BY SUNIT JANGIR
Another season of Indian Premier League is just one match away from reaching to its conclusion. The final is set to take place on Sunday (May 12) at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad between the two most successful teams of the IPL history and three times champions each, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.##
Here is our team of the tournament:##
1. David Warner (SRH)##
It has been a quite emotional season for the Australian left-hander who was making his comeback after missing out the previous season due to the Newlands' ball-tampering scandal last year. But he returned and returned with a bang. Smashing 692 runs in 12 innings with an average of 69.20 and strike rate of 143.87 including a century and 8 fifties. This year, he paired with England's Jonny Bairstow and both were quite sensational together. Even in 2017, Warner was the highest run-getter of the tournament with 641 runs 14 innings.##
2. KL Rahul (KXIP)##
After getting a slow start in the first few matches, KL Rahul really took off and saw his 2018 version after that. Despite Kings XI Punjab not making to the playoffs just like the previous season, Rahul has had an impressive season with the bat. He smashed 593 runs in 14 innings with an average of 53.91 and strike rate of 135.38. He managed to get those runs with the help of a century and 6 half-centuries.##
3. Shreyas Iyer (DC)##
It's been a landmark year for Shreyas Iyer not only as a batsman but also as a captain. Under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, Delhi Capitals reached to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. However, he couldn't take DC to its first final but did remarkably well to take a young side to thus far. He impressed with the bat as well and smashed 463 runs in 16 innings with an average of 30.86 and hit 3 fifties.##
4. Rishabh Pant (DC)##
The 21-year old may have not matured enough but had won Delhi Capitals 3 or 4 matches singlehandedly. The second highest run-getter of 2018, Rishabh Pant smashed the second fastest fifty (18 balls) of the tournament. Pant scored 488 runs in 16 innings with the thunderous strike rate of 162.66.##
5. Andre Russell (KKR)##
Not many have the power of winning the game from the almost dead situation unless he is Andre Russell. The IPL 2019 will be remembered for Russell's brutal striking. The big man from West Indies was in different zone throughout the season and made 510 runs in 13 innings with the strike rate of 204.81. In first few matches, his scores were 49* off 19 balls vs SRH, 48 off 17 balls vs KXIP, 62 off 28 balls vs DC, 48* off 13 balls vs RCB. Quite unimaginable!##
6. MS Dhoni (CSK)##
When it comes to finishing the game, no one knows better than MS Dhoni how to do that. Against Royal Challengers Bangalore when CSK needed 26 to win off the last 6 balls, Dhoni nearly did something unthinkable as CSK remained just two runs short of the target. Well, on the bigger note, CSK will play its 8th final out of the 10 seasons they played and the skipper played an important role in that with 414 runs in 11 innings with an average of 103.50 and strike rate of 137.54.##
7. Hardik Pandya (MI)##
One of Mumbai Indians' key players Hardik Pandya has emerged as the genuine all-rounder this season. He seems to be the only competitor of Andre Russell in terms of the strike rate. His best effort came against Kolkata Knight Riders when he blasted 91 off 34 balls in chasing 233. However, Mumbai Indians couldn't cross the line but by then, Pandya has already played one of the best knocks in IPL history. He has scored 386 runs in 14 innings with the strike rate of 193 and also been impressive with his bowling as well and picked 14 wickets in 15 matches.##
8. Shreyas Gopal (RR)##
The only bowler to take the wickets of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in the same innings on three occasions, Shreyas Gopal has been the biggest positive for Rajasthan Royals this year. He is also the contender of the emerging player of the tournament. In 14 matches, Gopal picked 20 wickets including the hat-trick against RCB.##
9. Imran Tahir (CSK)##
With one of the trademark celebrations after taking the wicket, Imran Tahir has played an important role in CSK's success this year. His economy rate (6.65) has been one of the best in IPL 2019. In 16 matches so far, Tahir has picked 24 wickets and only behind his fellow countryman Kagiso Rabada.##
10. Kagiso Rabada (DC)##
The champion bowler from South Africa is the leading wicket-taker with 25 wickets in 12 matches. The world saw his brilliance when he defended 10 runs against the likes of Russell in the super over. However, an injury ended his memorable season with DC but he ensured that DC reached to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.##
11. Jasprit Bumrah (MI)##
No playing XI is complete without Jasprit Bumrah who's brilliance with new balls as well as in the death is unbelievable. It was Bumrah who played the biggest part in Mumbai Indians' title triumph against Chennai Super Kings with the figures of 4-0-14-2. Mumbai Indians were restricted to below par total but Bumrah, with his brilliance in the death overs denied CSK to win as MI completed narrowest 1-run win to lift the title for the record 4th time. Bumrah ended the season with 19 wickets in 16 matches with an outstanding economy of 6.63.##
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