A franchise’s success in a tournament like an IPL depends on whether they make the top four. If a team doesn’t make the top four then they weren’t successful in that particular season. The teams which get in the top four could say that they have had a successful IPL. Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Royal Challengers Bangalore had a successful IPL. There were many great performances from the players from these teams and you need great performances if you want to make the top four. So, here is the best possible XI from the top four teams which made the playoffs this year.
Openers – Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner
The old opening combination of Sunrisers Hyderabad can come together if these two decide to open the batting. Both the left-handers had great seasons, especially Shikhar Dhawan who became the first player in the history of the IPL to score back to back hundreds. Towards the latter part of the tournament, he was the lone warrior for Delhi Capitals. David Warner found his mojo in the second half of the tournament as his strike-rate went up. David Warner has always been a consistent performer in the IPL and so scoring 500+ runs is not a big deal for him. These two have formed a great opening combination in the past and they will open in this XI as well.
Middle-order – Suryakumar Yadav, AB De Villiers and Ishan Kishan
Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan were absolutely fantastic in this IPL. Ishan Kishan scored the most runs by an uncapped player in a single IPL season as he scored 516 runs in 14 games. He is one of those batsmen who can bat anywhere in the order as he opened in a few games and then batted at No.4 as well. Suryakumar Yadav was always there for the Mumbai Indians. Coming in at No.3, he played quite a few match-winning knocks for them. AB De Villiers is a genius and you can’t leave him out of the team. He won some games single-handedly for RCB and was brilliant in the middle of the tournament. These three could form a great combination with two right-handers and a left-hander in the mix.
All-rounders – Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel
Hardik Pandya hasn’t bowled a single over in this IPL but still, he has to be in the team for his batting and his fielding. Coming in at No.6, he has the ability to take down any bowling line-up at ease. He has played some unbelievable cameos in this year’s IPL. Axar Patel on the other hand has been an unsung hero for Delhi Capitals as he has bowled economically and has smashed some lusty blows towards the end. He has bowled in all the phases of the game and has picked up wickets at crucial junctures. The boys from Gujarat will be the perfect No.6 and No.7 in this team.
Bowlers – Kagiso Rabada, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
If you are in the opposition you don’t want to face anyone of these bowlers. All of these bowlers are in the top five when it comes to taking wickets in this year’s IPL. Trent Boult can swing the ball upfront, Chahal can bowl in the middle-overs along with a couple of overs from Bumrah and Rabada, and then you have the death overs sorted with Bumrah and Rabada. This will form a deadly combination and it is a no-brainer to pick all these four bowlers in the XI from the top four teams.
