Picking the tournament XI is among the most difficult things to do at
the end of a long tournament, and IPL 2014 was no different. Several
names were automatic picks because of their consistent and impactful
performance through the tournament. Cricket Today picks up the
tournament’s best XI taking into account the rule of not selecting more
than four overseas players.
Robin Uthappa (KKR) – Matches 16, Runs 660, Strike Rate 137.78, 50s 5 He had a quite time in the UAE leg of the tournament but his fortunes changes after IPL returned back to India for the second and the final leg of the seventh edition. The right hand batsman was one of the main reasons behind Kolkata Knight Rider’s title triumphs despite beginning the tournament on a disappointing note. The great feet movement and walking shots were back as he dictated terms to the opposite teams. 655 runs in 16 matches, 10 consecutive scores of 40 and above made him the winner of Orange Cap. It is impossible to describe his performance in few lines. He showed lot of maturity in his performance for his new IPL franchise. His red hot form with the bat got him selected in the Indian team for the ODI tour of Bangladesh.
Dwayne Smith (CSK) – Matches 16, Runs 566, Strike Rate 136.05, 50s 5 He was added to Chennai Super Kings team after they bought him in the IPL auctions. The addition of strongly built West Indian proved masterstroke as he gave his team explosive stars and formed a formidable partnership with his opening partner Brendon McCullum. He cleared the boundaries with ease, hitting 34 sixes in the tournament. With 559 runs to his name and the ability to hit sixes at will, his IPL franchise was lucky to have someone like him at the top of the order.
Suresh Raina (CSK) - Matches 16, Runs 523, Strike Rate 145.68, 50s 5 Is there any better player than Suresh Raina in the Indian Premier League? The answer is big no. He is the only player in the history of the cash rich league who has scored over 400 runs in every season since its inception in 2008. 523-run this season with some unbelievable batting and hitting, Raina was a treat to watch.
Glenn Maxwell (KXIP) – Matches 16, Runs 552, Strike Rate 187.75, 50s 4 He came, conquered and left bowlers especially R Ashwin with never healing wounds. Glenn Maxwell taught the world how to tackle Chennai Super Kings and its bowlers. The power packed Australian exhibited his power hitting against all the opponents. In the first three games he scored 95, 89 and 95 against Chennai, Rajasthan and Sunrisers and helped Punjab win the games quite easily. 552 runs and 36 sixes in the seventh edition, Maxwell made most of his presence
Manish Pandey (KKR) - Matches 16, Runs 401, Strike Rate 117.94, 50s 2 An extremely useful batsman, Manish Pandey acted as a life saver for Kolkata Knight Riders in many matches. He most important knock came against Kings XI Punjab in the finals. Chasing 200 to win, Manish Pandey won the match and the title for his side by scoring 94 off just 50 balls, which included 7 fours and 6 sixes. He was busy player throughout the tournament and played according to the demand of a game. With 401-run, 35 fours and 10 sixes, he proved a nightmare for the bowlers.
MS Dhoni (CSK, C & WK) – Matches 16, Runs 371, Strike Rate 148.40, 50s 1 If a team wants to win big games, they need a captain who has in him to lead them properly. MS Dhoni is the most successful skipper in the history of the Indian Premier League with two title wins and other knockout berths. He is arguably the greatest and the hardest hitter in the cash rich league at the moment. He won four closely contested games for his side but he batted too low down the order which caused them a game against Kings XI Punjab in the Qualifier 2. The right hand batsman scored 371 runs with a phenomenal strike rate of 148.40, which set the tone in his team’s favor.
Akshar Patel (KXIP) – Matches 17, Wickets 17, Economy Rate 6.13, Best Bowling 3/17 He was an unknown commodity before the Indian Premier League last edition but became a household name once the season ended with regular performances with the ball. With 17 wickets in the same number of matches, Akshar Patel was the find of the tournament. The feature of his bowling was tight line and length and subtle variations, which foxed the best in the business.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH) – Matches 14, Wickets 20, Economy Rate 6.65, Best Bowling 4/14 He was at his best in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League. Bhuvneshwar Kumar added few yards in his speed while his perfect Yorkers at will made the difference in the end. He got lot of swing in the beginning of a match while his tight line and length in the slog overs restricted batsmen from going for big hits. He remained in contention for the Purple Cap till the end. The right arm medium fast bowler took 20 wickets from just 14 games and was the best bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad despite the presence of Dale Steyn in the playing XI.
Sunil Narine (KKR) – Matches 16, Wickets 21, Economy Rate 6.35, Best Bowling 4/20 He was once again Kolkata Knight Riders best bowler, who bowled with great control. It is fair to say that he is the best spinner in the world in the shortest format of the game. 21 wickets this season and a regular contender of the Purple Cap, he has been a delight to watch.
Mohit Sharma (CSK) – Matches 16, Wickets 23, Economy Rate 8.39, Best Bowling 4/14 Mohit Sharma was the highest wicket taker in IPL 2014 and won the Purple Cap. He didn’t hesitate to unleash his variations on the opposite numbers which helped him in taking 23 wickets from 16 matches. A sure shot match winner, Mohit Sharma has taken more than 40 wickets in the last two seasons of the Indian Premier League.
Lasith Malinga (MI) – Matches 10, Wickets 16, Economy Rate 6.45, Best Bowling 4/23 Lasith Malinga played only 10 games for the Mumbai Indians but ended up picking 16 wickets. He was wisely used by the Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and took wickets whenever the team was in need. He bowled Yorkers at will and hardly went for runs in the opening spell as well in the last few overs of the innings. He is one of the best bowlers in the death overs, who know what is required of him in a T20 game. Malinga has to leave in between because of his international commitments otherwise he could have easily won Purple Cap.
12th man: Shakib Al Hasan (KKR) – 227 runs, strike rate 149; 11 wickets, economy rate 6.68 He was the best all-rounder in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League with remarkable consistency with his bat and the ball. Shakib scored crucial runs in the last stages of the matches while was deadly
whenever he came to bowl for his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. 227 runs and 11 wickets are a sign of top performer.
FOR MORE-http://www.crictoday.com/
Robin Uthappa (KKR) – Matches 16, Runs 660, Strike Rate 137.78, 50s 5 He had a quite time in the UAE leg of the tournament but his fortunes changes after IPL returned back to India for the second and the final leg of the seventh edition. The right hand batsman was one of the main reasons behind Kolkata Knight Rider’s title triumphs despite beginning the tournament on a disappointing note. The great feet movement and walking shots were back as he dictated terms to the opposite teams. 655 runs in 16 matches, 10 consecutive scores of 40 and above made him the winner of Orange Cap. It is impossible to describe his performance in few lines. He showed lot of maturity in his performance for his new IPL franchise. His red hot form with the bat got him selected in the Indian team for the ODI tour of Bangladesh.
Dwayne Smith (CSK) – Matches 16, Runs 566, Strike Rate 136.05, 50s 5 He was added to Chennai Super Kings team after they bought him in the IPL auctions. The addition of strongly built West Indian proved masterstroke as he gave his team explosive stars and formed a formidable partnership with his opening partner Brendon McCullum. He cleared the boundaries with ease, hitting 34 sixes in the tournament. With 559 runs to his name and the ability to hit sixes at will, his IPL franchise was lucky to have someone like him at the top of the order.
Suresh Raina (CSK) - Matches 16, Runs 523, Strike Rate 145.68, 50s 5 Is there any better player than Suresh Raina in the Indian Premier League? The answer is big no. He is the only player in the history of the cash rich league who has scored over 400 runs in every season since its inception in 2008. 523-run this season with some unbelievable batting and hitting, Raina was a treat to watch.
Glenn Maxwell (KXIP) – Matches 16, Runs 552, Strike Rate 187.75, 50s 4 He came, conquered and left bowlers especially R Ashwin with never healing wounds. Glenn Maxwell taught the world how to tackle Chennai Super Kings and its bowlers. The power packed Australian exhibited his power hitting against all the opponents. In the first three games he scored 95, 89 and 95 against Chennai, Rajasthan and Sunrisers and helped Punjab win the games quite easily. 552 runs and 36 sixes in the seventh edition, Maxwell made most of his presence
Manish Pandey (KKR) - Matches 16, Runs 401, Strike Rate 117.94, 50s 2 An extremely useful batsman, Manish Pandey acted as a life saver for Kolkata Knight Riders in many matches. He most important knock came against Kings XI Punjab in the finals. Chasing 200 to win, Manish Pandey won the match and the title for his side by scoring 94 off just 50 balls, which included 7 fours and 6 sixes. He was busy player throughout the tournament and played according to the demand of a game. With 401-run, 35 fours and 10 sixes, he proved a nightmare for the bowlers.
MS Dhoni (CSK, C & WK) – Matches 16, Runs 371, Strike Rate 148.40, 50s 1 If a team wants to win big games, they need a captain who has in him to lead them properly. MS Dhoni is the most successful skipper in the history of the Indian Premier League with two title wins and other knockout berths. He is arguably the greatest and the hardest hitter in the cash rich league at the moment. He won four closely contested games for his side but he batted too low down the order which caused them a game against Kings XI Punjab in the Qualifier 2. The right hand batsman scored 371 runs with a phenomenal strike rate of 148.40, which set the tone in his team’s favor.
Akshar Patel (KXIP) – Matches 17, Wickets 17, Economy Rate 6.13, Best Bowling 3/17 He was an unknown commodity before the Indian Premier League last edition but became a household name once the season ended with regular performances with the ball. With 17 wickets in the same number of matches, Akshar Patel was the find of the tournament. The feature of his bowling was tight line and length and subtle variations, which foxed the best in the business.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH) – Matches 14, Wickets 20, Economy Rate 6.65, Best Bowling 4/14 He was at his best in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League. Bhuvneshwar Kumar added few yards in his speed while his perfect Yorkers at will made the difference in the end. He got lot of swing in the beginning of a match while his tight line and length in the slog overs restricted batsmen from going for big hits. He remained in contention for the Purple Cap till the end. The right arm medium fast bowler took 20 wickets from just 14 games and was the best bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad despite the presence of Dale Steyn in the playing XI.
Sunil Narine (KKR) – Matches 16, Wickets 21, Economy Rate 6.35, Best Bowling 4/20 He was once again Kolkata Knight Riders best bowler, who bowled with great control. It is fair to say that he is the best spinner in the world in the shortest format of the game. 21 wickets this season and a regular contender of the Purple Cap, he has been a delight to watch.
Mohit Sharma (CSK) – Matches 16, Wickets 23, Economy Rate 8.39, Best Bowling 4/14 Mohit Sharma was the highest wicket taker in IPL 2014 and won the Purple Cap. He didn’t hesitate to unleash his variations on the opposite numbers which helped him in taking 23 wickets from 16 matches. A sure shot match winner, Mohit Sharma has taken more than 40 wickets in the last two seasons of the Indian Premier League.
Lasith Malinga (MI) – Matches 10, Wickets 16, Economy Rate 6.45, Best Bowling 4/23 Lasith Malinga played only 10 games for the Mumbai Indians but ended up picking 16 wickets. He was wisely used by the Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and took wickets whenever the team was in need. He bowled Yorkers at will and hardly went for runs in the opening spell as well in the last few overs of the innings. He is one of the best bowlers in the death overs, who know what is required of him in a T20 game. Malinga has to leave in between because of his international commitments otherwise he could have easily won Purple Cap.
12th man: Shakib Al Hasan (KKR) – 227 runs, strike rate 149; 11 wickets, economy rate 6.68 He was the best all-rounder in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League with remarkable consistency with his bat and the ball. Shakib scored crucial runs in the last stages of the matches while was deadly
whenever he came to bowl for his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. 227 runs and 11 wickets are a sign of top performer.
FOR MORE-http://www.crictoday.com/
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