The Best XI of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2015

The 2015 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy produced some magnificent cricket. With a majority of top players available for participation, the competition was closely contested. Most players did their best to come in the reckoning for the national team selection. Gujarat lifted the trophy and deservedly so having played consistently good cricket throughout the tournament. Here’s the best XI of the tournament. 1. Abhinav Mukund: (Photo Source: Twitter) The classy left-hander looked in fine form throughout the competition. The Tamil Nadu opener scored 359 runs at an average of 51.28 from 8 matches. He scored 2 hundreds and 1 fifty with the best of 104* against Gujarat in the semi-final. He hit 36 fours scoring at a strike rate of 81.59. 2. Sheldon Jackson (Wicketkeeper): (Photo Source: Facebook) Saurashtra’s wicketkeeper-batsman Sheldon Jackson was in stellar form scoring 345 runs from 5 matches at an average of 107.47. The opening batsman hit 2 centuries and 1 fifty including 9 sixes and 43 fours. He also has the highest individual score in the competition- 150* against Goa. He took 3 catches and effected 2 stumpings. 3. Baba Aparjith: (Photo Source: Twitter) The former U-19 World Cup winner (2012), Baba Aparjith scored consistently for his state team Tamil Nadu. He scored 390 runs at an average of 65.00 from 7 matches. He finished the tourney as the second highest run-scorer. He scored 1 hundred and 3 fifties with the best of 137 against Rajasthan. 4. Yuvraj Singh: (Photo Source: SportsStarLive) Yuvraj made a comeback to the national T20 side courtesy his strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Punjab. He scored 346 from 6 matches at an average of 69.20 and a strike rate of 100.28. His top score was 98 off 83 balls that helped Punjab chase down the steep target of 324. He hammered a record 16 sixes in the tourney. 5. Mandeep Singh: (Photo Source: BCCI) Yuvi’s Punjab teammate had a memorable time with the bat. He finished as the competition’s highest run-scorer with 394 runs from 7 matches at an average of 65.66. He hit 2 hundreds and 1 fifty smashing 38 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 88.73. His top score was 119 against Himachal. 6. Robin Bist: (Photo Source: Twitter) The right-hander, known for his prolific batting in first-class cricket, proved his worth for Himachal Pradesh in the shorter format as well. His top score, an unbeaten 109 against Punjab took his team to the semifinal. He played 7 matches scoring 355 runs at an average of 59.16 including 1 ton and 2 fifties. 7. Axar Patel: (Photo Source: Twitter) The Gujarat all-rounder had a remarkable tournament and was his team’s main weapon. He won the man of the match awards in the quarterfinal as well the semis finals producing mesmerizing performances with the ball and the bat too. He scored 220 runs at an average of 36.66 including one fifty. He finished as the joint second highest wicket-taker with 19 victims his best spell was 6/43 in the semis against TN. 8. Ravichandran Ashwin (Captain): (Source: Twitter) Ravichandran Ashwin was the most successful off-spinner in the tourney with 14 wickets at an average of 17.42. He was also leading his side Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and it can be called a successful stint for him as a skipper though his side was knocked out losing the semi-finals to eventual champions Gujarat. His economy rate was a miserly 3.55 as he hardly gave anything away to the batsmen. His best spell was 3/31 against Assam in the group stages. 9. Siddharth Kaul: Siddharth Kaul. (Photo Source: Siddharth Kaul Facebook Handle) Siddharth Kaul took wickets with the new ball and troubled the opposition’s top order thereby giving Punjab great starts. He shared the second spot in the leading wicket-takers list with Axar with 19 wickets. The former U-19 World Cup winner (2008), Kaul has been a top performer for his state team in domestic circuit. His best spell was 5/32 from 8.4 runs against Hyderabad. 10. Jasprit Bumrah: Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo Source: BCCI) Bowling at high speeds the uncanny Jasprit Bumrah rattled many batsmen. He finished the final as the highest wicket taker with 21 wickets at 16.09 from 9 matches. His best of 5/28 came against Delhi in the final when he blew away the middle and lower order batsmen. The 22-year old has a sharp bouncer which he used to great effect and played a key role in his team winning the silverware. 11. Subodh Bhati: (Photo Source: Sportstarlive) With 18 wickets the Delhi fast bowler played a major role in his team’s success. He took wickets at regular intervals thereby keeping the pressure on the opposition batsmen. His 4/17 against Baroda helped his team successfully defend 208. His effort of 4/21 against Jharkhand helped Delhi defend 225 thereby securing a place in the semis. He took 2 wickets in the semis as well as the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.