IPL 2022: Best XI from Group B ahead of the 2022 season

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected to be a blockbuster. The cricket carnival is set to be back, with more entertainment as well as more teams. The players have joined their respective franchises, and are practicing before the tournament kicks off.

As it is said that “Change is the only constant”, the tournament has got a new dimension. The 2022 season will see a different, and an interesting format. The tournament is set to be played with teams divided into two virtual groups. The first match of the season will be played between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders.

The T20 extravaganza will see a total of 70 matches being played among the 10 teams divided into two groups. As the COVID-19 pandemic is still an issue, all the matches will be played in Maharashtra. Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai, and MCA Stadium, Pune will be hosting the league stage of the tournament.

Here, we will take at the Group B of the season and will try to decode the best XI from the group

1. Faf du Plessis (RCB)

Faf du Plessis was exceptional in the seasons he represented the Chennai Super Kings. The scenarios have changed and we will see him playing in the red jersey of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. As Virat Kohli has stepped down as the captain of the Bengaluru-based franchise, Faf is appointed as their new skipper.

He has been one of the most successful captains of the South African cricket team. The team will want him to use his captaincy experience and help RCB win their first IPL title. Faf has played 100 IPL games and has 2935 runs to his name at a good average of 34.94. He is known for playing marathon innings and is counted among the best fielders ever to play the game of cricket.

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK)

The young and flamboyant opener from Maharashtra is all set to set the stage on fire for the Chennai Super Kings once again. The opener was the winner of the Orange Cap last year which is a big achievement itself. Gaikwad and Du Plessis used to open the innings for CSK but now they will play against each other.

The last few months have been magical for the young opener. He was fabulous in the domestic season, whether it was Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, or the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In 22 IPL games that he has played, he has scored 839 runs at an amazingly brilliant average of 46.61. The 25-year-old batter also scored his maiden IPL hundred in the 2021 season.

3. Virat Kohli (RCB)

The most successful batter in the history of the Indian Premier League has been a giant in world cricket for a decade. Virat Kohli, the master at his work, used to be the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore till the last season before he announced his surprising decision of stepping down. Nevertheless, he will still be the most important player for the RCB franchise.

He has done so many wonders in the league. He holds the record of scoring the most amount of runs in a single IPL season. He scored a mammoth 973 runs in 2016. The batter has scored 6283 runs in 207 IPL games at an average of 37.4. We will see Virat in a different role in 2022 and the fans of RCB will want him to score tons of runs for them.

4. Nicholas Pooran (SRH)

The Caribbean T20 sensation has hit fabulous form in recent games. He scored three consecutive fifties in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against India in India. The left-handed batter is all set to represent his new franchise the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2022. SRH looked very determined while bidding for him and eventually won the bidding war.

The southpaw has a lot of experience playing the T20 leagues despite having a young age of 26. He used to play for the Punjab Kings till last season. He played some quality innings for Punjab. He will have a huge role to play for the Hyderabad-based franchise as they lack sound middle-order batters. SRH will have a lot of hopes from him.

5. MS Dhoni (CSK) (C) (wk)

The face of CSK, MS Dhoni will most probably play his last IPL season in 2022. The 40-year-old has ruled the league for years. MS has won four IPL trophies for CSK as a captain. His role for the franchise has been great and has been playing for the franchise since 2008. Hopefully, he will win the fifth IPL title for CSK and will give himself a nice farewell.

The wicket-keeper batter is the most successful wicket-keeper in the history of the league. MS has played 220 IPL games and has scored 4746 runs in them. He has redefined the word “Finisher”. Dhoni has created his legacy at the highest level of the game. It will be interesting to see if we will be able to witness  the vintage MS Dhoni sixes in 2022 too.

6. Hardik Pandya (GT)

After playing so many seasons for the Mumbai Indians, we will see Hardik Pandya in a new role. Hardik is all set to captain the newest IPL team the Gujarat Titans in 2022. Hardik’s performances have seen a downfall in recent times but he knows how to bounce back. The stage is set for the hard-hitting batter to make everyone remember his name.

The all-rounder was selected as a draft pick by the Gujarat Titans franchise ahead of the mega auction and didn’t waste much time to announce him the captain. Hardik has had some beautiful memories to cherish with the Mumbai Indians. He has scored 1476 runs in 92 games of IPL and has 42 dismissals to his name.

7. Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)

The premier Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is having probably the best time in his career. He was the most expensive retained player ahead of the auction. The CSK offered him their first retention of worth 16 Crore. He has been playing for CSK for years and we will see him playing for the franchise as captain this time. His contribution will be a vital one for CSK.

He is one of the most improved batters out of the current lot. He has become a dependable batter who can be used as an option in the middle-order too. He has played 200 IPL games and has scored 2386 runs and has 127 wickets to his name. Jaddu’s form in international cricket for India has been amazing in the last few years.

8. Rashid Khan (GT)

Rashid Khan is probably the most threatening spinner in the league. He has been deceiving the batters for years. After being released by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rashid got an offer from the Gujarat Titans to join them as their draft pick alongside Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill. Rashid will be the most prominent player for the Gujarat Titans.

Rashid has played a lot of franchise cricket in various T20 leagues all around the globe. He has played around 311 T20 games, in which he has picked 435 wickets at a fabulous bowling average of 17.40. In IPL, he has played 76 games and has 93 dismissals to his name maintaining a superb bowling average of 20.56. He has managed to maintain a great economy rate of 20.56.

9. Kagiso Rabada (PBKS)

Kagiso Rabada is one of the top pacers in world cricket currently. After having a great run with Delhi Capitals, he has been purchased by the Punjab Kings for the 2022 season. Kagiso will provide his quality services to the Mohali-based franchise. He is a match-winner in all formats of the game and is not someone whom the batters will feel easy to face.

The South African fast bowler has been around for a good time now. Rabada was very impressive since the initial days of his cricket career. He has played 50 IPL games and picked 76 wickets at a bowling average of 20.53. Kagiso will lead the Punjab Kings bowling lineup in 2022 and the skipper Mayank Agarwal will surely bank on him a lot.

10. Mohammed Shami (GT)

The senior Indian pacer Mohammed Shami will play for the Gujarat Titans in the 2022 season. Shami has been an integral part of the Indian fast bowling lineup for a good time now. He has been consistently doing well for the Indian cricket team in international cricket. Shami is a traditional fast bowler who can execute spectacular spells both with the new and the old ball.

The Bengal pacer did a great job for the Punjab Kings in the last few seasons. It was quite unfortunate for the Punjab Kings to lose him at the auction. But the Gujarat Titans will feel very happy and satisfied after getting him. Shami has picked 79 wickets in IPL from 77 games. He is a bowler who can be trusted to never let his captain down.

11. Harshal Patel (RCB) 

Harshal Patel will be seen in action for his franchise very soon. He had a dream run in 2021 and became the bowler to claim most wickets in a single IPL season. He picked 32 wickets in 15 games and equaled the record of DJ Bravo. Harshal is one of the most improved bowlers of the lot. He has mastered the art of bowling the slower ones in the death overs.

He has played sevaral seasons for RCB through the years. Despite being there for so long, he was never the part of the playing 11 regularly. 2021 was a breakthrough year for the Haryana bowler. He started his season with a 5-wicket haul against the Mumbai Indians and became the first bowler to claim a fifer against the five-time champions in IPL. RCB will want him to do exactly what he did last year.