The 2020 Indian Premier League has entered its final hour, with three out of four play-off positions now sealed.
Since the start of the tournament in October, we have been picking the Team of the Week with help from our social media followers. We’ve narrowed down the top performers to 22 players before putting them to a vote on our Instagram stories.
After a 24-hour voting period in which two players jostled for each position, this is the final XI.
BEN STOKES – RAJASTHAN ROYALS
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The Englishman bid goodbye to the IPL last weekend, but not before he served a timely reminder of what makes him such a highly sought after overseas star. It did take a while for Stokes to get going in the UAE after his late arrival midway through the tournament.
By the time Rajasthan’s campaign came to an end, we witnessed the sort of player for whom the franchise had shelled out a record sum in the 2018 auction. His blazing ton against Mumbai Indians made a tough chase look easy and he followed it up with a rapid half-century against KXIP. Rajasthan would have loved for him to peak sooner in the tournament.
ISHAN KISHAN – MUMBAI INDIANS
Mumbai Indians have barely felt the absence of skipper Rohit Sharma due to his injury, with young Ishan Kishan slotting into the opening position. Kishan’s partnership with fellow southpaw Quinton de Kock is working like a treat, and Mumbai will have a nice selection headache on their hands if Rohit does return to fitness.
Kishan has now crafted two unbeaten half-centuries in the opener’s role, with the latest of them coming in a comprehensive demolition of Delhi Capitals. This is turning out to be the most prolific IPL yet for the coveted youngster and he is averaging close to 50 in the ongoing campaign.
CHRIS GAYLE – KINGS XI PUNJAB
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Punjab will be ruing not drafting in Chris Gayle to the playing XI earlier in the tournament. The ‘Universe Boss’ showed he still means business at the age of 41 by giving KXIP’s dwindling play-off hopes a fresh lease of life.
While KL Rahul’s men missed the cut ultimately, Gayle cannot be faulted for his efforts to get the team over the line. The veteran’s rapid 51 against KKR kept Kings XI in the hunt and he followed it up with a valiant 99 against Rajasthan in a losing cause. In the process, the Jamaican also became the first batsman in T20 history to strike 1,000 sixes.
SURYAKUMAR YADAV – MUMBAI INDIANS
Suryakumar Yadav’s absence in the recently announced India limited-overs squads has come as a huge surprise and for good reason. The right-handed batsman has been Mumbai’s middle-order lynchpin with some solid displays throughout the season and he seems to be back in prime form after a brief dip.
His masterly 79 helped Mumbai pull off a steep run chase against RCB and gave Virat Kohli a first-hand account of what the Indian team will miss in its upcoming tour of Australia. Not only has Yadav been consistent with his returns, he has also maintained a strike-rate of over 150 in a season where big names have struggled to up the ante.
EOIN MORGAN – KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
For some strange reason, we had never seen the best of Eoin Morgan in an IPL jersey in the past editions, but that has changed with his showings in the UAE. The England skipper’s performances in the No5 position for Kolkata this year have been underrated for sure. With Andre Russell in the midst of an abysmal individual campaign, it is Morgan who has stepped up for KKR in their time of need.
The left-hander is averaging more than 41 and has played several crucial cameos down the order. Having taken over the reins of the team from Dinesh Karthik, Morgan delivered a captain’s innings of 68 against Rajasthan to help KKR put one foot in the play-offs.
SAM CURRAN – CHENNAI SUPER KINGS
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A strong finish to the season will give Chennai Super Kings a renewed sense of hope for the 2021 edition, and it is young Sam Curran who is a big reason for this optimism.
Even when things were going awry on the field for Chennai, the English all-rounder never stopped delivering with both bat and ball. It has been an IPL which has enhanced Curran’s reputation as a white-ball all-round talent. One game he was gritting it out with a fighting half-century after a CSK top-order collapse, and the next match he was claiming three wickets with his seam bowling.
One hundred and eighty six runs and 13 wickets are a handsome return for a player who Chennai will look to build their future around.
RAVINDRA JADEJA – CHENNAI SUPER KINGS
It has been a funny season for Ravindra Jadeja with regards to his bowling and his spin has only ended up fetching him a total of six wickets. However, it is with the bat in hand that has seen Jadeja’s reputation soar.
While MS Dhoni has struggled in his customary finisher’s role for Chennai, Jadeja has stepped up with his ability to clear the ropes. The southpaw’s 232 runs have come at a strike-rate of more than 170 and he has played several blinders down the order.
The latest example of his explosive batting prowess came against KKR, with Jadeja slamming 31 off just 10 deliveries to snatch a win for CSK.
RASHID KHAN – SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
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There can be no more doubt that Rashid Khan is the greatest T20 bowler in the world. The Afghanistan ace has been simply unplayable at times in the Emirates and has helped himself to 18 wickets so far. Taking prized wickets is just one aspect of Rashid’s bowling, and it is his ability to contain batsmen that is key.
The wrist-spinner’s economy-rate in the ongoing campaign is just a shade over five runs an over and that statistic is testament to his white-ball credentials. His sensational spell of 3-7 against the Delhi Capitals is also the most economical of the tournament so far.
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL – ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s performances might have tailed off in the second half of the tournament, but Yuzvendra Chahal’s stock continues to rise. The experienced leg-spinner has pulled the strings with the ball and is on his way to cap off a fine individual season.
Twenty wickets so far have been a deserved reward for a spinner who has not been afraid to give the ball some air in the UAE. Four more scalps will make it Chahal’s best season yet in the IPL and it seems like a firm possibility with RCB advancing to the Eliminator.
JOFRA ARCHER – RAJASTHAN ROYALS
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Although the England pacer has signed off from the IPL with Rajasthan’s exit, he still has a strong shout to end up as bowler of the tournament. If anything, Archer was let down by a poor supporting cast in the Royals’ bowling department.
The speedster guaranteed wickets at the top and in the death overs, along with an excellent economy-rate of just 6.55. He was a joy to watch when he cranked up the pace and rarely did Archer have an off day. The England star finished off the campaign with 20 wickets to his name, though it could have been even more if the rest of Rajasthan’s bowlers had pulled up their socks.
JASPRIT BUMRAH – MUMBAI INDIANS
There were question marks surrounding Bumrah after his subpar displays in New Zealand earlier this year, but there is no doubt that he is now back to his best. The India stalwart has been the heartbeat of Mumbai once again and is now in a direct shootout with Kagiso Rabada for the Purple Cap.
He remains clutch with his nerveless displays in the death overs and has swelled his wicket tally to 23 in just 13 appearances. Worryingly for Mumbai’s opponents in the play-offs, Bumrah is starting to peak at the right time. His last two outings for the defending champions have yielded three wickets apiece and there could be a few more in store in the upcoming play-offs.
