Picking the best playing XI from Week 8 of IPL 2024 ft. Abhishek Sharma, Yash Dayal

The league stage of IPL 2024 ended on Sunday, May 19, with the match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati was abandoned without a ball being bowled. In the day game of the double-header, Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Punjab Kings by four wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Following the league stage, the IPL 2024 playoffs begin on Tuesday, May 21. Kolkata Knight Riders take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will meet Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator, which will also be played in Ahmedabad, on May 22.

The winner of the Eliminator will take on the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 24. The winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 will clash in the final at the Chepauk on Sunday,May 26.

Ahead of the IPL 2024 playoffs, we rewind to week eight (May 11-May 19) of the competition and pick the best combined playing XI.

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Openers: Faf du Plessis (c), Abhishek Sharma

RCB skipper Faf du Plessis and SRH's Abhishek Sharma would be the openers in the best IPL 2024 XI from Week 8.

Du Plessis scored a crucial half-century under pressure in the knockout clash against Chennai Super Kings and took two catches, one of which was a one-handed blinder.

Abhishek continued his great form with the willow, clobbering 66 off 28 in SRH's last league clash against PBKS. The left-hander's match-winning knock featured five fours and six sixes as Hyderabad chased down 215.

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Middle order & All-rounders: Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Cameron Green, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran

Rajat Patidar has been in superb form for RCB. (Pic: BCCI/ iplt20.com)

Rajat Patidar has been instrumental in RCB's stunning resurgence in IPL 2024. He continued his great form with the willow in Week 8 as well.

The right-handed batter slammed 52 off 32 against Delhi Capitals and followed it up with 41 off 23 in the do-or-die clash against Chennai Super Kings at Chinnaswamy.

KKR's Venkatesh Iyer also makes the list for his counter-attacking 42 off 21 against Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens. Batting first, Kolkata had lost Phil Salt and Sunil Narine by the start of the second over, but Venkatesh smashed six fours and two sixes to lift his side.

Lucknow Super Giants' Nicholas Pooran features as the finisher and the keeper-batter in the IPL 2024 playing XI for Week 8. The attacking left-hander batter signed off from the tournament with 61 off 27 against Delhi Capitals and 75 off 29 versus Mumbai Indians.

Cameron Green, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran would be the all-rounders in the IPL 2024 playing XI for week eight. RCB's Green contributed crucial 30s against Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, remaining unbeaten on both occasions. With his medium pace, he chipped in with two wickets.

CSK's Jadeja was economical with figures of 0-24 in the win over Rajasthan Royals. Against RCB, he slammed 42* off 22, hitting three fours and three sixes. He fought valiantly till the end but couldn't take his side over the line.

PBKS skipper Sam Curran signed off from IPL 2024 on a high. He was the Player of the Match for his excellent all-round show against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. After picking up two key wickets, he guided the chase with 63* off 41, smashing five fours and three sixes.

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Bowlers: Yash Dayal, Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma

Mumbai Indians’ leg-spinner Piyush Chawla (Pic: BCCI/ iplt20.com)

IPL 2024 has been redemption season for Yash Dayal and he played a pivotal role in RCB's progress to the playoffs, holding his own against MS Dhoni and Jadeja in the last over of the knockout clash.

The left-arm pacer claimed 3-20 against Delhi Capitals and followed it up with 2-42 against Chennai Super Kings.

DC's Ishant Sharma would be Dayal's pace bowling partner in the IPL 2024 team of Week 8.

The veteran pacer was Player the Match in Delhi's win over Lucknow Super Giants, registering figures of 3-34 from his four overs. His scalps included those of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock.

Mumbai Indians' veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla would be the main slow bowler in the combined XI. The 35-year-old signed off from IPL 2024 with two impactful performances. He claimed 2-28 against Kolkata Knight Riders and 3-29 versus Lucknow Super Giants.