the final delivery.
As another edition of IPL came to an end, The Quint lists down its IPL XI of the season.
David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
No explanation needed for his inclusion. David Warner was in mind-boggling form in IPL 2019.
It has been a great comeback for the Australian, who was missing in action last season. Not only did he average a whopping 69.20 for his 692 runs, he was awarded the Orange Cap for the same. In the 12 matches he played before returning home ahead of the World Cup, Warner had scored eight half-centuries and one century.
Only if he could have stayed for the entirety of IPL 2019, Sunrisers Hyderabad would have surely done better than finishing fourth in the competition.
KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)
KL Rahul went through one of the toughest phases of his life - both personally and professionally - before the IPL. But again the Karnataka batsman has used the tournament to get a new lease of life with the bat.
Kings XI Punjab might have a forgetful IPL 2019 but same can’t be said of Rahul, who again shone with the bat. His tally of 593 runs from 14 innings is second only to David Warner. He also averages 53.90 and has been striking at 135.38 all through out the tournament.
Equipped with ability to change gears at will, Rahul scored his maiden IPL century against Mumbai Indians this season.
Dhawan was also in contention for the second opener spot but Rahul pipped him keeping in mind the left-hand and right-hand combination at the top of the order.
Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)
Pant was ex-factor in the Delhi batting line-up this season and his quickfire knocks only justified his potential to turn the around matches on his own.
With 488 runs in 16 matches, Pant was at the forefront of Delhi’s batting this season. His quick-scoring ability was once again highlighted in the competition as he scored a 18-ball 50 against Mumbai in Delhi Capitals’ first match of the season.
In the later half of the tournament, Rishabh played some crucial knocks to ensure Delhi Capitals enter their first playoffs in seven years.
Behind the stumps also Pant came up with some blinders but he still looks to be work-in-progress as far as wicket-keeping is concerned.
MS Dhoni, Captain (Chennai Super Kings)
Rohit Sharma might have won his fourth IPL trophy but till MS Dhoni is part of an IPL set up it is very difficult to choose any other captain for an IPL XI side.
It has been easier choice this time around since skipper MSD has led from the front with the bat too. The fulcrum of Chennai Super Kings’ batting this season, Dhoni’s average is an eye-popping 83.20, courtesy seven not outs in his 12 innings.
After a long time, Dhoni reprised his role as the finisher to perfection this season. With 416 runs at a strike rate of 134.62, the Chennai skipper surely made a case for himself with the bat before the World Cup.
Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)
The Mumbai all-rounder showed great consistency both with the ball and the bat this season. Especially with the bat, Hardik came up with match-winning knocks for his team almost regularly this season.
His ability to hit the ball clean and far made him one of the fiercest batsmen to bowl to this season. His cameos, alongside Kieron Pollard, came just in the nick of time for Mumbai as he managed to save games for his side.
Coupled with his batting abilities, Hardik has done wonders with the ball. With the ball Hardik has won Mumbai matches these season, conjuring important breakthroughs at the right moment.
His performances this season speaks volumes about his importance in a team. Hardik has finished IPL 2019 with 402 runs at a strike rate of over 190 and has also taken 14 wickets.
Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)
No IPL XI of 2019 will be complete without the Most Valuable Player of the edition.
Probably the strongest hitter of the cricket ball in modern day cricket, Andre Russell, shouldered KKR almost single-handedly this time around. Russell scored 510 runs and took 11 wickets for Kolkata in 14 matches. His average of 56.66 also shows the way he has matured as a batsman.
He maintained a strike rate of over 200 throughout the season, which is an unprecedented feat and showcased his consistency with the big hitting.
Russell finished with 52 sixes in the competition. Meanwhile, Chris Gayle is distant second with 34 sixes, which highlights why opposition planned separately for Russell this season.
Shreyas Gopal (Rajasthan Royals)
Karnataka spinner Shreyas Gopal was probably the surprise package of this edition of the IPL.
Not many batsmen were able to red his variations as he took wickets on regular basis. He dismissed the likes of AB De Villiers and Virat Kohli two times in this IPL, which shows his prowess with the ball and surely makes one of the cricketers to watch out next season.
With 20 wickets from 14 games, this has been Gopal’s most successful IPL season since his debut in 2014. To put things into perspective, Gopal didn’t even manage to take 20 wickets in his previous four seasons put together.
Gopal also took a hat-trick this season against Royal Challengers Bangalore in rain-affected tie at the fag end of IPL 2019.
Rahul Chahar (Mumbai Indians)
Rahul Chahar found a new lease of life when Mumbai Indians retained him ahead of the IPL 2019 auction.
13 wickets from 13 games in Mumbai Indians’ title winning campaign, Chahar was the find of the season for Mumbai Indians as they continued their trend of churning out raw talent.
What made Chahar deadly effective was the way he was used by his skipper Rohit. He bowled mostly in the Powerplay and gave his team crucial breakthroughs along with bowling economical overs. At 6.55, Rahul is the fifth most economical bowler this season.
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians)
Jasprit Bumrah, who moulded his skills from legendary Mumbai Indians pacer Lasith Malinga, ended the season with 19 wickets.
Be it bowling at the start of the innings or at the death, Bumrah has been Mumbai’s go-to man for the past couple of seasons. With his accurate line and length, batsmen have found it difficult to dispatch Bumrah from the word go.
In the final also it was Bumrah who came to Mumbai’s rescue after Malinga and Krunal Pandya went for 40 runs in two overs. It was the 17th and the 19th over by Bumrah which turned things in Mumbai’s favour before Malinga came up with his final act.
Taking 19 wickets and going for only 6.63 runs in an over, Bumrah is an asset for a T20 side.
Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals)
The 23-year-old Delhi Capitals pacer redefined pace bowling this season as he was a bit too hot to handle by the opposition batsmen.
25 wickets from 12 games, Rabada’s deadly yorkers coupled with accurate bouncers, was almost unplayable throughout the season.
Rabada’s Super Over against Kolkata Knight Riders has to be one of the most defining moments in IPL 2019. Rabada bowled six yorkers to successfully defend 10 runs, which included Andre Russell’s wicket. The delivery that got Russell’s wicket could easily be the ‘Ball of IPL 2019’.
Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings)
He might be the oldest player to play the IPL, but that had hardly anything to do with Imran Tahir’s enthusiasm throughout the season.
Flight, guile and the deceiving factor, Tahir, the winner of the Purple Cap, was a captain’s delight this season. His 26 wickets, the most in IPL 2019, from 17 games and that celebratory lap after every wicket, showed how much Tahir has been enjoying his stay with the Men in Yellow.
Tahir’s chemistry with wicketkeeper Dhoni was commendable and so was the understanding. Dhoni brought him into the attack in the toughest of times and as always Tahir put his hand up and delivered regularly.
12th Man: Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians)
Champions Mumbai Indians might be consistent as far IPL wins are concerned, but their batsmen didn’t enjoy a similar fate this season. Barring Quinton de Kock at the top of the order.
The South African cricketer, who was playing his first season with Mumbai, was instrumental in giving the side good starts while skipper Rohit Sharma was having an off season.
De Kock brought up four fifties in his 16 innings, with a high score of 81. His tally of 529 runs at a strike of 132.91 puts him third on the list of leading run scorers this season.
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