IPL: All-time playoffs XI of the tournament

Here is the list of players who have been consistent even in the playoffs.

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After six weeks of non-stop cricketing action, the top teams are an inch closer to etch their names in the history books of the biggest T20 league of the globe. The playoffs have begun and the enchantment of IPL has gone to another level. A couple of teams are trying to add to their trophy collection but their rivalry has been a treat to watch. The fans are already amused but this cricket loving country is always ready for more.

In IPL it is very difficult for a team or a player to maintain consistency, as every side is full of acclaimed superstars. A side generally plays a minimum of 14 games in the league phase. Most of the time player’s may run out of gas when they reach the business end of the tournament, but there are few who have done exceedingly well when pressure beckoned them.

Here is the list of players who have been consistent even in the playoffs:

1) Michael Hussey

MS Dhoni csk Michael Hussey
MS Dhoni with Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina CSK. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Australian cricketer is one of the underrated IPL players as he has won 2 titles. During his prime, he was one of the key stars of the Chennai Super Kings. In his IPL career, Micheal Hussey played for 2 teams. The southpaw has scored nearly 2000 runs in 59 matches at an average of 38.76, and most of the runs have come while opening the batting.

Mr Cricket provided brisk starts and he set-up the stage for the middle-order to flourish more often. Hussey played 11 playoff ties in which he scored 388 runs at an average of 35.27 which includes 4 half-centuries. Hussey always showed his resilience in important ties, and he anchored the innings when the team played on tough pitches. One of his best innings was unbeaten 86 against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 1 of 2013 IPL.

2) Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

The Mumbaikar has been a consistent performer in the IPL, and most of his heroics have come at top of the order. Nowadays he is an integral part of the Rajasthan team where he also captained the side for a couple of seasons. Ajinkya Rahane has played for 3 teams in his IPL tourney. He has played 140 matches in which he has scored over 3800 runs at an average 33.

The current vice-captain of India’s test team has a classic technique, and that has helped him in opening the batting in slam-bang cricket. Rahane has played 6 playoff games in which he has scored 237 runs at an average 39.5. Jinx is a tough nut to crack and always delivers when the team needs him. His most memorable inning has to be the 44 against Mumbai in 2017 final where he played beautifully on a sluggish track when the team was chasing a target of 130.

3) Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Suresh Raina has been a legend of IPL, and his contributions to the league can never be forgotten. The veteran has been plying his trade for 12 years and has been a regular in the MS Dhoni-led side. The cricketer from Uttar Pradesh has played for 2 teams in his saga. Raina is one of the top run-getters in the league with 5360 runs in 192 games at an average of 33.5.

Popularly known as Chinna Thala, Raina has been part of the historic Chennai team which has reached the playoffs every year. The southpaw has played 23 playoff matches in which he has piled 777 runs at an average of 36.90 which includes 7 half-centuries. Suresh Raina has been a mainstay of the Chennai batting line-up, and his best playoff knock has to be the 87 off 25 balls against Punjab in the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2104 when the team was chasing a mammoth score of 227.

4) Murali Vijay

Suresh Raina & Murali Vijay
Suresh Raina & Murali Vijay. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Tamil Nadu player has been around the league from the last decade and has played some eye-catching knocks. Murali Vijay is an elegant batsman and his every stroke is filled with class and timing. In his IPL career, he has represented 2 teams and has captained one of them. He has played 103 times in which he has scored over 2500 runs at an average of 27.

Murali Vijay became a star with his pure hitting while opening the innings for the Chennai Super Kings. The right-hander was a regular in the side and has been part of the team which has won 3 titles. Till now he has played 9 playoff games in which he has accumulated 338 runs at an average of 37.5 which includes a ton. Vijay is a big match player and his knock of 113 against Delhi in the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2012 proves it.

5) Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan
Yusuf Pathan of Sunrisers Hyderabad. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

The hard-hitting batsman from Baroda has been a regular in the IPL since it started its journey in 2008. Yusuf Pathan is a game changer, as he can revitalize any dead tie with his brute power game. In his IPL adventure, he has plied his trade for 3 teams. Yusuf has played 174 games in which he has collected over 3200 runs at an average of 29 and at a strike rate of 143.

The right-hander has entertained everybody with his belligerent batting displays. He was the architect of Rajasthan’s maiden IPL title in 2008 and has always played match-winning cameos down the order. Yusuf has played 12 playoff ties in which he has scored 298 runs at an average of 29.8 and at a strike rate of more than 150.

Along with his batting skills, he is a useful bowler who can chip in with crucial wickets. His most intensifying innings has to be the 56 against Chennai in 2008 IPL final where he also scalped 3 wickets with ball in his hand.

6) MS Dhoni (c & wk)

MS Dhoni, IPL, IPL 2019, CSK
MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The former Indian skipper has an indomitable bond with the IPL, and his fame has grown exponentially over the years. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the few players who has maintained his aura in these 12 seasons. In his IPL tourney, he has been part of two franchises and has captained both of them. He has played 189 games in which he has gathered 4430 runs at a stunning average of 42.6 and at a strike rate of 139.

The Indian legend has his name etched in the history books of IPL, as he has been the most successful captain in the league. He has won 3 titles as captain and has frequently played some mouth-watering knocks while finishing the innings. Dhoni has played 23 playoff games in which he has scored 502 runs at an average of 41.8. Captain Cool has always led the team from the front and one of his best knockout innings has to be the unbeaten 51 off 20 balls against Mumbai in the Eliminator of IPL 2012.

7) Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo. (Photo: IANS)

The T20 specialist from Caribbean land has been spreading his magic in the IPL since its inception. Dwayne Bravo has been an overseas superstar in the league, and in all these years he has amused the crowd with his set of skills. He has played for 3 IPL teams. The Windies all-rounder has played 133 times in which he has scored nearly 1500 runs and has scalped 150 wickets at an economy rate of 8.4.

Dwayne Bravo has been an integral part of the Dhoni-led the side from the last decade, and he is one of the valuable players of the league. His death bowling skills and dance moves are part of IPL folklore. The champion has played 16 playoff matches scoring around 150 runs and picked up 25 wickets at an economy rate of 7.3 which is quite amazing. His best performance came against Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2018 where he picked up two wickets by just conceding 25 runs, and his contribution turned out to be a match-winning one.

8) Ravindra Jadeja

(Photo Source: Hotstar)
(Photo Source: Hotstar)

The all-rounder from Saurashtra has been a star in the IPL and has been a crux of the Chennai Super Kings team. Ravindra Jadeja is an excellent cricketer who lends good balance to the side with his presence in the playing XI. He has plied his trade for 4 IPL franchises. Jadeja has played 169 times in which he has accumulated over 1900 runs, and has bagged 108 wickets at an economy rate of 7.56.

The Rockstar with his fielding skills alone can make it to the team and with his athleticism, he has changed the course of games. Ravindra can be a dangerous player with a bat in his hand as he can play useful cameos, and with the ball in his hand, he can be a nightmare for opposition on slow tracks. Till now he has played 16 knockout ties in which he has scalped 12 wickets at an economy rate of 7.6. His most impressive spell in playoffs has to be the one where he picked 3 wickets against Mumbai by just giving away 31 runs in his quota of 4 overs in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2013.

9) Piyush Chawla

Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders. (Photo Source: IANS)

Piyush Chawla is an ultimate underdog as he has given good performances on a regular basis in IPL without even getting any praise. The leg-spinner has the rare ability to bowl with the new ball and as well as with the old one. He has been part of two IPL teams. Chawla has played 157 games in the league in which he has fished 150 wickets at an economy rate of 7.86.

The cricketer from Aligarh has always provided crucial breakthroughs for the captain in middle-overs. Piyush Chawla is also a handy batsman down the order, and every Kolkata fan remembers his winning hit in the 2014 IPL final. The leggie has played 7 playoff ties in which he has scalped 9 wickets at an economy rate of 8.20. He bowled an outstanding spell against Rajasthan in the Eliminator of 2018 IPL, as he just gave away 24 runs in 4 overs and picked up two 2 important wickets of the RR middle-order.

10) Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga. (Photo: IANS)

The fast bowler from Galle is a rare cricketer who can bowl in the powerplays and in the death overs. Lasith Malinga has been a weapon for the Mumbai Indians side in all these years, and the Indian fans have enjoyed his craft with the ball. In his IPL career, the speedster has only donned the blue jersey. He has played 121 times in which he has bagged 169 wickets at an economy rate of 7.1 which is really splendid.

Slinga is a player with a calm-head and with his expertise, he has won games for his side single-handedly. The pacer is one of the few players who has picked up a fifer in the league, and his slow ball variations are still part of IPL mystery. Malinga has played 12 playoff games in which he has bagged 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6.95. The most imposing spell from Lasith has to be the one against Chennai in the final of IPL 2013, where he scalped 2 top-order wickets by giving away just 20 odd runs.

11) Mitchell Johnson

Ben Cutting & Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson. (Photo Source: Instagram)

During his prime, Mitchell Johnson used to terrorize the opposition with his raw pace in IPL. The Australian quickie is a wicket-taking bowler and with the new ball in his hand, he can make any batsmen dance to his tune. He has been part of 3 IPL franchises, and very few people know that he has won 2 titles. Johnson has played 54 times in which he has picked up 61 wickets at an economy rate of 8.29.

The speedster can generate movement even on good tracks and his fiery spells have always proved to be match-winning ones. Midge was a menacing bowler, and on his day he can tear apart any batting line-up. Johnson has played 8 playoff games in which he has scalped 12 wickets at an economy rate of 8.5. He bowled one of the finest spells of his IPL career when he blew the RPS top-order in the final of 2017, and his figures read 3/26 at the end of the match.

These stars are the ones who stood up for the team on important occasions and they are certainly the big match players.

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