IPL 2022: Best Overseas XI - Week Five

As KL Rahul and his bowlers managed to defend a par score against the Punjab Kings, his side moved to third on the points table, with the Gujarat Titans firmly on top. Now that we are in the second half of the TATA IPL, the race for playoffs seems to be getting all the more interesting, with all teams but Mumbai Indians effectively in contention. Now that the fifth week of IPL 2022 is done, let us have a look at some of the best performances by overseas players in the week gone by. Here is the best Overseas XI from Week five – 1. David Warner David Warner. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) One of the most consistent players in IPL history, David Warner is a reliable bank when it comes to solidity at the top of the order. He holds the record for the most number of half-centuries in the tournament. Warner has always been amongst the runs, with only last year being the exception. This year, he is back to his consistent ways. Despite playing only six games so far, he has managed to score 261 runs with as many as three fifties to his name. This week, though he played only one game, was the chief architect behind his side’s win. Chasing a modest score of 147, Warner gave the Delhi Capitals (DC) a blazing start. He scored 42 runs, consisting of eight boundaries, thereby laying the platform for a crucial win for his side. 2. Quinton de Kock (wk) Quinton de Kock. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The Proteas opener has formed a potent opening combination with his skipper KL Rahul at the top of the order. Although he hasn’t been at his destructive best this season, he did play an important knock for his team against the Punjab Kings. After losing their skipper early on, he struck an important partnership with Deepak Hooda which helped his side post a decent total on the board. His knock of 46 came from 37 balls and consisted of four fours and two sixes. His team would require a lot more of such innings from him as they progress into the second half of the tournament. Safe behind the stumps, de Kock has been chosen to keep wickets for this team as well. 3. Bhanuka Rajapaksa Bhanuka Rajapaksa. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Bhanuka Rajapaksa has been rather unlucky as he has been in and out of the side despite good performances, whenever given the opportunity. This week, he made some handy contributions with the bat. Against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), after a slow start by skipper Mayank Agarwal, Bhanuka joined hands with Shikhar Dhawan and helped Punjab post a comprehensive total of 187 runs. In the process, he managed to score two fours and two sixes in his 32-ball stay at the crease, which resulted in 42 runs. Although he couldn’t do much in the game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he should still be persisted with by the Punjab Kings management in the long run. An able keeper too, he can don the gloves if the need arises. 4. Aiden Markram Aiden Markram (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Opener turned middle-order batter from South Africa, Aiden Markram is a solid player, irrespective of the position he bats. After making his IPL debut last year, Markram has managed decent numbers so far in the league, 392 runs at an average of 56 and a strike rate of 137.54. This week, although he played two games, he got to bat in only one of them as his side was chasing just 69 runs in the other game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In the game where he did bat, he made a fine 56(40), including two fours and three sixes, and helped his team post a massive score of 195-6, albeit not enough. Apart from being a dependable middle-order batter who is capable of attacking and anchoring equally well, he is a handy part-time off-spinner too. Many times, he has bowled in the powerplay overs for his national side and has picked up a few wickets as well. 5. Liam Livingstone Liam Livingstone. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) One of the most feared batsmen in world cricket right now, Liam Livingstone is finally having the season he deserves to have. Still, his overall IPL strike rate is nearly 160. This week, although a major score was missing, he played a couple of quickfire cameos. Against CSK, he just faced seven balls but made the most of it as he smoked two sixes and a four en route to his score of 19. Against LSG too, he managed to hit two sixes, but just when it seemed like he would take his side over the line alongside Bairstow, he got out trying to play the scoop shot. A livewire on the field, Livingstone can also roll his arm over as well. He is a complete T20 package, which was evident by the bidding war he had started at the auction earlier this year. Nevertheless, Punjab would keep on hoping that Livingstone can pull off a few more of his belligerent knocks this season. 6. Andre Russell Andre Russell. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The hard hitter from Jamaica has had a mixed season so far. This week was more of the same, as he performed exceedingly well in one match but failed miserably in the other. He had a match to remember against the Gujarat Titans, both with bat and ball. With the ball, he bowled just one over but managed to take four wickets in those six deliveries, thereby becoming the only fast bowler in IPL history to pick up four wickets in an over. While chasing, he held Kolkata Knight Riders‘ (KKR) hopes alive till the final over but holed out to Ferguson. Nevertheless, he scored 48(25), which included a four and six towering sixes. Although he failed to open his account against DC, he still had a week to remember. Players like him are a real asset to their team, as they can win matches on their own. KKR would be hoping for a string of good performances from their star all-rounder if they are to stay relevant in the competition this year. 7. Rashid Khan (c) Rashid Khan (Photo Source: Twitter) One of the most sought-after players in the world, Rashid Khan would probably walk into any Best T20 XI. Considered the best T20 bowler around currently, Rashid has proven himself as a fine all-rounder with his performances this week. Firstly, he starred with the ball against KKR. Two wickets for just 22 runs in four overs against a lineup full of stroke makers is no mean task, and Rashid Khan is known for such performances. However, it was the match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) which showed his true steel. He went for 45 runs in four overs and was uncharacteristically expensive. However, he turned the tide with the bat in hand and butchered an 11 ball 31, which included four sixes, two of which came off the final two balls of the match. Since he led admirably well in the absence of Hardik Pandya, he has been chosen to lead this side as well. 8. Marco Jansen Marco Jansen. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The lanky left-arm seamer from South Africa has already made some rapid strides in professional cricket, and he’s just 21 years old. He is one of those rare overseas players to have made their IPL debut even before playing for their national side. Much like Russell, Marco too had an indifferent week. In the game against RCB, he wreaked havoc with the new ball and picked up the important wickets of du Plessis, Kohli, and Anuj Rawat, all in one over. That probably is one of the best spells in IPL this year. His heroics helped his side dismiss RCB for just 68, a target that SRH chased down without breaking a sweat. He had a difficult game against the Gujarat Titans where Rashid and Tewatia took him to the cleaners. Although known more for his bowling, Marco is a dangerous batsman down the order too. He usually bats at number seven/eight and can be handy in the death overs. 9. Dushmantha Chameera Dushmantha Chameera. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The speedster from Sri Lanka is in red hot form of late and has been a brilliant buy for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) this season. Although he is playing IPL for the first time this year, Chameera has more than seven years of international experience. This week, he has performed really well. In the match against Punjab, he picked up two important wickets of Mayank Agarwal and Jonny Bairstow while giving away only 17 runs. Earlier in the match, he also hit two handy sixes to propel his side to a respectable total of 153 runs. In the game against Mumbai Indians earlier this week, Chameera was super economical with his bowling as he gave away only 14 runs in his allotted quota of four overs. Though playing his first season, he already has established himself as an indispensable part of the LSG setup. 10. Kagiso Rabada Kagiso Rabada. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) A genuine fast bowler, by pace and by aggression, KG Rabada has been one of the favourites of IPL over the years. Having played most of his career for DC, he is seen making a mark for the Punjab Kings this season. This week, he picked up six wickets in total in the two games that he played. Against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he picked up two wickets including the dangerous-looking Rayudu who was threatening to take the match away from Punjab. Against LSG, he picked up as many as four wickets to restrict LSG to 153. Although Punjab failed to chase down this relatively lower total, Rabada has given his hundred percent whenever given the chance. He is no mug with the bat either and can strike some lusty blows coming at number eight. 11. Mustafizur Rahman Mustafizur Rahman. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Commonly called The Fizz, the seamer from Bangladesh has been mighty impressive for DC this season. He starts off with the new ball and comes back at the death too to close out the innings. This week, although he played only one game, has impressed one and all with his performance. Bowling the 20th over, he picked up the wickets of Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, and Tim Southee, and gave away only two runs in that over. The momentum till then was with KKR but his over swung the pendulum back in favour of DC. The wicket of Rana was especially important as he was looking good and could have added a few more runs which could well have made the difference in the outcome of the match. Written by Jatin Shad

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IPL 2022: Best Overseas XI - Week Five

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