IPL 2022: Best combined XI of MI and RCB ahead of the season

The 15th edition of 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) is slated to start from March 26 with last-year champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and other finalists Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) starting the tournament. This year a total of 10 teams will be playing for the precious title.

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will be taking on formidable Delhi Capitals in their opening match, which will be played on March 27 (Sunday). Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), under the new leadership Faf du Plessis, will play against Punjab Kings later on the same day. The clash between MI and RCB will be conducted on April 9 (Saturday) at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.

One that note, let’s look at the best combined XI of MI and RCB:

1. Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has been a key performer for India over the years. His talent was always a well-known fact, but since former Indian skipper MS Dhoni promoted him up the order, things changed for the dasher. Adding on, his captaincy skills have also developed, making him the current skipper of Team India across all three formats. 

Rohit started his captaincy tenure when former MI skipper Ricky Ponting stepped down from the role midway through the 2013 season and Rohit was named to lead the side. Under his leadership, MI have won five titles so far. Apart from that, he has also backed some solid players like the Pandya brothers and even Kieron Pollard.

In 213 IPL matches so far, Rohit has scored 5611 runs in the toughest T20 league. Previously, he was an integral part of the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. Rohit also has an IPL hat-trick under his belt. Co-incidentally, he took the hat-trick against his current franchise MI. This year, Rohit will be looking to get the sixth IPL title in his cabinet.   

2. Faf du Plessis

The former South African skipper  Faf du Plessis was recently named the skipper for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), replacing Indian batter Virat Kohli. He has been purchased for INR seven crore. Faf du Plessis has so far played 100 IPL matches and has made 2935 runs, averaging 34.94 and at a strike rate of 131.08. Du Plessis played his best in 2021 when he amassed 633 runs from 16 matches and was instrumental in CSK’s fourth IPL title triumph.

In fact, the Pretoria cricketer was a part of Chennai Super Kings’ three IPL wins – in 2011, 2018, and 2021 respectively. The right-handed batter was the star for yellow army particularly during knock out stages.

Therefore, the red army would be having a lot of expectations from the stylish batter as he plays for Bangalore jersey for the very first time. The skipper will be having the responsibility to provide good starts for his side at top of the order alongside Kohli.

3. Virat Kohli

Indian stalwart Virat Kohli needs no introduction. Apart from breaking several batting records at the international circuit, the 33-year-old is also one of the most accomplished batters in the IPL. The former Indian skipper is the top-scorer in the history of the IPL, having scored 6283 runs from 207 games, averaging 37.39 at a strike rate of 129.94 including five centuries and 42 half-centuries.

The run machine also holds the record of scoring most runs in a single edition. Kohli amassed 973 runs in the 2016 edition and was adjudged the Orange Cap winner. His team also reached to the finals of that edition. However, RCB lost the final match against their southern rivals Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The 33-year-old decided to step from captaincy  after last season and his franchise and fans would be hoping that they get to see the old Kohli back in IPL 2022. Kohli is expected to open the innings alongside his skipper Du Plessis.

4. Suryakumar Yadav

Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav has been a consistent performer for the Mumbai Indians franchise. The right-handed batter likes to dominate the bowlers from the word go. Playing as a finisher for Team India, Suryakumar holds the important number three position and has played many outstanding knocks for his team.

The right-handed batter has played a total of 115 IPL games and has managed to score 2341 runs so far with an average of 28.9. Adding on, a strike rate of 135.71 speaks volumes about his talent with the bat.

Suryakumar is a core member of the side, as he was retained by the five-time champions ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. Owing to all these factors, Suryakumar is the best option for Mumbai to continue for the number-three position in upcoming edition as well.

5. Glenn Maxwell

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was one the key players for RCB with the bat in last season. As a result, Maxwell was retained by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction. The big show was roped in by Bangalore at a cost of INR 14.25 crore before IPL 2021 and he stood up to his franchise’s expections as well. Maxwell scored 513 runs from 15 matches, averaging 42.75 and scoring at a strike rate of 144.10.

The star all-rounder was retained by the red army for INR 11 crore to feature in the 2022 season. To note, Maxwell played a vital role in Australia’s maiden T20 World Cup triumph last year.

The franchise would now be hoping that their important allrounder emulates his performance with the bat yet again and get some crucial wickets with his off-spin as well.

6. Dinesh Karthik

Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has rejoined the red army. The right-handed batter was bagged by the RCB after a bidding war with multiple teams at the IPL 2022 mega auction. Karthik is one of the most experienced players of the IPL, having played for six different franchises so far. The wicketkeeper-batter made his first appearance for RCB in IPL 2015, where the side had made to the playoffs but lost to CSK in Qualifier 2.

Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, the Tamil Nadu-based cricketer was released by the two-time winners and his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. Karthik played for KKR in four seasons from 2018 and was also named skipper of the side in the first two seasons.

Karthik who is also a part-time commentator, would be hoping to provide his best for the red army in the middle order. Notably, the wicketkeeper-batter is one of the safest pair of hands when it comes to keeping the wicket.

7. Kieron Pollard

West Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard is known as one of the most dangerous hitter in the cricketing world. He has been an integral part of MI for past many years and the batter will be looking to replicate his performance in this year’s edition as well.

Pollard has proven his worth time and time again as he has taken his team to numerous memorable wins. Talking about his big hitting ability, Pollard has an overwhelming strike rate of 149.77. Apart from that, he has been a handy bowler as well.

In 178 IPL games, Pollard has scalped 85 wickets. Even though his economy rate of 8.78 is on a higher side, he could be an ideal replacement for a bowler who is having a bad day. Despite going for runs, Pollard has a knack of getting crucial wickets for his side.

8. Wanindu Hasaranga

Sri Lankan bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was purchased by RCB for a sum of INR 10.75 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction. To note, Hasaranga was a key perfomer for his national side at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. He ended the tournament with 16 wickets in just eight matches including a hat-trick as well.

The mystery spinner’s base price was just INR one crore coming into the mega auction. However, Hasaranga ended up earning a lot more than that. He is also a handy batter as he can provide quick finishes for his team.

The red army will be hoping to give him ample opportunities as they look forward to making the most of the Sri Lankan all-rounder’s services in the upcoming edition of IPL 2022.

9.  Jasprit Bumrah

Indian pacer and one of the core member of MI franchise, Jasprit Bumrah has come a long way since making his IPL debut in 2013. The right-arm pacer has been a prominent bowler for skipper Rohit Sharma over the years and continues to do so. Even after being in the international arena for so many years, batters have still struggled to score runs freely against the ace pacer.

Be it taking wickets with the new ball or containing runs in death overs, Bumrah can be a nightmare for bowlers at any jucture of the game. So far, he has played 106 IPL games and has scalped 130 wickets with the ball.

The right-arm pacer is also very shy in giving runs as he has an economy rate of 7.42, which is quite exceptional. Apart from executing pin point yorkers, Bumrah also has a deadly bouncer and well disguised slower ball as well.

10. Mayank Markande

Young leg-spinner Mayank Markande is back from where he started. The leggie made his IPL debut for MI against a prominent CSK side in IPL 2018. The leg-spinner had the perfect debut as he troubled CSK batters and asked some serious questions from them.

In 18 IPL games so far, Markande has scalped 16 wickets. While Markande showed his true potential while being with MI, the leggie could not replicate his performances for Rajasthan Royals as he didn’t get regular chances.

Meanwhile, Markande will have big shoes to fill with tweaker Rahul Chahar, who has done exceptionally well for the five-time champions, leaving the side. Under Rohit’s leadership, Mayank can grow to his full potential.

11. Harshal Patel

RCB had to pay a hefty amount of INR 10.75 crore to retain the services of pacer Harshal Patel. To note, the right-arm pacer was released from the red army squad before the IPL 2022 mega auction. However, RCB overcame stiff competition from CSK and SRH to get Harshal on board.

The 31-year-old was the Purple Cap holder in last year’s IPL, getting 32 wickets to his name which is the joint-highest in a single edition of the IPL. CSK allrounder Dwayne Bravo had also picked the same amount of wickets in IPL 2013 season. The right-arm pacer would be expected to emulate his last year heroics as RCB are on a mission to win their maiden IPL title this time around.