IPL 2021: Best XI from league stage

The ongoing 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is nearing the business end of the tournament. Three teams have qualified for the playoffs, with Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) sitting pretty at first, second and third positions, respectively. The fourth team is still not decided but by virtue of their thumping 88 runs victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has solidified their position in the top four.

The only threat for KKR is Mumbai Indians (MI) but the team’s weak net run rate has eased the passage for KKR. This year’s IPL was a tale of two halves, with the tournament being postponed due to COVID-19. After a lot of deliberation, the IPL was planned to be held in UAE considering the impending threat of COVID-19. So far it has gone well, and as usual, provided some fantastic cricketing actions. Some senior players like Faf du Plessis and Ambati Raydu have redefined themselves and have yet again proved age is just a number.

While some youngsters such as Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel have been stupendous for their DC and RCB respectively. With the league stage almost nearing an end, here it is a good time to have a look at how few players have performed for their respective teams.

Meanwhile here is the best XI of the IPL 2021 league stage

1. Faf du Plessis

South African pacer Marizanne Kapp had tweeted on how Faf du Plessis could still be playing for the team in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. CSK opener is having a dream season of sorts right from India leg to the UAE. The seasoned campaigner has so far scored 546 runs in 14 games and has carried the team’s batting order ably. Du Plessis has also formed a potent opening combination with Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top and has invariably given the team good starts upfront.

The former South African captain has played the sheet anchor’s role to perfection and has switched gears seamlessly. Like Rohit Sharma, Du Plessis takes a bit of time to start his innings. But once set, he quickly changes his gear and takes the attack to the opposition. It is not just this season it is every season the 37-year-old keeps churning out runs for CSK. This season though there was a sense of calmness in his batting.

The game against PBKS was a classic example of how he stayed unfazed when the remaining batters were getting out quickly. His 76 gave CSK a fighting total of 134 in the end. Without a doubt, Du Plessis is one of the vital players for CSK.

2. KL Rahul

The ridiculous way in which he had taken apart CSK bowlers with proper cricketing shots was simply a delight to watch. KL Rahul was a man on a mission of hunting down the target with overs to spare and give his team a chance of making it through to the playoffs. Although his mission failed, Rahul undoubtedly played one of the best knocks in the history of the IPL.

Chasing 135 against quality CSK bowlers, Rahul scored an enterprising unbeaten 98 and took the team home with seven overs to spare. Ever since he has joined PBKS, the right-hand batter has shown an indefatigable appetite to score runs. This year, it was no different as the skipper scored a humungous 626 runs from just 13 games. Yet again, he carried PBKS batting on his shoulders only to see the other batters floundering and messing up the run-chases.

It was yet again a disappointing season for PBKS and the same story yet of so near and so far. Rahul would be hoping and praying that he gets some support from the remaining batters in the next season of the IPL.

3. Ruturaj Gaikwad

From being the first uncapped player in the history of the IPL to score three fifties to becoming CSK’s first-choice opener in this year’s IPL, Ruturaj Gaikwad has had an eventful journey so far. With questions raised in the India leg due to his indifferent form in two-three games, MS Dhoni backed the youngster to come good. And since then, he has not looked back. Gaikwad is just behind Rahul and Du Plessis in the run-scoring chart and has so far scored 533 runs in 14 games.

Like his South African partner at the other end, Gaikwad plays, proper cricketing shots. There is a sense of calmness in his approach and confidence in the way he executes those inside-out shots in the cover region. Having Du Plessis at the other end has helped the 24-year-old to play his natural game. Gaikwad likes to take his time and unleash the beast mode later.

His maiden century against RR was a master class in batting. The way he paced his innings and accelerated in the fag end of the innings displayed maturity as well as class.

4. Glenn Maxwell

The enigma of the IPL, Glenn Maxwell has finally arrived with a bang in this season of the IPL. After two to three dismal seasons with PBKS, the franchises such as RCB and CSK were still willing to pay 14 crores to acquire his services. Eventfully RCB won the rat race in the auction and have so far benefited by having him in the team. Maxwell has been given a specific role in the team to bat at number four.

It is the same position he has batted for Australia in T20Is. In one of the post-match conferences, the all-rounder said a bit of clarity in the position has helped him bat freely. He also said he is getting a nice rhythm batting at number four. Maxwell has hardly put a foot wrong for RCB this season and has won games singlehandedly.

It is his X-factor ability and unorthodox stroke play which make him look dangerous at the crease.
So far, he has scored 498 runs for RCB at a brilliant strike rate of 147.34. Maxwell’s fearless batting has also taken a bit of pressure of AB de Villiers shoulders.

5. AB de Villiers

RCB’s most reliable player and skipper Virat Kohli’s trusted player AB de Villiers started the IPL 2021 with a bang by scoring over 200 runs in seven matches but has so far looked a pale shadow of himself during the UAE leg. It is pretty unlike De Villiers but that just tells us a story that how nothing is permanent in life.

During this year’s IPL, the former South African player has been used as a finisher of the team, with Maxwell batting at number four. But so far, De Villiers has not finished games for RCB as he would have wanted. During the game against SRH, he came as low as number six but could not quite get the required 13 runs off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling.

The decision was debatable, and few critics questioned RCB’s strategy of bringing De Villiers such lower down order. With RCB qualifying for the playoffs, it would be interesting to see if the seasoned campaigner bats higher up the order.

6. Rishabh Pant (C & WK)

The Capitals captain and the leader of this team, Rishabh Pant has been a revelation for the team. With regular skipper Shreyas Iyer injured, DC management handed the leadership reins to Pant. So far, the decision has proved to be a masterstroke, with the wicketkeeper batter marshaling his resources well. Pant has also scored 352 runs coming in at number five and six.

The dashing southpaw’s useful contribution at the lower down the order has helped the franchise in winning few close games. But Pant would know that he has so far blown hot and cold during the ongoing IPL.

Also, Shreyas Iyer has not got the support from the other batters as he would have hoped for. Nonetheless, the wicketkeeper batter has proven to be a good leader and has so far been street-smart with his captaincy moves.

7. Ravindra Jadeja

Talismanic all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has arrived as the true all-rounder of the team. There was never a doubt about his bowling and fielding but the doubt was whether he can play those vital knocks lower down the order. That has so far changed during this year’s IPL. Jadeja’s 37-ball 62 against RCB solidified his position as the batter in the team.

That knock also gave Dhoni a belief and a sense of confidence that Jadeja can be the designated finisher of the team. In the 14 games so far, the CSK all-rounder has taken 10 wickets and has scored 227 runs.

This is by far is the best season in terms of wickets and scoring runs for the team. What has been impressive about Jadeja’s batting has been his strike rate of 145.51, which is better than his career strike rate of 128.07.

8. Rashid Khan

SRH’s biggest star and their best overseas player during this year’s IPL Rashid Khan has yet again been magnificent in the middle overs. Although SRH finished last this year, the Afghanistan leg-spinner again delivered for the team. He has so far taken 18 wickets in 14 games at an average of 20.94.

In a season where SRH batters failed to deceive, Rashid yet again prove his class. There were just one-two bad games, but that can happen to anybody.

While mystery spinners have majorly hogged the limelight, traditional leg-spinners like Rashid still possess the happy knack of ability in picking up wickets. During this year’s IPL, too his fast googlies were tough for the batters to pick.

9. Avesh Khan

The Capitals pacer Avesh Khan has been one of the stories of the IPL so far. In a team boasting of pacers such as Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada, Avesh has quietly gone about his business. Pant has also used him smartly and has given him a clear role of taking wickets for the team in the power play and the death overs.

What has been the most impressive of the young pacer is his ability to maintain tight lines and lengths. He has hardly dropped a gear and hardly bowled a loose ball. Also, the stint with team India as a net bowler has helped him evolve in his game. So far, he has taken 22 wickets in 13 games, and by the looks of his current form and fitness, Avesh is looking good to add few more wickets.

10. Harshal Patel

The purple cap holder and RCB skipper Kohli’s go-to-bowler Harshal Patel is taking wickets for fun this season. Be it middle-overs or death overs the 30-year-old has taken wickets whenever Kohli has thrown the ball at him.

Patel has also been smart with his variations, and his knuckleball has by far been the most effective in getting him wickets. Patel narrated an incident about talking to Zaheer Khan during his stint with RCB in 2012-13 and develop the knuckleball.

The right-arm pacer has so far taken 30 wickets, which is already the most by the Indian pacer. He has solved RCB’s death bowling woes, which has helped RCB in closing out games more often than not.

11. Jasprit Bumrah

India and Mumbai Indians go-to-bowler Jasprit Bumrah has yet again displayed consistency in taking wickets at the start and the death. Although MI have blown hot and cold, Bumrah’s pinpoint yorkers and his ability of controlling the innings have stood out.

He has formed a potent combination with Trent Boult and has yet again led the bowling attack well. Ever since Lasith Malinga has hung his boots, Bumrah has taken the ownership and has so far picked 46 wickets in two years for MI.

In this season, he has picked 19 wickets in 13 games and has maintained an economy rate of 7.27. The runs conceded would not make him happy but there is no doubting his class as the number one wicket-taker in the team.