IPL 2016 All Star XI

IPL 2016 All star team

Now that we are done with the 56 matches and have the four teams, Gujurat Lions, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the play offs, it is a good time to discuss who were the big performers in the 9th edition of IPL.

I have made my all star playing XI for this purpose. I restricted myself to only 4 foreign players as is the rule for any IPL team. I considered the players who were regular in the team, consistent with their performances and had an impact in their team's performance. This is my team:

1. Virat Kohli (RCB)
2.  David Warner (captain) (SRH)
3. AB De Villers (RCB)
4. KL Rahul (wk) (RCB)
5. Yusuf Pathan (KKR)
6. Krunal Pandiya (MI)
7. Andre Russel (KKR)
8. Chris Morrs (DD)
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar(SRH)
10. Y Chahal (RCB)
11. Zaheer Khan (DD)

1. Virat Kohli

This was his tournament. His batting was mesmerizing. To score over 900 runs and 4 centuries in just 14 innings is outstanding, unheard of. He did this in T20 format which many regard as a lottery. You cannot expect to come every day and score, but this guy did just that innings after innings he came out and consistently got big runs. His fitness has been outstanding as well and has taken some great catches in the tournament.

2. David Warner

He has been a very consistent performer in IPL cricket and this was yet another great year. He is a match winner and got over 600 runs at a fantastic strike rate. He had an impact on Sunrisers' success in this season by his brilliant leadership as well. His work in the field is outstanding as well. He jumps like a rabbit in the field to take good catches and save runs.

3. AB de Villers

Not as consistent as the two mentioned before, but in the games he did do well, he had a huge impact. And when RCB needed to regain his form, he hit that brilliant 129*  an innings that gave momentum to his team. He is always a great fielder and has taken many safe and difficult catches this season as well.

4. KL Rahul

I like typing the name of a young Indian in the All star team. He deserves it completely. He has added a new dimension to his game; the power game,  fast scoring ability, the six-hitting ability. It was great to see him score consistently despite his batting position being dropped from opening to no4 whelooking  Gayle played. He played some outstanding shots and did a reasonable job with the gloves as well.

5. and 6. Yusuf Pathan and Krunal Pandiya 

Yusuf Pathan after having some below par seasons for KKR, finally had a good one, something KKR management would have been hoping. It was not just one or two innings this season but he was exceptional in the second half of the season when Uthappa and Gambhir lost some form.
Krunal Pandiya reminds you of young Yusuf Pathan. Similar story, his younger brother, a seam bowling all-rounder came to the limelight before him. And it was IPL that helped him gain attention. And K Pandiya has been the find of this IPL. His hitting is fearless and bowling has some control. He is perhaps the all-rounder India has been looking for.

7. and 8. Andre Russel and Chris Morris

Russel is my favourite all rounder from the West Indies. He has got quality. He bowls at 140+ km/hr and can hit really clean sixes. It was unfortunate that he got injured. But still he did enough to occupy the key no7 position in my team.
Chris Morris had a great season. He was the star for Delhi. His bowling has been outstanding. He has bowled with pace, great lengths, bowled the best yorkers in the tournament and the six hitting ability he showed in the 17 ball 50 he hit was just amazing. He did well in the field as well.

9.  Bhuvneshwar Kumar

I like his attitude and determination. He knew that he needed some pace to be successful at the big stage and he has made a constant effort to improve in this regard and has been successful this season. He often got a wicket in his first over and bowled some very consistent opening spells. He did quite well coming late into the innings and has bowled decent yorkers. I hope he gets back to all formats for India because he really has got some great ability with both ball and bat.

10. Y Chahal

Not a great season for spinners, but a few leg spinners including Amit Mishra and Zampa did well. Y Chahal bowled well right through and got into a great wicket taking form at the end of the season. He can spin the bowl, he does give it a little bit of air and has got variations. I would like to see him in the Indian team soon.

11. Zaheer Khan (DD) 

He had a good season after a bad start to it. I saw even Kohli misjudge the slower ball angling away from him. He was good, used his skills and experience. He did well captaining a young team, a job he has not been assigned much
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Special mentions from oversea players 

Q de Kock (DD)
He missed a couple of games, had a few single digit scores, had bad luck with unoiring decisions, but scored runs and looked good at other times. He is so talented and sorted at 23. He is going to be a great cricketer.

Muztafizur Rahman (SRH)
He is going to be a great bowler. He has been unplayable at times. He is a thinking bowler. 

Adam Zampa (RPS)
His 6 wicket haul was outstanding. He is a real find for Australia as far as soon bowling talent us concerned. He bowling action reminds you of Shane Warne and that is a good start.

Special mentions from India

Karun Nair (DD)
I loved watching his shots and after Kohli, he was perhaps the most good looking batsman to the eye. Just missed the line-up. 

Amit Mishra (DD)
Just missed the team again. He bowled well consistently. The great thing about him that he is always attacking the batsman, bowls a perfect googly, bows it wide when the batsman is going after him.

Ajinkya Rahane (RPS)
He is always good to watch and played some very good looking innings for his team. But RPS didn't have the batting talent to support him. Too bad Kevin Pieterson and Steve Smith did not play all games.

Sandeep Sharma (KXIP)
Sandeep who has been regular and consistent just missed it to Zaheer Khan.  Line and length bowler, who bowls well with the new ball and coming in the death overs.

Murali Vijay (KXIP)

Talk about captains doing well. Since the time he was given the captaincy, he scored consistent runs for his team.
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Can you beat my All Star 11?

Kohli and Warner as openers.
Abd and Kl Rahul, solid in the middle.
Yusuf and K Pandiya as hitters. Can bowl off soon and slow left arm orthodox.
Russel and Morris, more hitting. And bowls 140 km/hr with the ball. 
B, Kumar and Zack, right arm medium and left arm medium as opening bowlers.
Y Chahal as the leggie.